It was said about Golubitsky (i think) that he was different from many other elite fencers, because he was not only faster and stronger than the competition, but fundamentally understood the game differently. Hmm. I don't know if that's important... if you can win by just being faster and stronger than other people, why not? Well, for me there's something puristically appealing about winning because you have something entirely different, not because you had the enhanced version of the same old attributes.

With the amount of arguing that is done by people on fdn, understandings of the game are incredibly... varied. It might be a good thing. I think it's a bad thing. We'll see. Results really offer vindication in the end, so we'll see how far my understanding of the game takes me.

Speaking of vindication if there are any girls who read this: i got into an arguement with Peach in a thread about whether or not it was helpful for women to fence guys. I talked to number 3 in the WF Veteran's World Championship of this year when she got back to the states. She said she lost to a huge 6foot something fencer. She said she would have been more prepared to fence 6foot something if she had fenced more guys at our club. Man I'm good. I won't revive the dead thread, but by golly i thought about it.

So anyway, how do you change your game fundamentally? I have absolutely no idea. Right now, faster and stronger seem to be working for me. Thinking well under pressure is also HUGE for me. Before, if it was a tight game, and you got up 2-3 points on me to about 12-10, you'd basically have it. Now, I've had the misfortune to practice clawing my way out of deficits, which is hugely satisfying. What is also hugely satisfying? Flying to Buenos Aires. Oh yeah. OH YEAH. So long suckers. At least for now.