Beyond Comfort

Yesterday, I asked my coach David to fence, and he willingly agreed. At first, I was getting most of the hits, but then everything seemed to change. David began to bob up and down on his feet, and began to move much more quickly. I was very surprised by this; after all, David had taught me that you mustn't bob up and down a lot (see The Graceful Swan). I don't mind admitting that it unsettled me. Fencing is not just played physically, it is also a thinking game. The problem was, that I couldn't see what he was trying to achieve. To unsettle me? Match my style? I was unsure, and because of this, I instantly became wary. Confidence on the piste is important, because even if you are panicking, if you remain confident on the exterior, you can keep up a good performance. However, I was incredibly wary of David, because I didn't know what he was doing. My confident exterior crumbled promptly, and David began to get point after point after point. Afterwards, he explained what he had done:
Everyone has a comfort zone, and it is in this zone that we fence at our very best. Yesterday, David succeeded in bringing me out of it, and so he scored plenty of hits. If we have a small comfort zone, then we will not fare as well. Perhaps beginners have a smaller comfort zone, which is why they are more easily unsettled. I would say that the comfort zone grows with experience. It's just a matter of expanding it. Now armed with this knowledge, I look forward to fencing David next time!

A Simple Error

Fencing today, I was helping to preside a group of younger fencers, which included some beginners. One fencer had been fencing for at least three months, while the other fencer had been fencing one month. We'll call then 3m and 1m. Watching them, I could see that 3m was performing fairly basic technique. 1m was doing likewise, however, it was slightly better. At the end of the match, fencer 1m had won, and 3m was confused why. I think I have the answer.

No criticism is intended for any beginner fencers reading, and I hope I do not offend anyone. Beginner fencers are split into two groups. For an example, let us say that 3m and 1m are watching a coach give a lesson on the beat attack. Fencer 3m will take the technique, and shape it into his own style. He will still beat the blade, but his point will then fly off here and there until he finally succeeds in hitting or wounding his opponent. With the point his, he assumes that he hit because his technique was good, and that he is doing the attack right. He will not attempt to change it, using the most hated sentence in the fencer's vocabulary: Well it worked didn't it?

Fencer 1m however, will try to copy what the teacher does. He will not view the technique, but how it should be applied. Unfortunately, these fencers are often scorned or failed attacks. Fencer 1m should just keep trying until it is a perfect technique. He should realise that he is doing something wrong, but instead of not using it because it isn't working, he should continue to try it; find out why it isn't working, correct himself.

The simple error for beginners is to use their own style initially. Fencers starting the sport should try and follow their teachers, and this includes everything. They need to assume a proper stance, so that they will be able to have a centre of balance, and they need to learn how to adopt, adapt and improve in every technique. To quote from Nick Evangelista:

'Without this, you will always be a poker, never a fencer'

A Change of Scene

Yesterday, instead of attending the N.F.C as per usual, I went to visit another club, which someone had recommended to me. I was a little wary of this, mainly because I wanted to stick with just attending one club. I like the N.F.C. This club, however, was not how I expected it to be. There were only about fifteen members, and they were all quite young. The session got underway with a warm-up, which I was expecting. However, I was not expecting to be continuing with it half an hour later. This is not an exaggeration either! The fencing then got underway, and it was just about free for all. It was basically grab someone, monopolize a piste, and fence away. I was amazed by the standard there. I was probably the only person there who didn't have a ranking. Although I was beaten several times, I managed to score at least two points off everyone, and even win four of my matches. I found it a great experience, but I will stick with the N.F.C. From this, I would say that everyone should break the routine every now and then with a change of scene.

The Graceful Swan

As promised, here is the post on 'the graceful swan'. Fencers who enter into competitions are more often then not, fast movers. They bob around quite a lot, ducking and weaving. At one competition I saw, one fencer was doing just that when I was fencing him. He evidently thought that my firm rooted stance was nowhere near as good as his, obviously better, light of foot technique. He openly laughed as I set off after him, and he sprung backwards lightly. I began to feel slightly annoyed at this point, and I decided to attack. I lunged forward, and simultaneously, my opponent jabbed at me , hitting me on the shoulder. Both of our lights came on at the same time. My opponent turned to the referee, expectantly. It was clear that he was expecting the point.

'The attack is from this side' The referee said, indicating me. My opponent literally screamed 'What?!', and demanded an explanation. This is it:

Fencers should try and be like a swan. Bobbing is all very well, but it turns your lunges into jabs, which makes you draw your arm backwards, instead of an extension. Keeping your feet on the ground, you can still move quickly, but you can control your upper body, keeping your cool. Be like a swan. Be calm in the upper body, fast in the lower body. Make fast one. Silence the other.

