Fencing: Steps to Success (STS (Steps to Success Activity)

Wonderful resource! Not enough quality books on clear practical strategy & informative Fencing approaches and techniques. Purchased a second as a gift!

I surprised myself winning 3rd at University of Chicago's women's foil for the State of Illinois back in the day. I was running and weight lifting my skinny body not realizing yet Kenneth Cooper was just publishing the merits of cross training and aerobics. Hence, my legs and wind (breath) were stronger, and my coach was teaching me how to watch and catch my opponent in patterns and repeat mistakes. I had strengthened my body for three months exactly as needed, and I had a good coach who guided my potential, and these girls were mean but mistook hard strikes instead of observation and finesse. I was writing about fencing recently and decided to review it by reading and watching it in the Olympics. Good to fine tune what you know.

Ms. Cheris' "Fencing: Steps to Success" is a worthwhile purchase for new fencers. (My 5 star rating presumes that the reader is a novice fencer.) As a new fencer myself (1 year), I've read several books on fencing in addition to taking weekly lessons. Ms. Cheris' book provides clear, concise instructions and excellent diagrams; and includes numerous recommended drills that help beginners properly form their technique. While no substitute for lessons, the book is great as a companion to live instruction. For beginners, I strongly recommned this book over Nick Evangelista's "The Art and Science of Fencing". (Although Mr. Evangelista's book does do a better job in giving the reader the historical context of today's modern sport fencing.) "Fencing: Steps to Success" is a valuable learning aid for those new to the sport.

This is one of the best books on fencing writen by an American. It's major weakness is that it often attempts to teach both foil and epee and the same time . The author does address modern fencing , a subject often ingored. This book is good for the person that knows how to fence and wants some pointers; not a good read for beginners . A good book but kept me wanting more, for example the author tells nothing of how she took up the sport and what it's done for her. Close only 4 of 5 stars.

I'd give this book 10 stars if I could. Very very clear information, lots of drills. I'm new to fencing but have boxed and done martial arts for 40 years and this book is a TREMENDOUS resource of information. This is EXACTLY the book I wanted. It's perfect. The illustrations are clear and everything is here.

breaks down each move and explains exactly what each part of the body should (and should not) be doing, how your weight should be distributed, etc. also lists common mistakes made and how to avoid or fix them. best of all, it's filled with tons of drills for practice, both solo and with a partner. working my way through the book has gotten me through my first semester of fencing with excellent results. so much more helpful than any other book out there, by far.

This book has good material, but it is at an incredibly basic teaching resource. All of this material could be taught in a couple hours by a competent instructor. There is no advanced content.

I am still reading this book but it is very good.

Well laid out with excellent ideas for practice drills missing in more conventional books. Easy to follow and understand- gives superb insight into the basics that are so easy to miss even for the advanced fencer. If you are an epeeiste buy this book and the Epee combat manual and I doubt you'll have need for any other books for self study.

This book by Elaine Cheris is an excellent training aid. It can be used both by the athlete to perform different exercises with adjustable difficulty levels and also by the fencing coach/instructor to select technical exercises for training sessions.