Key takeaways
- Grip lightly: A tight grip sacrifices tip control and causes arm fatigue. Hold the weapon like a delicate object but give a tight grip just before engagement.
- Footwork over blade: Distance management wins points long before blade contact occurs.
- Extend before lunge: Extend your arm first before moving your legs. This way, you avoid getting hit on your body while executing the lunge.
- Patience wins: Rushing in leads to easy counter-attacks; setup beats brute speed and force.
Fencing is often called physical chess for a reason. It requires split-second tactical decisions paired with mechanical precision.
However, new fencers frequently pick up habits early on that cap their progression and lead to quick frustration on the strip.
Here are five common beginner fencing mistakes to watch out for and how to correct them.
Beginner mistake #1. Death-gripping the hilt
Most new fencers make the mistake of clenching the grip tightly out of tension or a desire for power.
However, over-gripping locks up your wrist and forearm muscles, drastically reducing point control and slowing down your parries.
Solution: Hold the handle primarily with your thumb and index finger (your “manipulators”), letting the back fingers gently guide the weapon.
Beginner mistake #2. Lunging before extending the arm
Next, new fencers also often drop the hips into a lunge while keeping the weapon arm bent near the chest.
In right-of-way weapons (foil and sabre), a late extension fails to convey priority. In épée, it exposes your blade hand to a simple counter-attack before your point threatens the target.
Solution: Initiate attacks by extending the weapon arm toward the target first, then follow immediately with the driving push of the legs.
Beginner mistake #3. Neglecting distance & footwork
Relying solely on blade work to attack or defend while standing static is also a big no-no. Fencing is won with feet, not fingers. If your distance is wrong, even perfect blade technique will miss or get parried easily.
Solution: Spend extra practice time on fluid advances and retreats. Focus on keeping a balanced en garde stance with your center of gravity low.
Beginner mistake #4. Watching the opponent’s blade
Try to avoid staring directly at the tip or blade of your opponent’s weapon during a fencing bout.
Blades move too fast for human eyes to track up close. Fixating on the weapon creates sensory overload and leaves you blind to bodily cues.
Solution: Soften your focus to take in your opponent’s torso, shoulder, and overall movement using peripheral vision.
Beginner mistake #5. Rushing every touch
Charging forward blindly the moment your fencing referee says “Pret? Allez!”? Unprepared attacks make you predictable and easily baitable into counter-attacks or parry-ripostes.
Solution: Use feints, half-steps, and subtle blade preparation to test reactions before committing to a full attack.
Looking to get into epee? Read our guide to the top epee fencing mistakes to avoid as well.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about common beginner fencing mistakes
1. How to choose between foil, epee, or sabre?
Your choice depends on your preferred playstyle, target area preference, and strategic tempo:
- Épée is best for fencers who like realistic duel dynamics, distance traps, patience, counter-attacks, and targeting open hand/wrist preps.
- Foil is best for fencers who enjoy structured technical setup, precise point control, and analytical, turn-based exchanges.
- Last but not least, sabre is recommended for fencers with explosive athletic drive, fast reflexes, and a preference for immediate high-energy engagements.
We only conduct epee training at DSFencing Club.
2. How often should a beginner train fencing each week?
Starting with 2 to 3 sessions per week provides a balanced mix of skill acquisition, physical adaptation, and recovery without overwhelming muscles or joints.
3. What fencing equipment do I need to get started?
You don’t need any gear to get started with DSFencing Club. We provide trial swords for trial classes. Purchase your full kit if you decide to commit to regular classes and/or sparring sessions.
4. How to improve my fencing skills?
Drill footwork daily, join DSFencing for weekly sessions, or even take 1-on-1 private coaching, and film your bouts to spot telegraphing.