Fencing in Moscow - an overview of various areas
Today in Moscow there is a fairly significant layer of various schools fencing in a variety of areas.
The bulk of fencing schools in Moscow today are clubs and knife fighting schools. In general, this is understandable. Knife fighting itself is one of the most popular areas of fencing, in demand at the everyday level.
Everyone wants to be able to wield a knife. Everyone cherishes the dream of luring a gopnik into a knife in a dark alley, but someone also cherishes the dream of luring a decent citizen and his “sworn friend” into a knife; by the way, there are quite a few of them. They all go to knife fighting schools. The main knife fighting schools in Moscow are, in fact, people from hand-to-hand combat.
That is, their technique is just a modernized version of hand-to-hand combat, when instead of a fist or a boxing glove, you have 
knife in hand What does this mean? Here's what. It is no secret to experts that hand-to-hand combat and fighting with a knife are very different things. Different in everything, in the stance, in the striking technique, in the muscles involved during the strike, in the movements, in the ideology of the fight, finally. What is acceptable for hand-to-hand combat is completely unacceptable for knife combat. Knife fighting requires one precise blow. This is an axiom.
If you run up and try to stab a person with a dozen blows, then you are almost 100% guaranteed to receive at least one blow in return. And the problem with a knife is that even one missed blow can often be fatal. Consequently, the basis of knife fighting is instant entry, defeat, and no less instant exit; everything else is nonsense, leading to mutual defeat, which is not only undesirable, but like death in the most literal sense.
Katana Club adheres to the technique of pure defeat only, with maximum safety for ourselves - this is why we are strikingly different from other knife fighting schools in Moscow, and in general from fencing schools in Moscow.
The second point, or rather the curse of knife fighting in Moscow, is tournaments.
That is, like all stupidity, they were conceived as a test of the strength and dexterity of the participants, and like all stupidity, after a couple of years they reached the apogee of stupidity. Their rules are designed for a tournament, and not for a real fight on the street, which instructors usually talk about beautifully, luring newcomers.
It is no secret that the rules of tournaments are as far from real combat as Jupiter is from Earth. Tournament rules for most clubs in general 
they welcome punches and kicks, although in a real knife fight on the street this almost never happens, and the one who foolishly waved his leg gets a guaranteed blow with a knife and loses the fight and often his life.
The tournament rules develop a complete lack of fear of the enemy’s blade to the point of stupidity - well, of course, this is just an imitation of what they are afraid of. As a result, people climb onto the blade without understanding the ford, receive multiple blows and strike themselves, not realizing that in a real battle these are two corpses that have fallen away from each other with holes in their belly.
Another point is the training weapon itself. Short wooden blunt imitations.
This type of training equipment is common in most clubs in Moscow. Why is this bad? Well, first of all, weight and length. The piece of wood is very short and light. If you make it larger, you will need more serious, MUCH more serious protection than just a fencing mask. These are unnecessary expenses not only for participants, but also for clubs, including for the safety of classes. Heavy and long wooden weapons can easily kill. In a very real sense, I'm not kidding. Or brutally maim. Even the weapons that are usually available are a danger to the enemy if the neck, abdomen, or hands are hit if they are poorly protected. Up to and including death. If you hit the liver or spleen with all your might with a blunt piece of wood, you certainly won’t pierce a person.
But, in addition to a hefty hematoma, he can get a rupture internal organs And
Die from severe blood loss before the end of the workout. Especially considering that, out of pure bragging, 90% of the participants do not wear protective vests. This is on the one hand. That's enough
It is a common practice to weaken the blow at the end point, so as not to inadvertently receive a load of 200 and a decent sentence in prison.
On the other hand, the low weight and size do not allow you to properly train your hand when training with such a weapon. Some techniques cannot be trained at all with a low knife weight, for example fast strikes by hand. A knife of such a weight distribution and such a weight does not fly forward, although even when picking up an ordinary one 
folding knife you get a completely different picture.
Katana Club uses in its training and sparring non-traumatic weight and dimensions of real knives, heavy - from 200 - 250 grams or more, for example Raja 2 or Ontario. Our simulations do not cause injury, although it is quite possible to get bruised fingers if you come to sparring without gloves. All sparring participants must have protective helmets that protect against concussion and reliably cover their faces and gloves. In addition, women are advised to wear bibs to avoid chest injuries.
This Katana Club approach to training makes it possible not to weaken the blow at its extreme point, for fear of injuring a person, but to deliver it at full force. This forms a reflex in a person to ALWAYS hit exactly like that, hard and brutally, without allowing any missed blows. Secondly, real weight distribution allows you to apply fast, accurate and powerful blows, in contrast to light wooden imitation.
Another direction of fencing in Moscow, quite popular, is dueling fencing. Here the choice of clubs and schools and areas is very wide. From fencing with two-handed swords, from sabers and broadswords to
Heavy historical swords. They all have one thing in common - they are usually weapons made of textolite, weighing more than 1.1 kg, although sometimes there are clubs fencing with steel blades.
