RANK SYSTEM
The three basic categories of proficiency in a technique and/or tactic are:
Learning
able to execute slowly in class/lesson with little or no correction
Elementary
able to execute at medium speed in class/lesson with little or no correction
able to implement in club bouting practice with little or no correction
Fluent
able to execute at all speeds consistently in lesson with little or no correction
able to implement well in challenging lesson and competitive conditions
NEW STUDENTS (UNRANKED) (minimum age 6 and in 1st grade)
1. Become a member of USA Fencing (Non-Competitive or Competitive)
2a. Register for and start attending an Introductory class -OR-
2b. Register for and start attending private lessons
3. Wear requisite clothing: t-shirt, long athletic pants, shoes with traction that tighten
4. Demonstrate age-appropriate behavior in safety, discipline, and effort in training
5. Learning: On Guard, Advance, Retreat, Lunge/Recover (Basic Footwork)
YELLOW RANK (minimum age 7 and in 2nd grade)
1. Maintain USA Fencing membership (Non-Competitive or Competitive)
2. Continue to demonstrate age-appropriate behavior in training
3. Sign up for a regular monthly club membership
4. Obtain and wear fencing uniform: jacket, glove, pants, long socks, underarm protector
5. Regularly attend group workouts and/or private lessons
6. Elementary: Basic Footwork
7. Learning: Exacting Distance, Direct Attack Lunge Chest (Reacting Offense), and Stophit-Retreat (Reacting Defense), Circle Parry 6 (Binding) with Direct Riposte (Reacting Defense)
GREEN RANK (minimum age 8 and in 3rd grade)
1. Become a Competitive USA Fencing member
2. Obtain and use: fencing mask, one electric epee, one body cord
3. Continue to demonstrate age-appropriate behavior in training
4. Continue to regularly attend group workouts and/or private lessons
5. Demonstrate age-appropriate self sufficiency (carrying equipment, dressing, hooking up to electric scoring system)
6. Participate in a fencing competition (club practice or USA Fencing, anytime since starting fencing)
7. Fluent: Basic Footwork
8. Elementary: Reacting Offense Lunge Chest, Reacting Defense Stophit, Parry 6 & Riposte, Exacting Distance
9. Learning: Decreasing Distance with Reacting Defense, Initiating Offense Push-Pull and Pushing Footwork, Closeout 4 Attack vs. Opposite Hand Opponent, Closeout 8 Attack
BLUE RANK (minimum age 9 and in 4th grade)
1. Continue to regularly attend training and demonstrate age-appropriate behavior
2. Obtain and use: 2ndelectric epee, 2ndbody cord, equipment bag (which covers/holds epees and uniform)
3. Participated in at least 4 USA Fencing sanctioned fencing tournaments (since starting fencing)
4. Fluent: Reacting Offense Lunge Chest, Reacting Defense Stophit, Parry 6 & Riposte, Exacting Distance
5. Elementary: Decreasing Distance with Reacting Defense, Initiating Offense Push-Pull and Pushing Footwork, Closeout 4 Attack vs. Opposite Hand Opponent, Closeout 8 Attack
6. Learning: Circle 6 Pressure Attack, Initiating Defense, Closeout 8 Attack, Attacks to Leg & Foot, Advance Lunge Attacks (Closeout, Beat, Feint with Pause), Remise (Foreseen & Unforeseen), Beat Parry 4 & Riposte, Bind Parry 8 & Riposte, Collapsing Distance Defense
PURPLE RANK (minimum age 11 and in 6th grade)
1. Continue to regularly attend training and demonstrate age-appropriate behavior
2. Demonstrate knowledge of Competitive Training Practices
3. Participated in at least 8 USA Fencing sanctioned fencing tournaments (since starting fencing)
4a. Earned Regional or National Points for Youth-12, Youth-14, Cadet, or Veteran -OR-
4b. Earned an E classification (or better)
5. Fluent: Decreasing Distance with Reacting Defense, Initiating Offense Push-Pull and Pushing Footwork, Closeout 4 Attack vs. Opposite Hand Opponent, Closeout 8 Attack
