What do you remember on the piste?

[pkt]

What do you tell your newbies without cluttering up their mind?

I just suggested these 5 things:
Distance [e.g. step back when your opponent attacks...]
Footwork [e.g. bend your knees]
Stay cool, don't panic
Open your eyes
use your repertoire and mix them up.

KISS principle.

These are just reminders, there are layers under each word/phrase.

PK

[ReverseLunge]

Remeber not to counter simple direct attacks
Remeber to parry
Remember to riposte after you parry

[Grasshopper]

Generally, in a bout, the fencer who extends their arm more times will win. Attacks, ripostes, counter-attacks, remises. To score, you have to extend. For newbies, just tell them to get into situations where they can extend their arm and hit.

(Newbies sometimes get nervous and go the whole bout without getting to extend their arm even once.)

[cfaustus]

In addition to the above:

Relax.
Trust your feelings.
Let the Force flow through you...




sorry... it just seemd to be leading up to that...

[Mergs]

Unfortunately too much, and most of it is not germaine to what I'm doing at the time! Oldtimers disease.

[Dave]

Have fun.

If it works then keep doing it.

If it doesn't work then try something else.

and if they are a newbie at an open (a national level british comp) don't worry about losing just keep trying things and try to learn from the experience.

Most of all Have fun and enjoy your self.

[Zilverzmurfen]

"May the schwarz be with you!"

[Inquartata]

I find that novices cannot focus on much more than two things at a time. Give them more instructions than that and they'll do none of it. So I just tell them to concentrate on distance and, when they attack, to follow the hand
( ie not to prepare ).

Now, if they're having some specific problem that's another matter...

[D'Artag-NOT]

At my first tournament I was told to keep moving--that most beginners didn't move enough. So all I kept thinking was, "Move, move, move, move . . . "

Now I tend to think, "Watch, watch, watch, watch . . . ."

[jBirch]

Two things:

1) Good fencers endeavour not to kill themselves.

2) HIT THE TARGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Zara_athlen]

The first thing is keep moving. There is always a little rush when I fence my first match and I always tend to do really stupid things. I like to slow down and pretend I fence this guy every day and its no big deal. Either that or I imagine the other fencer is fencing naked and that lets me chill. Especially if its a women.

[melihop]

I don't think on the strip.. which is bad i know... But.. When i think.. i get slow... well.. its more like when i think about thinking.. when i think about thinking.. i get slow.. and sloppy.. but when i just let it happen.. than i will suddwnly find myself in a lunge.. and the director calls the halt.. and i get a point.... so basically i have to remember to space out and stop paying attention!

[kalivor]

1. Relax.
2. Have fun.
3. Go! Attack early, often, and constantly.

To me, newbie roughly means "first tournament or two" -- the instructions are to stop them from being a sitting duck. I've never seen a beginner keep good distance, or regularly succeed when parrying in competition. When they attack a lot, sometimes it even confounds some experienced fencers.

[acaba]

What do you tell your newbies without cluttering up their mind?

I just suggested these 5 things:

Wow, I've been fencing for 14 years, and even _I_ can't remember 5 things at once! At most, I tell them one thing, but I try to keep it really simple: Move more or Extend your arm or Keep moving or Extend your arm! That's about it

Much more than that, and the go into complete mental overload. Trying to deal with a rabid crazy person (as they see it) swinging a sword at you tends to overshadow any training they have received. So singe commands is all.

Heck, I use this strategy when strip coaching A's and B's too. Give them one, maybe two things to work on. More than that and you overload them.

[pkt]

Well, the 'newbie' i had in mind isn't a newbie at all. But she tends to clutter up her mind with trying to remember and think too much thereby confusing herself and getting flustered and frustrated.

I agree with most, esp. for sabreures, keeps moving, keep the distance, sit low - when one sits lower it's amazing how much more one sees; sorry, i'm repeating myself.

I was asked the question, "So, what's the acronym for these 5 things?"

I looked at it and cam up with FORD:
Footwork (keep them moving)
Open eyes (I know we in sabre use this often, but rarely in foil or epee, i wonder why, )
Relax (which includes "Don't panic") and
Distance.
not in any particular order.

I know, i can count, that's only 4, but a bit of explanation shows that it includes all 5 elements. Sort of ike the 'Relativity theory' of fencing for beginners, not the 'Quantum' theory...

PK

[D'Artag-NOT]

Well, the 'newbie' i had in mind isn't a newbie at all. But she tends to clutter up her mind with trying to remember and think too much thereby confusing herself and getting flustered and frustrated.

This was where The Inner Game of Tennis helped me a lot. It emphasizes giving the conscious, critical mind one or two very simple things to keep it busy and letting the subconscious mind and the body tend to doing the right physical stuff. My coach recommended it to me and it's been a lot of help.

[suregrip]

I have to remember the three F's. Don't F all F or F eints! I always fall for feints. If I can keep the second intention in mind I usually make out ok. (I fence epee). No.....I TRY to fence epee.

[telkanuru]

Especially important in some situations is "Ignore the score". Also, my previous coach's advice in almost any given situation "Pull you head out of your ***".

[EpeeConvert]

tab "sword" goes into slot "opponent"

[pammie003]

For epee:

"Keep your tip up and stick your arm out."

Go first tournament advice!