The main difference between this direction is its extreme risk of injury. A textolite blade, unlike a steel blade, is practically 
doesn't bend. They usually hit them with full force and with all their might. This type of fencing requires you to have quite expensive protective armor, a modernized fencing mask, because if you receive a direct blow to the face in a standard sports fencing mask, the consequence is a cut in the face and a broken nose, it’s good if it’s broken so that it can be put back together.
However, protection does not guarantee against minor injuries, such as broken fingers, bruises from injections, joint injuries, etc.
One of the most unpleasant phenomena in dueling fencing is its terrible isolation from real life. Tournaments that are held for points do not provide any skills in real combat; moreover, they dilute this skill in a person. In general, everyone knows that the weapon is not real, the blows are not lethal, and in order to earn points, they climb without looking at the enemy blade. The same picture is repeated as in a knife fight. Even worse. Moreover, the practice that has developed in dueling fencing brings almost nothing from sports fencing, and in vain, in sports fencing, despite all its incarnation, there is something to learn.
In its training, Katana Club takes the best from sports fencing; we try to study the techniques of sports fencing masters and thoughtfully transfer them to heavier weapons.
Fencing in aikido, kendo and other training in techniques with a katana stands out.
Unfortunately, today's kendo is very far removed from real combat fencing. It contains a number of techniques - for example, prohibited
Piercing blows to the face, no way to retreat during a fight, and much more. Things are not much better in Aikido.
Today's Aikido is as far from its original version as sword fighting. Not to mention that sparring with a sword is not practiced in modern aikido. In addition, all these schools do not teach combat with different weapons, developing techniques only for a two-handed sword - a katana, and leaving aside techniques with a short sword and a knife.
Another problem is the armor for the same kendo. The cost is very high, so today it is a sport for very wealthy people.
In its practice, Katana Club focuses on a thorough study of the practices of oriental martial arts, with different weapons, both two-handed and one-handed, short and long, unifying and modernizing the classics of sword fighting. Katana Club brings into it elements from sports fencing, which, by the way, have never been used in classical Japanese martial art, but which are as effective as possible.
Another area is re-enactment fencing in Moscow. The undoubted advantage of this fencing is its historical surroundings. There are quite a lot of disadvantages.
Firstly, these are quite strict restrictions on the types of strikes, weapons, and fencing techniques at buhurts (exhibition battles such as a knight's tournament). For example, on steel weapons, piercing blows are prohibited, even with blunt blades, for fear of inflicting cruel 
injure, maim or even kill participants.
Secondly, there is an extremely high risk of injury. The blades are generally dull, but they hit with all their hearts, so steel armor often does not save them. Often someone suffers injuries that incapacitate them for many weeks. Thirdly, there is even greater isolation from life than dueling fencing. Well, will you ever meet a person dressed in heavy armor in your life?
In contrast to these directions, Katana Club, as a fencing school in Moscow, teaches its students such techniques and blows that, when aimed at an unarmored enemy, are completely universal - it doesn’t matter what weapon you have in your hands - a stick, a sword, a machete, knife, saber, broadsword or tourist hatchet.
You can successfully defend yourself with ANY weapon. Secondly, all our techniques are applicable for self-defense, and include all 
an arsenal of blows - both chopping and piercing. The versatility of muscle movements develops the ability to use any object as a weapon of self-defense. Our techniques are not pretentious or artificial, which, for example, is often the case with dueling fencing, we use the maximum effective techniques combining both sports fencing, historical techniques, and techniques from eastern fencing schools, including the classics.
At Katana Club you can learn as much as possible effective style combat, with different weapons and without separately retraining the techniques of knife fighting, fighting with a machete or sword - both two-handed and one-handed. After training at the Katana Club, any item will become a weapon for you, any item in your hands will help you defend yourself on the street.
Fencing - exotic but widespread sport. This is real martial art using special weapons ( sword, rapier, saber), which came to us from time immemorial.
Fencing competition included in the program Olympic Games , and fencing clubs and sections accept both children and adults, both male and female, for training. Since fencing is quite traumatic, and also because technique is important in this sport, it is recommended to find an experienced instructor for training and join a special club or section.
In which sections can you learn fencing?
Fencing sections are spread throughout Russia. For example, in Moscow they organized sports schools Olympic reserve, where classes are free. Children are accepted there from 9-10 years and older. 10 years, according to experienced fencing instructors, this is the most promising age for starting training.
Photo 1. Fencing training for beginners. First, athletes learn to hit a target mounted on a wall.
If a child becomes seriously interested, parents you will have to purchase special equipment for training. A protective suit for fencing consists of a special jacket, knee-length trousers that are held in place by suspenders, leggings, flat shoes, a mask with a metal mesh and a collar that protects the face and throat, gloves, plastrons (protection under the arms). Equipment may differ slightly depending on what weapon the athlete will wield: saber, rapier or epee.
Professional equipment for fencing is quite expensive. The trousers will cost approximately 4-8 thousand rubles., jacket - 3-7 thousand rubles, shoes - 3-4 thousand rubles, rapier - 6-8 thousand rubles
Attention! Quality equipment is important for a fencer, as it protects the athlete from injury, which can be inflicted by a duel partner.
