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The Bohn Epee Trainer is a training tool for epee fencers. This can be used when training on a dummy, on a padded wall or with the coach. The trainer gives you immediate feedback if you made a true hit (with point depression compliant to FIE timing) and the time it took to perform the action (based on the color of the light illuminated after a hit) so you can adjust and improve immediately. This device incorporates a beat sensor and a motion sensor. It can also detect when a beat (parry) is made and it can detect if the fencer is moving. This allows for more training methods to be programmed. For example, the device can measure how fast you executed a beat attack. Or for reaction training, the device can detect if you moved before a start signal is given. Device weighs 28 grams only! (A typical connector weighs about 28 grams as well). It is comparable in weight to a regular connector. It will not change the balance of your epee.
If you are interested in the basic version that only has a beep function go here: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/226787092522
if you are interested in the foil version go here:
https://ebay.us/m/FuZ6Cy
Beep. The device simply beeps and lights when a beat or a valid touch is made. A subsequent beat or touch (remise) will make the trainer light a color representing the time between the last beat or touch and the subsequent beat or touch.
Fixed Cue. The unit will beep twice, the first representing “Ready” the second representing “Fence”. The fencer makes an action after “Fence.” When a hit or beat is made, the unit will light up with a color representing the speed between “Fence” and the beat or hit. Subsequent beats or hits will also be lit up with the appropriate color. If the fencer moves before “Fence” the unit will detect this and sound a buzz to indicate a false start. The cadence between “Ready” and “Fence” is fixed. This is good for fairly measuring the time it takes to perform a certain action, say a lunge. Or combination of actions, like a lunge and a flesche. Or studying how fatigue degrades performance.
Variable Cue. This is similar to Fixed Cue but in this case the cadence between “Ready” and “Fence” changes. It can randomly be faster or slower than the previous cycle. This is useful as a reaction trainer. Similarly if a movement is detected between “Ready” and "Fence" a buzz is sounded signaling a false start. This can also be very useful for parafencers who want to train quick reactions when the referee says “Fence”
React. The unit at a random time will beep and light up with a random color. This cues the fencer to make an action. The unit will then light up again with a color representing the time between the light queue and the actual beat or touch. Any remises will also be lit up similarly. This is a true reaction trainer. You can vary the training to say, hit a certain target based on the color that was lit, or do not do anything if a certain color, say white, is lit.
FIE Timing
The trainer always checks if point depression dwell time conforms to FIE timing standards (for epee this is currently set at 9mS). If a valid touch is made, the trainer will sound out an audible beep. If the point is depressed but does not conform to FIE standard timing, the trainer will sound out a low buzzing sound (useful for practicing flicks). If the trainer detects a beat it will sound out a soft polyphonic sound.
Speed Indication
The trainer will illuminate with a color representing the time between two events. An event can be a touch, a beat or a light cue.
Time resolution is 2 tenths of a second. Green means a time duration of 2 tenths of a second or less between events. A flickering green light indicates its between 2 tenths of a second to 4 tenths of a second. A Yellow indicates a time between 4 tenths of a second and so on.
An easier way to remember this is that Green is fast, yellow is medium and red is slow. If the color flickers it means it is in the slower half of that color.
Beep
An action can be a touch or beat. When the first action is made, the trainer will illuminate a white light and an accompanying sound. The second action will light a color indicating the duration between the action and the second action and so on.
Some training ideas
The beep mode behaves like the traditional beep box used in training. The trainer gives you immediate feedback if a valid touch is made. You can use this to confirm touches especially on arms and legs where sometimes it is not clear if a hit was really made.
The trainer measures how fast subsequent hits are made and is specially useful for training multiple attacks and remises. For example you can attack under the wrist then the forearm then the body and gain feedback on the speed of execution and incrementally improve. Or you can attack the body then step forward and make a remise behind the back and see how fast you execute this.
Remember this is only a tool, consult your coach what training can be done.
Fixed Cue
The trainer will wait until the fencer is at rest, i.e. an “En Garde” position. A green light will be lit. The trainer then will beep twice. These correspond to the words “Ready” “Fence”. Each beep is also paired with a magenta colored light. The pause between “Ready” and “Fence” is always 1 second. The fencer makes an action after “Fence.” The time measure starts at “Fence”. If the fencer moves before this, the onboard motion detector will raise a false start (low buzzing sound). Time colors are displayed similar to the Beep mode.
Before commencing, the fencer should hold his hand steady (En garde). If the fencer moves too much, a yellow flickering light will appear. A green light will illuminate when the hand is steady then the “Ready Fence” sequence will begin.
Some training ideas
This mode behaves like having a coach with a stop watch saying “En Garde, Ready, Fence” and timing how fast you execute a move. You can see if your time goes faster as you practice the same move more. Or you can use this to check how your speed changes in relation to fatigue. Try to execute a lunge 10 times and see if you can maintain the same speed. The fencing move is not restricted to bladework. You can for example do an advance then beat attack. The motion detector will detect if you made an advance too early as well.
Remember this is only a tool, consult your coach what training can be done.
Variable Cue
This is similar to Fixed Cue but in this mode the pause between the beeps “Ready” “Fence” changes. The pause can be a bit slower or faster than the previous sequence. This simulates a referee’s natural tendency to change cadence.
Some training ideas
This mode behaves like having a referee who changes cadence when starting the bout. You can use this as a reaction trainer. This is useful for fencers (especially parafencers) who want to make a quick attack at “Fence” without causing a false start.
Remember this is only a tool, consult your coach what training can be done.
React
The trainer will randomly beep and illuminate a colored light which can be red, green, blue or white. The moment that the light is illuminated is also randomly selected (between .8 to 5.5 seconds). This cues the fencer to execute an action. An action can be a touch or beat. The trainer will sound when the action is made. The reaction time is measured from the time the light queue is illuminated until the first action is made. The appropriate colour representing the reaction time is illuminated.
If a subsequent action is made, (i.e. a remise) the time between the first action and the subsequent action is displayed. If no actions are detected for 1.4 seconds, the system will reset and another light queue will light at a random time.
The motion detector is deactivated in this mode (since there is no cue anyway). But if you make an action (hit or beat) BEFORE the light cue lights up, you will get a buzzing sound instead of a beep indicating a false start.
Do not look directly at the trainer. Please look directly at the target and use your peripheral vision to notice the light cue. The light cue should have enough illumination and light dispersion to be noticeable.
Some training ideas
This form of training can be used to improve your reaction time. The training can be varied. For example a different kind of attack is done based on the color that was lit, or no action at all if say the color is white. The light cue is quite visible. We do not recommend looking down at the epee waiting for the light cue. Use your peripheral vision instead. Remember this is only a tool, your coach can think of what practices can be done with this device
Changing modes
To change modes, simply depress the mode button on the front face of the unit. The trainer will beep and illuminate a color that represents the mode:
Beep is cyan, Fixed Cue is magenta Variable Cue is yellow, and React is red.
Deactivating the beat sensor
Press and hold the point for about 10 seconds. 3 buzzes means it's deactivated. To reactivate, press and hold the point again for about 10 seconds. 2 beeps means it's activated. You can also tap the unit directly with your fingers to check if the beat detector is active (it should detect your tapping as a beat). Sometimes it is useful to deactivate the beat sensor. For example if you are doing actions with binds where blades slide across each other. In this case the beat sensor may detect a beat but this is not meaningful. Or if you wish to practice flicks, a plaque might be interpreted as a beat causing extra lights.
Power and Stand by
The unit can operate continuously for about 5 hours. The unit will go on standby if no activity is detected for about 5 minutes. On standby, the battery will last up to 1 month.