Learning not Fighting

There's been a theme building up in my head for several weeks around the difference between fighting and training. A lot of people in the fencing world (and probably sports in general) are under the impression that if you fight/compete in a lot of matches every week you don't need to practice or train because you will automatically get better. Let me be unequivocal here; this is wrong. As a coach I see a lot of examples of this in clubs; people who turn up, have a cursory stretch, fence the same few people and then go home, with no analysis or interaction with a coach at all. Now this is perfectly fine if it floats their boat as a social activity but it is not a path to improvement. Improvement only happens when analysis and reflection takes place after the action. This can be done in conjunction with a coach, a senior fencer, a respected colleague or on your own, but it must happen in order to digest and assimilate the learning then develop different strategies. To be fair, this situation is not always the fault of an individual fencer; it can just as easily be a coach who doesn't have the experience, confidence (or time) to assist in this way.

Whatever the reason I've seen loads of fencers at foil over the years who have just been allowed to bash away without reflection and they can usually be recognised by the following characteristics:

• They have developed a 'stunge' - something that isn't quite a step but isn't quite a lunge either
• They always 'stunge' with a bent arm
• They rarely parry riposte but often counter-attack
• They have very little concept of a compound action
• They quite often get frustrated because.....
• They tend to plateau in their development
• Ironically, they can be quite difficult to beat because they are awkward and unconventional, even though their style may be limited, which ends up reinforcing the cycle.

I'm not trying to be pompous with this post or denigrate people in any way, but I do feel it's important to explain that without reflection and assimilation there can be no real learning or improvement. You don't have to work with a coach or talk to anyone else but if you genuinely want to improve please please, as a minimum, do think about what you're doing! It can be a whole lot more fun and add a lot of satisfaction!