I have been seriously thinking about adding additional strength training once a week. I need to justify the added expense as well as consider that I barely fence twice a week as is due to work, kids, etc, so is adding one session for weights worth it when I have so much still to learn fencing wise? So I am using this blog time to think it through.

I find that I need better endurance and that my lunges are not as powerful or explosive as they could be. I am also often off balance and

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Yesterday was a big day for me. I rode on a high of fencing success that has me still heady. I was even debating going to fence as past performance at tournaments has been less then what I hoped it would be. Perhaps I had nothing to lose and thus could only go up and did.

I felt my self planning attacks for the first time, making others attack because i wanted them to. Acting, not reacting. Seeing openings. It felt like I was in Matrix bullet time and felt unstoppable. When fatigue

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I think I have advanced in the sport for two reasons.
1. I was able to diagnose an equipment failure.
2. I was interested enough in trying to fix it myself.

I never really thought much about my equipment before. In college if something was broke you sent it to the armory and got yourself another item. Simple, no cost. If something failed on the strip, the coach or a team member would loan you a item. Simple, easy.

Now that I am on my own and paying for

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Alright, I am being a little melodramatic here, but if it weren't for fencing, I would be in a cast right now!
After class, all juiced up on the adrenaline of 3/5 bouts won in the open bouting pool, I decided to cut through stopped cars at a light to cross the street.
(I know, I know, very dumb, but I was jazzed and felt invincible) The line of cars was long and no one was coming on the other side of the double yellow due to a red light. As I was about to cross at the midline out of

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Another good lesson. Working to build on what I am working on each week. It is a good feeling. I am feeling more confident which I think is showing during open bouting. I just wish I was stronger during my attacks. I am still tentative and not sure that my attacks are going to land and then leave me out there bare and exposed for my opponents attack. I still counter attack way too much for my own good. It works at times but it is a poor substitute for a proper attack and seems more like my reaction

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