Where do you draw your aggression from?

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

I couldn’t. I’m far too placid. Pacifistic.
In bouts after that, I found that it's difficult for me to establish a strong, 'loud,' obvious attack, something that intimidates or even frightens.

I've found (in what little experience I've had) that that's actually reasonably normal for young fencers, especially girls. They're just too scared, or whatever, to attack. My advice, don't worry about it, with experience, you'll gain confidance in yourself enough to launch powerful attacks. According to your profile, you've been fencing for less than a year, so you have a long time to learn how to attack. Be patient, practice your attacks, and fence alot. Especailly people who you CAN launch attacks against. Show yourself that you can do it.

As for the "go for the gold" thing....not everyone gets a gold. Some people never get a gold. If you go into every tournament going for the gold, unless it's really realistic, you're going to be disappointed.

Of course, if you're in the top 4 or something, that's completely reasonable. But if you got in the bottom half, don't go for the gold. Go for one more DE, or maybe a better placing in an easier tournament.

In summary, don't worry about it. Practice, and it'll come.

And this couldv'e gone in the discussion, for future reference.

And your avatar is awesome.

[Sword-Chucks]

I don't actually have any aggression. I'm a sucky fencer, but I've got nothing to be angry about, or no desire to be angry anyways. I'm not very competitive either. I just kinda stand at my end of the strip and stab people, my only talent is I'm terribly lucky.

[telkanuru]

Anger and excessive energy are my bane. I fence my absolute best when I am calm and collected. Then let your wrists beware!

[Point_Left]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

Anger and excessive energy are my bane. I fence my absolute best when I am calm and collected. Then let your wrists beware!

I agree. If I'm angry or frustrated, my fencing goes downhill. When I am calm, cool and calculating I am a much better fencer. It just...works for me. I can't just be angry and fence well. If I'm angry I start thinking "I'm going to take him with me! Who cares if I get hit, as long as he does too!" Sabre being ROW, this is a bad idea. Of course, the real issue is getting in "the zone" consistently. Maybe anger is easier to call on. I prefer to be not be angry.

[mithrandir]

My advice, don't worry about it, with experience, you'll gain confidance in yourself enough to launch powerful attacks. According to your profile, you've been fencing for less than a year, so you have a long time to learn how to attack. Be patient, practice your attacks, and fence alot. Especailly people who you CAN launch attacks against. Show yourself that you can do it.

Yes, thank you, I guess I do have a long way to go! Confidence doesn't come in a few months does it
I'll try not to worry too much about it.

Your avatar is pretty awesome too.. crazy captain planet .. I wish I was captain planet..
*cough*

Thank you especially about the 'patience'.. that's something I notice I'm lacking in. I mean, I've been fencing for only a few months and I am so excited about all of it I want to learn everything at once and as fast as possible! I need to slow it down. merci.

[achilleus]

Originally Posted by S. Hunter

Bleh, I know the feeling. Its not about aggression - And its not about winning. Eventually if you focus on your form, winning will become a nonissue. I'm still waiting for it, but I have many friends who express this regularly. My best friend fenced for two years without caring about tournaments or winning, and last week he went from U to D. Go figure. Just keep having fun, and you will win some and lose some. If its not in your nature to be agressive then you wont be, really this sport it about you and what you want, so do what you want to do. If its winning, then try, if its having fun, then do that. As long as you fence you will improve - And fencing is the important part.

Posts like this always make me wonder. I mean, your last sentence highlighted above, doesn't support the rest of your statemtent.

There is a variety of definitions of fencing, but basically, fencing is fighting with swords. My first coach told us the object of fencing is to hit and not be hit. Every fencer I know agrees to this. So, if this is the goal of fencing, then hitting seems kinda important, don't you think? Hitting often, leads to winning.

As for focusing on form, I always liked Bruce Lee's definition. Good technique or form is the most efficient and economical way to achieve the desired result. It's not about what looks good, or what you like to do. It's about about achieving the goal with no wasted energy.

Or for another writing analogy, focusing on form is like focusing on vocabulary and grammer. Bouting is like creative writing. To be good at bouting one needs to have a strong vocabulary and know grammer. But just because one knows grammer really well, and has an excellent vocabulary doesn't mean one's going to be good at bouting.

As a side bar, I started fencing late in life, had very little natural talent so no one really had much interest in my fencing, but I worked hard, and focused on goals. I trained (and still do) to achieve my goals. I earned my A in less than 2 years. I focused on scoring in the touch, and practiced the most efficient and effective ways to score. I get compliments on my technique all the time.