anotheranon | fencing notes

Went again to Yet Another Fencing Club and took advantage of the free mini-lessons in September thing. What I learned:

Somewhere along the way I started landing on the ball of my front foot during advances/lunges. D. asked me some time ago why fencers don't use the balls of our feet, as it's positively required for most martial arts. Answer: because the front foot needs to lead with the heel and stay flat or you can end up leaning and screwing up your balance.

Seemingly paradoxically, it's ok to use the ball of your back foot, as it helps with quicker lunges.

I need to practice more footwork!
Directing - I still don't direct very well, because I can't see fast enough to determine who has right of way, whose foot has moved first, whose arm extended first, and whether parries are successful or not. It's like learning a new language, and I know once I see different "phrases" enough it will start to make sense, but it's frustrating as hell because I feel like my brain has the speed of a drunk slug :P I want instant replay and slo-mo!
Bladework: weapon hand can stand to be with thumb at 12 or 1 o'clock rather than 3 because it allows for a looser grip. Need to practice blade control using my elbow and forefinger/thumb rather than shoulder/whole hand.
- Additional: forefinger slightly further forward on grip than thumb creates good leverage.
This is going to require a lot of practice and will likely be tiring and painful as my forearms and triceps learn to compensate for what my shoulder has been (stiffly, erroneously) doing.
This is not going to happen overnight. It will take a buttload of time. YAFC coach points out that I tend to overanalyze my moves, and once my brain starts turning over is when I mess up. Well DUH, I'm a classic overthinker! But, yeah.