How should I film and review video of my own bouts so it actually helps?

Film whole bouts from a steady spot, review them one touch at a time asking why each touch happened, and finish with one or two things to practice. A phone on a small tripod is enough. A side view is perfectly good and shows distance clearly. A view from the end of the strip, raised and slightly to the inside of the near fencer, shows blade actions better but can hide the far fencer's hand. Keep both fencers and the full strip in frame, and try to catch the scoring lights or the referee's call. Ask permission before filming others at club, and keep videos of minors private.

Watch the bout once at normal speed to get the feel, then go touch by touch, replaying each a few times. Ask: who was controlling the distance, and where on the strip did it happen? What was I trying to do, and what was my opponent trying to do? Was the choice wrong, or was it the right choice done badly? Those need different fixes. Then tally the touches into rough groups, such as lost at close range, attack parried, counterattacked, off-target, or scored on my own attack.

Patterns matter more than single touches, so look across several bouts. Maybe you always start the same way, advance at one steady rhythm, or back up to the end of the strip before you parry. Watch your wins as well as your losses, because they show what already works and deserves more use. It helps to watch through a few different eyes: a harsh judge looking for mistakes, a coach looking for causes, and a supporter noticing what is improving.

Review within a few days, while you still remember what you were thinking. After every tournament and a few club bouts a month is plenty. More than that turns into overthinking. Turn what you find into one focus for the next few weeks, with a specific drill or lesson goal attached. Show the clips to your coach, since a short video makes lesson time far more precise. Then film again a month later and check whether that pattern has actually changed.