The Fencing Alphabet

Happy Xmas to all you readers out there and a succesful New Year as well!

A is for Awareness - pay attention to even small things
B is for Balance balance balance
C is for cutting - something you only do with a sabre
D is for Distance distance distance
E is for Experience - which you normally only get just after you needed it!
F is for Footwork which underpins everything
G is for Grace - which our fencing should have
H is for Hitting and not being hit
I is for Instinct - it comes after many years of practice
J is for Judgement - you must cultivate this to succeed
K is for Knowledge - any fight where you don't increase this hasn't been a complete success
L is for Lunge. The basic move which takes years to perfect
M is for Mobility and using all the piste
N is for New - there is always something new to find in fencing
O is for Opportunity - watch out for them at all times
P is for Practice practice practice
Q is for Quiet reflection - something you should attempt after every match or lesson
R is for Respect, for the sport, your opponent and the President
S is for Spirit - every good move should have it
T is for Timing or Thrusting which you do with a foil and epee
U is for Using your opponent's strengths against them
V is for Variety - something all fencers should have in their game
W is for Winning, which is nice, but isn't everything
X is for messing up alphabets
Y is for Youth and enthusiasm; usually defeated by age and cunning!
Z is for Zanshin or 'Lingering Mind'. Really good fencers have it!