Is it worth taking several lessons for beginners?
Before joining a section and starting serious training, it is recommended to think about the purpose of practicing this sport.
Fencing - An ancient martial art with its own traditions.
A convenient way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this sport, get acquainted with its basics, and assess your need for further training is to take several individual lessons.
In a personal lesson the instructor will show you how to hold a weapon correctly, demonstrate its different types, give an idea of the basic stances and, of course, teach safety precautions. Price for one lesson with a trainer - 1000-1500 rub. and more.
What classes are there?
Fencing classes are divided into group and individual.
Group
Group classes - convenient and economical way training. Firstly, such training can be either completely free or paid for at a low cost ( much cheaper than individual).Secondly, This great way find friends with similar interests.
Thirdly, in group classes, sparring partners are constantly changing, and, therefore, Each time you will encounter different opponents both stronger and more professional, and weaker. This develops a fighting and competitive spirit. Fourthly, Tournaments are organized in groups. Victories in tournaments stimulate further achievements.
Photo 2. Group fencing lesson. Several pairs of athletes practice techniques with each other.
Individual
Minus individual lessons is that they almost always have a high cost. But a huge advantage of this is the opportunity to study one-on-one with an instructor. The trainer devotes all the time of the lesson to one student. The technique and skill of such fencers grows much faster than their counterparts who study in groups.
Technique depending on the chosen weapon
Rapier, saber and epee differ from each other in length and weight. The technique of striking (injections) is almost identical, but there are some differences. For example, the foil requires the greatest accuracy from the athlete. In sparring, only those blows that are delivered to the opponent’s torso will be counted. The saber is less dangerous. These weapons are allowed to strike any part of the opponent’s body.
Such discrepancies in striking techniques appeared due to the nature of creation.
For example, a sword by its origin is a dueling weapon.
Outcome of the duel could detect an injection in any part of the body, but the rapier was originally created as a training weapon. That is why foil fighters have more gentle fighting methods.
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How the training goes
Training takes place in equipment on non-traumatic analogues bladed weapons . To begin with, the instructor teaches safety precautions, tells and shows how to hold a weapon correctly, teaches correct stance, movements. The next block of classes consists of teaching the basics of fencing.
These are all kinds lunges, strikes, defense. The student begins to engage in sparring with partners, gains experience, improves coordination and hones his striking technique. The final stage: studying combinations of blows and skills in constructing a special battle strategy.
General physical training
Success in fencing depends on physical training athlete and appear in direct proportion to the development of the fencer in physically.
By engaging in this sport, a person develops speed, agility, endurance, strength, mental abilities, the ability to make lightning-fast decisions and control his own emotions.
Learning the Basics
The basis of fencing is skill in proper use of weapons. The instructor’s task is to explain how to hold a sports instrument, tell that the weapon cannot be waved in front of a person not protected by a mask, or pointed at a person without equipment. By studying the basics of fencing, the student learns that the sharp end of the sword is always covered with a guard to prevent damage, and that during battle hands remain relaxed, A wrists are flexible.
Learning techniques
Studying fencing techniques - main stage in mastering fighting techniques. Footwork is important during a fight. The athlete must practice smooth and easy movements to the point of automaticity, and also learn to move quickly and make lightning-fast strikes.
A form of ancient martial arts with edged weapons, which are recreated based on historical sources - texts, images and oral traditions. In other words, historical fencing is an attempt to revive martial arts, the traditions of which have not survived to the present day. Basically, the term "historical fencing" refers to the types of edged weapons that existed before the rise of the three classical sporting blades - the rapier, épée and saber. In recent years, as a result of the enormous interest in martial arts and historical heritage, many individuals and organizations are trying to recreate ancient martial arts.
Historical fencing in Paladin.
Our hall is named after the famous fencing club “Paladin”, which has existed for more than 10 years. At the beginning of 2002, a number of fighters separated from him and organized their own own club called "Bayard", which soon became generally recognized the best club Russia, Europe and the CIS on the tournament component of historical fencing. From year to year, the fighters of this club win almost all the tournaments in which they participate. Moreover, almost all Bayard participants work as trainers at FFC Paladin. Thus, FFC Paladin has the strongest coaching school in this sport in the world, which we are very proud of.
Classes are held in the hall
Coach - Ivan Vasiliev
Experience in historical fencing - since 1999. Multiple winner and prize-winner of various regional, Russian and international tournaments in HMB (both in duels and in group battles). Two-time winner of the Battle of the Nations tournament. One of the authors of the concept of professional full-contact medieval battles (“professional fights”) - one of the most spectacular and tough types of historical fencing. Won many victories professional ring. One of the founders of the Bayard Club. Has an official higher education diploma sports education. Coaching experience in historical fencing - since 2003.
Coach - Mikhail Babynin
An excellent fighter and coach, he knows more about the theory of fencing than others, the author of the “two strikes” concept, a participant in the “Battle of the Nations” and various tournaments, writes a bestseller about historical fencing. Sports background – sports fencing.
