new fencer been lurking for awhile

[mackillian]

I'm a new fencer in New Hampshire...I just started in April and have gotten through beginner class and am going through intermediate for a second time (on my way to a third).

I love it.

A friend of mine taught me a bit in January and I was hooked and signed up for the first available beginner's class at the club in my city.

I'm an athlete in other respects (I hike, bike, snowboard, sail...) but find fencing to be one of the most fun sports I've done. Explaining how intriguing and exciting it is...well, I'm sure you all know.

I'm keen to keep working on my skills and develop into a good fencer. I weight train three days a week (I have for awhile) and am making sure I keep flexibility. Most of my body except for my shoulders is relaxed and flexible. But due to poor posture most of my life (I've gotten physical therapy for it and it's fixed now) and a left shoulder dislocation in my childhood, I have a very hard time relaxing my shoulders. I've been told that it's my barrier right now in having my skills be natural instead of muscling through them. My footwork is good but ahead of my upper body (it's improving with every class, my four beat finally isn't using my shoulder). In bouting, I get incredibly frustrated because I'm inconsistent. Finally, a coach of mine explained that it's because I'm aggressive on the strip and forget all the defensive skills that I can execute in drills. Instead, I attack, and when my brain sees my opponent attacking, it figures if I can get him first, I win. Of course--my brain has forgotten right of way.

Anyway. That's a long intro.

But here I am with no intentions of ever giving up this sport.

[Peach]

Welcome! We're glad to have you with us, and feel free to ask any questions you might have.

I had the same experience you did when I started out, and I didn't even have the excuse of a childhood shoulder injury (though I do have mild scoliosis). It's not uncommon for fencers starting out to have tight shoulders and to rush to attack. Feeling right of way is not a natural skill, and some fencers never feel it (and make a virtue out of that by becoming excellent epee fencers ). (Don't mind me, I'm a sabre fencer.)

The remedy is partly more experience, and partly drill. If you practice hitting, say, a tennis ball hanging from the ceiling at target height, and concentrate on keeping your shoulders down and relaxed, it will eventually translate to your bouting.

I'm still working on that particular problem, mind you (and it has been ten years).

[D'Artag-NOT]

Ah, yes, the Tense Shoulder Brigade. I served there. My coach used to recommend that I take a shot of vodka before practice. He was joking. I think.

You might try, sometime when you're not fencing, to consciously relax your shoulders. Just tell all the muscles to go limp. Think rag doll/Beanie Baby. Sit there and simply experience the feeling. Relaxed. My shoulders are relaxed. This is what my shoulders feel like when they're relaxed.

Then try periodically reminding yourself to "Relax your shoulders" as you go about your everyday activities. Again embrace your inner Beanie Baby.

This will educate your muscle memory so that the next time your coach tells you to relax your shoulders you'll do it practically automatically.

And welcome to the wonderful, frustrating world of fencing!

[VorpalCat]

Originally Posted by D'Artag-NOT

embrace your inner Beanie Baby.

Now there's a bumper sticker just begging to be printed.

And welcome, Mac!

[mackillian]

The beanie baby metaphor is great.

Last class I actually had relaxed shoulders during a four beat drill and did it perfectly and my coach asked what I did to relax.

"I just focused consciously on relaxing them."

"Wow, because I was going to ask if you took a valium or something."

"No, valium makes me cry."

Another thing that happens is I can do a drill perfectly fine when the coach isn't look. Then he comes over and I screw it up repeatedly. So now he's taken to walking out of my field of vision and saying, "No, I'm not watching you."

Guess who didn't screw up when he did THAT.