Good Fencing

Here are a few words from Nick Evangelista in his book, "The Inner Game of Fencing". I don't agree with everything he says but this is very accurate in my opinion.
Good fencing:

1. is thoughtful and logical
2. is economical in its movement
3. establishes a clear physical advantage
4. is always repeatable
5. is pliable, if necessary
6. is balanced
7. avoids all that is reactive, unproductive, emotional and risky
8. injures no one
9. focusses on process over result
10. aspires to the highest common denominator, rather than the lowest

on the other hand...

Bad fencing:

1. lacks self discipline
2. is reactive, obvious and physically overbalanced
3. is emotional
4. pays no attention to opponent's responses
5. is unrepeatable
6. is brutal and harmful
7. looks only for results
8. is purely physical, without thought
9. is filled with pointless movement
10. works to the lowest common denominator, rather than the highest

Interesting stuff don't you think?

Things that make Fencing Coaches go hmmm....

These are some of the common quotations fencing coaches hear during the course of their careers. The responses we would sometimes like to make are in parentheses.

• "We don't do lessons at my other club; we just turn up and fence" (Yes, and it shows)
• "Everyone else does it..." (So if everyone else stuck their head in a hay baler you'd do that too?)
• "We did this last week" (Yes and we're doing it again this week sunshine so deal with it)
• "But they're only regulations..." (And your un-safe equipment has been obsolete since 1952)
• "Do you mind if I just join in?" (Do you mind if I say "no, turn up on time next time"?)
• "When can we do something exciting?" (When I think you can do a lunge properly matey)
• "The others said it was OK..." (See point 2 above)

Luckily most coaches are mild-mannered polite people who wouldn't dream of saying these things out loud, but now you know why we might pause before smiling politely....

Two fencers meet...

Two fencers of equal skill meet; which one will win.....?

• The one who can adapt the fastest
• The one who sees not only what they are doing but also what their opponent is doing
• The one who uses simplicity
• The one who keeps calm
• The one who doesn't just fight
• The one who keeps calm and doesn't get angry
• The one who thinks

A picture never lies...

Last night for a number of unlikely reasons I ended up getting photographed at fencing for an art project. It was an interesting experience, not least because I was able to check the camera out and get instant feedback on my fencing. I was horrified to discover that I wasn't bending my legs as far as I thought! Dun-dun-duhhhh! This was actually quite sobering as I am so used to banging on about bent legs that I had forgotten to check my own. (Difficult to do when fencing). I had obviously got into that not quite-fully-bent-leg-stance that coaches can adopt. Luckily this photographic revelation will allow me to work on this discrepancy; I believe in practicing what I preach after all. It made me think that perhaps we should all get some visual or verbal feedback more often as it's very easy as a coach to slip into bad habits. It wasn't the end of the world but it was a useful lesson.
I also found out that it is difficult 'putting on a war face' for a portrait when your Coach is clowning around in the background. Such jealousy.....!