The Simple Things

For some reason, while I was fencing last week, I got really frustrated with myself. This is quite unlike me, as I try to remain placid throughout the match. However, none of my hits were landing, and my opponent, someone who tended to whip the point in rather than place it, kept hitting me solely on the counter attack. I kept thinking, he shouldn't be getting points for my mistakes. Every point, I had to keep tugging my left handed glove down. I don't actually have a left hand, just a stumpish type thing. I have to wear a sock-like glove to cover it, so it doesn't get hurt. I have to pull it down, as it keeps slipping off. Today, I decided to just take it off. My opponent watched me cast aside my glove, and at his lead 7-2, we began to fence.

I felt better for some reason. The lack of glove seemed to have some kind of physical effect. In the open air, it felt free, and comfortable. I physically and mentally relaxed, and resumed fencing. The final score was 10-7 to me. Somehow, my lack of glove had completely changed me. Perhaps it was a pyschological thing. Casting off the remnant of a frustrating period, had mentally rid me of it, and so I relaxed. Perhaps. Or maybe my opponent was just bamboozled by my actions. Both valid points. Of course, I wouldn't recommend ripping off your mask half-way through a bout, so as to breathe a little easier. Just try and do something simple, like taking off your glove, and putting it back on again. Simple things produce great changes. A breakthrough, I feel!