Visitors

The N.A.F started again today, and we had a new influx of people. We also had a surprise visitor; Anna Bentley. David often talks about her, and I was naturally pleased to meet her. But I didn't expect David to ask me to fence her. Somehow, I didn't think that I would be fencing the Woman's Foil Champion of Britain. However, it turned out to be very interesting. She was left handed, which didn't surprise me. A lot of people I see at competitions are left-handed (I once had the misfortune of having six out of eight left-handed fencers in one pool). What surprised me though, was her movement. Most competitive fencers are very light on their feet, bobbing around quite a lot. Her movements were light, but not bobby. They were firm on the ground, and yet speedy. I expect that David taught her about the 'graceful swan' some time ago (I will do a post on that one shortly). The fight started, and initially, I was in the lead 2-0. Then she got a few points, and I did as well, making the score then 4-2. Anna then began waiting for me to attack, and hitting me on the back twice with excellently placed parry ripostes. The score was then 4-4. The final point. At this stage in a fight, both fencers are either very tentative, or very aggressive. Anna and I were tentative. We were unsure of what to do, and so I decided to take the initiative. I did a beat attack, which, to my immense surprise, hit. Now, some fencing champions, when they are beaten, get very shirty. The most eventful one I have seen was a few months ago, when the fencer in question screamed in rage, hurled his foil away, and literally ripped his mask off. However, Anna just took her mask off and shook my hand, smiling and telling me that I had done well. To me, that is the attitude that all fencers should have. David obviously taught her well!
When you are fencing, you can either fence to win, or not to lose. When you fence to win, you are hurried, frantic and unfocused. When you fence not to lose, you are relaxed, calculating and focused. However, when I fenced Anna Bentley, I did neither. I just fenced.

Sacrifices

I am in a bit of a problematic stage at the moment. After viewing the techniques of fencers who compete at a national level, I think I have managed to see why they succeed. Some of them are good at attacking on the preperation, while others are good at feint attacks. However, most of them attack simply. The most complicated move I saw at a recent competition was a beat attack. The attacks work, I think, because of the speed and ferocity which they execute. The ferocity in particular, is startling to a fencer like me. It is essentially extend the arm, parry, extend, parry, parry, lunge, all in a matter of two seconds. The problem is this: To achieve victory against these fencers, I may have to match their techniques, become fast and aggressive. Conversely, I do not think I want to. I believe that you do not need speed to beat an opponent; I prefer to use cunning and technique to beat an opponent. I think I lack aggressiveness, though. I don't like to chase a beginner fencer down the piste, it seems to lack honour in some way. Also, if I try to be speedy and agressive, I find that my technique becomes bad, and my lunges aren't powerful or fully formed. I noticed that at the competition, that speedy and agressive fencers are the same; lunges are done with bent knees and with rolled over feet.

This may seem a bit old-fashioned, but I want to retain my technique. I have been taught that good technique is something good. However, I want to do well in competitions, and to do this, I need speed and agressiveness. So, do I stay a technical fencer, ordo I become a fast and furious one? I will think about it...

The Unfettered Orb

In my opinion, you need to have a number of things to succeed in fencing. You need to have commitment, you need to be open-minded, and you need to be determined. Skill, patience and speed will come later, as well as dexterity, control and, most importantly, adaption. Adaption is one of the most important skills a fencer needs to learn. People I know will try a move out, and find that it works on an opponent. However, they wil continue to use this move on different opponents. In a direct elimination at a recent competition, I saw one fencer lunge, and hit his opponent. When they started again, he lunged again, and was instantly parried and riposted. In this situation, I hope I would think Alright, I need another attack. Unfortunately, the fencer in question just kept doing the same attack, and kept getting parry riposted. I think the term, flogging a dead horse is appropriate. The fencer's logic must have been: I hit him with it once, why isn't it working now? The simple answer: He knows what you're going to do.

Fencers should try and be like a ball., always on the move, constantly changing angles and not stopping. If an opponent is beating you, stop and think about the following:

1. Why aren't my attacks working?
2. Why are his attacks working?
3. How do I need to adapt? Is it possible?
4. Do I have a back-up plan if it fails?

In this way, you shall become the unfettered orb.

Respect

I was fencing in a competition in Essex today, which turned out to be suprisingly illuminating. However, I couldn't help but notice one fencer, who obviously thought a lot of himself. After every hit he landed, he would scream out at the top of his voice in what was obviously some fit of ecstasy. While it may be satisfactory to hit with a lunge, I find it very disrespectful to scorn an opponent, even if the hit is brilliant. I also find that not much respect is being shown to anyone on the piste anymore. The ecstatic screaming is just the tip of a very big iceberg. Some fencers are contradicting every hit that is given against them. Asking why the hit wasn't theirs is fine, but effing and blinding at the president for a clear decision is another matter. I was once presiding a normal fencing match, and the following happened:

1. Fencer A attacked.
2. Fencer B parried, but didn't riposte immediately.
3. Fencer A continued the attack, and hit.
4. Fencer B riposted and hit.
5. Both fencer's hits registered at the same time.

I thought about it, but eventually awarded the point to fencer A. Although a parry riposte grants you right of way, it can only be awarded, if the riposte is immediate. Therefore, fencer A seized priority by continuing his attack into the delayed riposte. I told them of my decision, and fencer B didn't take it very well. He ripped off his mask, and demanded that I phrase the attacks. I explained to him my reasons behind the decision, and eventually, he put his mask back on, and walked back on to the piste, grumbling as he went.

I can't respect anyone who accosts the referee for making the 'wrong decision', anyone who tries to scrape points together by accosting the referee, or anyone who refuses to acknowledge a clear hit.

Introductions

My name is Chris Seaman, and I am a fencer from Norwich. I captain the Norfolk Academy of Fencing, and I intend to tell the world about the sport of fencing. I must note that there are other fencing blogs that are worth looking at. There is Autumn Lighting, by my fencing coach, David, and there is a link to Musings of a Warrior from there, written by Robert Page, friend and coach. Both are well worth a look. On this blog, I will list some of my experiences and lessons which I have learnt, and I hope people out there will read my thoughts and perhaps comment on them.