Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Torg · 10-02-2004, 01:32 AM

i'm fairly new to fencing, and on sunday i'm participating in a local tournament. obviously i should have two weapons and body cords, and all my equipment, but what else should i bring? what should i do to best warm up? anything else i should know? (if you're hesitant because your reply is only sort of on-topic, don't worry, i want to gain as much information as i can from this thread)
thanks in advance!

Purple Fencer · 10-02-2004, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torg

i'm fairly new to fencing, and on sunday i'm participating in a local tournament. obviously i should have two weapons and body cords, and all my equipment, but what else should i bring? what should i do to best warm up? anything else i should know? (if you're hesitant because your reply is only sort of on-topic, don't worry, i want to gain as much information as i can from this thread)
thanks in advance!

I can't help with the warm up part, but go to my biz website http://homfencing.com and click on the first link under the logo ("Going to your first tournament? Read THIS!") it's a primer package I wrote several years ago.

It'll help!

pammie003 · 10-02-2004, 01:29 PM

I would suggest doing whatever you do at practice to warm up. I find going through something familiar helps settle me when I'm nervous. So, if you run at practice, then run. If you jump rope, then do that.

Following the initial warm up, I like to bout a little bit with a teammate. I've learned that if I skip this step, I'm unfocused for the start of pools and then loose the first one.

After this, if there's time, I sometimes rope a coach into giving me a technical warm-up. This is usually just me being reminded of what we've been working on. Then you should be ready to go!

Don't forget to bring a water bottle and some food (whatever goes down easy... I'm a big fan of cereal bars and fruit). You might also want a jacket or sweater so you don't cool down too much during the waiting around.

Good luck!

Taomagicdragon · 10-02-2004, 02:50 PM

While making sure your hand and feet are in good working order, please don't neglect your mind. Make sure you are focused on your goal and have an indomitable spirit going into it. Don't get jittery but don't go to the opposite end of the spectrum and be arrogant. Be in high spirits and come in with a winner's attitude.
As for more coporeal matters, do stretches, foot work, hand work, practice bouting, and have all your equipment in good working order and in a position in which you can easily get what you want. Bring water and some energy bars and fruit to keep you at optimal condition.
Finally, your heart. Make sure you have someone there to support you, a coach, team mate, family, freinds, significant other, etc. I know I wouldn't be anywhere without those certain people that I'm proud and thankful to have in my life. Don't let the losses get you down, and ALWAYS be positive. Best of luck!

Epee Scherma · 10-04-2004, 07:20 PM

I don't agree that one needs people close to their heart to perform well. Those who do, are insecure about their fencing and just plain to needy. The main part of the game is to just relax and be SMART while keeping it simple, stupid. Emotional fanatics fail in this game.

Torg · 10-04-2004, 07:39 PM

thank you all for the advice, but i'm siding with Epee Scherma on this one. i went there alone and i only saw 2 people i knew well, and they were both occupied fencing on their own (one in foil, one sabre, i'm in epee). and after the pools, i was seeded last (12th). in my first DE, i fenced the #5 seed, and i managed to beat him 15-13. then i fenced the 3rd seed, who had a bye the first round, and i should have beaten him, but i lost 12-15. i lost my focus between the first two periods and couldnt' find it again. oh, well. next time! thanks for the other advice.