Is my training enough?

[oiuyt]

What you put into the time that you practice is MUCH more important than how much time you put into practice. Quality is more important than quantity (although you need both to be top-level).

We simply CAN'T tell you whether or not the effort put into your practices is enough without seeing the practices. 168 hours/week isn't going to do it if you're not practicing right (right is a vague term with many correct definitions).

-B :)

[Grey]

DFP, the point is not about 'buff' or not 'buffed'. The point I'm trying to express is that you can do so much more if you did weights training. It is true that muscle toning can boost its performance, but there is only so much toning you can do before you need increases in muscle mass for improved performance. As mackillian says, the fencer who lasts through the day wins the competition. You can be fast and explosive, but you can be faster if you had more muscles... you can last through a few bouts in a row? Constantly maintaining the same explosive power and lunge every point? Thats something different.

Like I said, skills is an essential part of winning, but physical fitness is just as important. The difference is obvious when you are 'buffed' compared to the past when you aren't.

[the doc]

i almost choked on my bacon sandwich when you asked whether 6 days a week fencing was enough. what i would suggest you add to your regime is some proper rest and recovery.

it should be remembered that the muscles actually develop in the resting and recovery stage, not in the exercise itself. also, when learning a new and difficult skill, it takes the body and mind time to assimilate the information and add it to the subconcious level, where actions can be performed faster. it has also been shown in learning a skill, that visualisation of you performing the act helps develop the neural pathways almost as much as doing the act itself.

also oiuyt is correct about the quality of training. if you spend 6 days a week doing something wrong, you will set yourself back more than someone who does it only 2 or 3 times, but does it perfectly. it is very hard to unlearn bad habits.

so the message is think about what you are doing, do it properly and rest when you have stopped doing it.

[achilleus]

Originally Posted by Grey

DFP, the point is not about 'buff' or not 'buffed'. The point I'm trying to express is that you can do so much more if you did weights training. It is true that muscle toning can boost its performance, but there is only so much toning you can do before you need increases in muscle mass for improved performance. As mackillian says, the fencer who lasts through the day wins the competition. You can be fast and explosive, but you can be faster if you had more muscles... you can last through a few bouts in a row? Constantly maintaining the same explosive power and lunge every point? Thats something different.

Like I said, skills is an essential part of winning, but physical fitness is just as important. The difference is obvious when you are 'buffed' compared to the past when you aren't.

I had an important revelation thanks to Michael Johnson, declared the fastest man alive after he won both the 200m and the 400m sprints at the OG.

I don't remember where or the exact words, but he was talking about his training. He said that sprinters work out religiously with weights. The stronger the core,\ and upper body, the easier it was to maintain correct form. The more correct the form, the more efficient you are. The more efficient you are, the quicker you are.

Ever since then, I've worked out religously, and it's true. The improvement in performance is amazing.

That said, ever seen a sprinter that wasn't cut?

[freshfisher929]

You should chill out a little, your current routine sounds about good with a few changes but your upping it idea sounds way to intense.

Overtraining can hurt a lot more than undertraining, not only will fencing 6 times a week physically exhaust you but you'll burn out mentally in an extremely short amount of time.

If you want get better, go to competition, gain expeirience. There is no substitute for having several competitions under your belt. Also in your free fencing club fence up. Fence people that will beat you, and if at all possible beat you badly. If you fence someone who's not as good as you are work on a particular thing during the whole bout. I.E. only allow yourself to parry with distance and counter.

You're in highschool, probably so you have way too much homework and way too little time, if your serious about competition you need sleep. Sleep allows your muscles to heal and become stronger and it gives your head a rest, it'll help things click. So try to get to bed before 11 if at all possible.

About a training schedule, I think you would be better served fencing 3-4 times a week and doing heavy conditioning on one day.
On conditioning, as far as this goes fencing is a relatively easy sport, there are 3 minute rounds with periodic breaks in between, aerobic fitness is not so important... What you need weight training for is to be faster, the stronger a muscle is the faster it can twitch. Thus, run 100 meters as fast as you can a couple times with full recovery.

As far as aerobic vs. anaroebic goes. I ran track last spring, the 800m, half mile, two laps which is basically a sprint, about 2 minutes long. This fall i'm running cross-country, 5k's, about 3 miles, about 18-19 minutes long. The anaroebic nature of a sprint helps make your legs strong and it makes them fast twitch which is what you need for fencing.

If you have the opportunity i would strongly suggest running track and field it will help your overall conditioning greatly and you probably wont have to do any additional conditioning.

Thats my 2 cents

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

What I'm trying to convey is that you dont need to have giant muscles to do well.

[Grey]

Actually, you do. Tell me which international fencer with decent rankings is not 'buffed', especially their thighs... If you look carefully, they are really 'plated' and 'buff'. I assume your meaning of do well means to reach A or B standards in USFA ranking?

[mackillian]

Well, there's a difference between having giant muscles and being buffed.

Being buff would be important and good. Giant muscles--bodybuilder type muscles--I wouldn't think would be helpful in terms of agility.