6. Elementary: Initiate Defense, Attacks to Leg & Foot, Advance Lunge Attacks, Remise (Foreseen & Unforeseen), Beat Parry 4 & Riposte, Bind Parry 8 & Riposte, Collapsing Distance Defense
7. Learning: Flèche, Infighting, Parry 1 & Riposte, Half Step & Advance Lunge Attacks, Continuous Attack, Press 4, 8 Attacks, Remise (Foreseen and Unforeseen)
ORANGE RANK (minimum age 13 and in 8th grade)
1. Continue to regularly attend group workouts and/or private lessons, abide by club rules & practices
2. Participated in at least 16 USA Fencing sanctioned fencing tournaments (since starting fencing)
3. Participated in a seminar/clinic (Referee, Coach, Armorer) or Training Camp (outside of club)
4a. Earned Veteran National Points and D (or better) classification -OR-
4b. Earned Cadet/Junior National Points or Div 3 National medal, and a D (or better) -OR-
4c. Earned a C or higher
5. Elementary: Flèche, Infighting, Parry 1 & Riposte, Half Step & Advance Lunge Attacks, Continuous Attack, Remise (Foreseen and Unforeseen)
6. Fluent: Initiating Offense & Defense, Remise (Foreseen & Unforeseen), Attacks to Leg & Foot, Beat Parry 4 & Riposte, Bind Parry 8 & Riposte, Collapsing Distance Defense
BLACK RANK (minimum age 16 and in 11th grade)
1. Continue to regularly attend group workouts and/or private lessons, abide by club rules & practices
2. Participated in at least 32 USA Fencing sanctioned fencing tournaments (since starting fencing)
3a. (Ages 30+) Earn/Re-Earn D or higher, Regional Points, and Referee or Coaching certification -OR-
3b. (Ages 16+) Earn/Re-Earn C or higher, and Junior/Senior National Points or a Div2 (or higher) national medal -OR-
3c. (Ages 16+) Earn and Re-Earn an A (Senior or Junior)
4. Fluent: Flèche, Infighting, Parry 1 & Riposte, Half Step & Advance Lunge Attacks, Continuous Attack, Remise (Foreseen and Unforeseen)
Learning
able to execute slowly in class/lesson with little or no correction
Elementary
able to execute at medium speed in class/lesson with little or no correction
able to implement in club bouting practice with little or no correction
Fluent
able to execute at all speeds consistently in lesson with little or no correction
able to implement well in challenging lesson and competitive conditions
NEW STUDENTS (UNRANKED) (minimum age 6 and in 1st grade)
1. Become a member of USA Fencing (Non-Competitive or Competitive)
2a. Register for and start attending an Introductory class -OR-
2b. Register for and start attending private lessons
3. Wear requisite clothing: t-shirt, long athletic pants, shoes with traction that tighten
4. Demonstrate age-appropriate behavior in safety, discipline, and effort in training
5. Learning: On Guard, Advance, Retreat, Lunge/Recover (Basic Footwork)
YELLOW RANK (minimum age 7 and in 2nd grade)
1. Maintain USA Fencing membership (Non-Competitive or Competitive)
2. Continue to demonstrate age-appropriate behavior in training
3. Sign up for a regular monthly club membership
4. Obtain and wear fencing uniform: jacket, glove, pants, long socks, underarm protector
5. Regularly attend group workouts and/or private lessons
6. Elementary: Basic Footwork
7. Learning: Exacting Distance, Direct Attack Lunge Chest (Reacting Offense), and Stophit-Retreat (Reacting Defense), Circle Parry 6 (Binding) with Direct Riposte (Reacting Defense)
GREEN RANK (minimum age 8 and in 3rd grade)
1. Become a Competitive USA Fencing member
2. Obtain and use: fencing mask, one electric epee, one body cord
3. Continue to demonstrate age-appropriate behavior in training
4. Continue to regularly attend group workouts and/or private lessons
5. Demonstrate age-appropriate self sufficiency (carrying equipment, dressing, hooking up to electric scoring system)
