When we think of group lessons for fencers, most coaches and most fencers visualize lines of 10 or 20 fencers going through drills with a coach supervising.
And we know that this is a good way to teach beginners or to hold team practices, but we all would prefer the individual lesson for its effectiveness and for its prestige.
However, I suggest that you consider the small group lesson as another useful lesson type.
For the purposes of this discussion, I define the small group lesson as one with 2 or 3 students, taught by a single Master.
The small group lesson may offer some of the advantages of both the group and the individual lesson, allowing a much higher degree of individual attention than the larger group lesson.
At the same time the small group allows the incorporation of a wider variety of drills and provides the ability to bout with partners of similar skill levels.
And from the realistic perspective of fencing as a business, it produces more income than the relatively cash flow poor individual lesson.
The small group lesson with two fencers requires that the Master demonstrate and teach skills in two formats.
These two techniques can be combined in the lesson to offer both individual and drill instruction: ...
the Master can alternate between the fencers so that each fencer receives the equivalent of a full lesson, but with breaks for relaxation and refocusing.
This approach is useful for both teaching and training lessons.
The length of work with one fencer can be varied to increase the intensity of the lesson.
...
the other approach is a miniature version of the large group lesson, with the Master demonstrating the skills, the students performing them in a drill format with each other, and the Master correcting as required.
When using the small group lesson with 3 fencers it is important to make as many activities as possible rotational.
For example, two fencers (A and B) are performing an exchange drill, for a maximum of 5 executions each.
Fencer C rotates in, fencer A rotates out, and the drill continues.
This reduces the time one fencer is inactive.
The value can be increased by: ...
making the rotation quickly after a relatively small number of repetitions to introduce an element of stress.
...
using the rotation period to simulate the time between "halt" and "fence" and requiring both fencers to go through their mental drill for this period before starting the physical drill.
...
requiring the fencer who is sitting out to either referee (if the drill is a bouting drill) or to serve as strip coach for one fencer, making oral corrections.
An alternate approach is to use the Master as a fixed partner in the rotation, so that each student rotates through working directly with the Master.
The small group lesson can be used with any level of student from beginner to advanced.
However, it requires students who can focus and use downtime for observation and visualization.
It also works better if both students are at the same level with each receiving the same training.
And we know that this is a good way to teach beginners or to hold team practices, but we all would prefer the individual lesson for its effectiveness and for its prestige.
However, I suggest that you consider the small group lesson as another useful lesson type.
For the purposes of this discussion, I define the small group lesson as one with 2 or 3 students, taught by a single Master.
The small group lesson may offer some of the advantages of both the group and the individual lesson, allowing a much higher degree of individual attention than the larger group lesson.
At the same time the small group allows the incorporation of a wider variety of drills and provides the ability to bout with partners of similar skill levels.
And from the realistic perspective of fencing as a business, it produces more income than the relatively cash flow poor individual lesson.
The small group lesson with two fencers requires that the Master demonstrate and teach skills in two formats.
These two techniques can be combined in the lesson to offer both individual and drill instruction: ...
the Master can alternate between the fencers so that each fencer receives the equivalent of a full lesson, but with breaks for relaxation and refocusing.
This approach is useful for both teaching and training lessons.
The length of work with one fencer can be varied to increase the intensity of the lesson.
...
the other approach is a miniature version of the large group lesson, with the Master demonstrating the skills, the students performing them in a drill format with each other, and the Master correcting as required.
When using the small group lesson with 3 fencers it is important to make as many activities as possible rotational.
For example, two fencers (A and B) are performing an exchange drill, for a maximum of 5 executions each.
Fencer C rotates in, fencer A rotates out, and the drill continues.
This reduces the time one fencer is inactive.
The value can be increased by: ...
making the rotation quickly after a relatively small number of repetitions to introduce an element of stress.
...
using the rotation period to simulate the time between "halt" and "fence" and requiring both fencers to go through their mental drill for this period before starting the physical drill.
...
requiring the fencer who is sitting out to either referee (if the drill is a bouting drill) or to serve as strip coach for one fencer, making oral corrections.
An alternate approach is to use the Master as a fixed partner in the rotation, so that each student rotates through working directly with the Master.
The small group lesson can be used with any level of student from beginner to advanced.
However, it requires students who can focus and use downtime for observation and visualization.
It also works better if both students are at the same level with each receiving the same training.