attn faunblade: stretches

[anotheranon]

Per your question I wanted to ask you about the stretching for fencing you talked about in your New Year's resolutions-what kinds of things are you doing? and posted public if anyone else cares to know:

Disclaimer: most of these exercises are to improve back flexibility and strength. Use according to your own needs and medical/coaching advice:

Basic non-fencing lunge this stretches my sides really well.

Snatches of yoga, though not a full routine: tree (improves balance and ankle stability), forward bend (I can only put my hands on the ground), cobra and pigeon, and the easiest, cat. I'll try half spinal twist but I'm nowhere near doing it correctly!

Not sure if I explained the super-stretching exercise earlier so I'm illustrating it. This is assuming modern fencing lunge; if you're doing something two-handed you may want to adapt it:

1) Do your best lunge:

2) Rock backwards:

3) Rock forwards

4) Keep your hips level as you go back and forth. Don't lean:

5) Let your feet slide apart and try to make the lunge lower/longer each time

6) If you're doing this right you WILL feel the burn:

7) Once you're confident doing the exercise include bladework (target practice, or parry-riposte if you have a practice partner):


Hope this is helpful.