6. Participate in a fencing competition (club practice or USA Fencing, anytime since starting fencing)
7. Fluent: Basic Footwork
8. Elementary: Reacting Offense Lunge Chest, Reacting Defense Stophit, Parry 6 & Riposte, Exacting Distance
9. Learning: Decreasing Distance with Reacting Defense, Initiating Offense Push-Pull and Pushing Footwork, Closeout 4 Attack vs. Opposite Hand Opponent, Closeout 8 Attack
BLUE RANK (minimum age 9 and in 4th grade)
1. Continue to regularly attend training and demonstrate age-appropriate behavior
2. Obtain and use: 2ndelectric epee, 2ndbody cord, equipment bag (which covers/holds epees and uniform)
3. Participated in at least 4 USA Fencing sanctioned fencing tournaments (since starting fencing)
4. Fluent: Reacting Offense Lunge Chest, Reacting Defense Stophit, Parry 6 & Riposte, Exacting Distance
5. Elementary: Decreasing Distance with Reacting Defense, Initiating Offense Push-Pull and Pushing Footwork, Closeout 4 Attack vs. Opposite Hand Opponent, Closeout 8 Attack
6. Learning: Circle 6 Pressure Attack, Initiating Defense, Closeout 8 Attack, Attacks to Leg & Foot, Advance Lunge Attacks (Closeout, Beat, Feint with Pause), Remise (Foreseen & Unforeseen), Beat Parry 4 & Riposte, Bind Parry 8 & Riposte, Collapsing Distance Defense
PURPLE RANK (minimum age 11 and in 6th grade)
1. Continue to regularly attend training and demonstrate age-appropriate behavior
2. Demonstrate knowledge of Competitive Training Practices
3. Participated in at least 8 USA Fencing sanctioned fencing tournaments (since starting fencing)
4a. Earned Regional or National Points for Youth-12, Youth-14, Cadet, or Veteran -OR-
4b. Earned an E classification (or better)
5. Fluent: Decreasing Distance with Reacting Defense, Initiating Offense Push-Pull and Pushing Footwork, Closeout 4 Attack vs. Opposite Hand Opponent, Closeout 8 Attack
6. Elementary: Initiate Defense, Attacks to Leg & Foot, Advance Lunge Attacks, Remise (Foreseen & Unforeseen), Beat Parry 4 & Riposte, Bind Parry 8 & Riposte, Collapsing Distance Defense
7. Learning: Flèche, Infighting, Parry 1 & Riposte, Half Step & Advance Lunge Attacks, Continuous Attack, Press 4, 8 Attacks, Remise (Foreseen and Unforeseen)
ORANGE RANK (minimum age 13 and in 8th grade)
1. Continue to regularly attend group workouts and/or private lessons, abide by club rules & practices
2. Participated in at least 16 USA Fencing sanctioned fencing tournaments (since starting fencing)
3. Participated in a seminar/clinic (Referee, Coach, Armorer) or Training Camp (outside of club)
4a. Earned Veteran National Points and D (or better) classification -OR-
4b. Earned Cadet/Junior National Points or Div 3 National medal, and a D (or better) -OR-
4c. Earned a C or higher
5. Elementary: Flèche, Infighting, Parry 1 & Riposte, Half Step & Advance Lunge Attacks, Continuous Attack, Remise (Foreseen and Unforeseen)
6. Fluent: Initiating Offense & Defense, Remise (Foreseen & Unforeseen), Attacks to Leg & Foot, Beat Parry 4 & Riposte, Bind Parry 8 & Riposte, Collapsing Distance Defense
BLACK RANK (minimum age 16 and in 11th grade)
1. Continue to regularly attend group workouts and/or private lessons, abide by club rules & practices
2. Participated in at least 32 USA Fencing sanctioned fencing tournaments (since starting fencing)
3a. (Ages 30+) Earn/Re-Earn D or higher, Regional Points, and Referee or Coaching certification -OR-
3b. (Ages 16+) Earn/Re-Earn C or higher, and Junior/Senior National Points or a Div2 (or higher) national medal -OR-
3c. (Ages 16+) Earn and Re-Earn an A (Senior or Junior)
4. Fluent: Flèche, Infighting, Parry 1 & Riposte, Half Step & Advance Lunge Attacks, Continuous Attack, Remise (Foreseen and Unforeseen)