Addiction

[AllisonT]

I didn't think it would happen to me. At first I fenced once a week, then I increased to twice a week. Before I knew what was happening, I started entering local tournaments. Now I think about fencing moves and strategy all the time. I shadow-fence on the train to work. I'm on this board every day. I am teaching my children basic footwork. My husband has to plan his evenings around my fencing schedule. Oh, what has become of me?!!!!!!!!
Not that I want to stop.....
Doctor, is this normal?

[glowstix]

I didn't think it would happen to me. At first I fenced once a week, then I increased to twice a week. Before I knew what was happening, I started entering local tournaments. Now I think about fencing moves and strategy all the time. I shadow-fence on the train to work. I'm on this board every day. I am teaching my children basic footwork. My husband has to plan his evenings around my fencing schedule. Oh, what has become of me?!!!!!!!!
Not that I want to stop.....
Doctor, is this normal?

you're not the only one i fence in the shower too; and even sleep with my epee, or all 4 of them..hehehehehe. i pretty much don't hang out anymore 'cause it affects my fencing. i've given up a lot of things to go to tournaments on the weekends not to mention the fact that i'm broke these days. miraculously, i have been able to keep school on track. i think its called an obsession.

[mackillian]

I think about fencing all the time. Drives me nuts.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

sometimes at night, before I fall asleep, if I'm thinking about fencing.. my right arm starts to twitch doing bladework, and my feet start to twitch doing footwork.... its incredibly wierd.

[obli]

I did lunges at the bus stop once

[AllisonT]

sometimes at night, before I fall asleep, if I'm thinking about fencing.. my right arm starts to twitch doing bladework, and my feet start to twitch doing footwork.... its incredibly wierd.

Can I make the obvious reference to.....a sleeping dog?
Your brain's reticular system is working overtime. I guess as long as you don't scream after a "dream" touch in your sleep, have at it.

I don't have fencing dreams yet, probably because I do a lot of fencing in the waking hours. ...leaves more dream time for the good stuff.

[Jas2on]

I have a theory that to be great in anything it must encompass your entire life; to become good you must obsess. But then you miss out on so much more in life. Whats the point?

[JackSparrow]

You guys are all nuts!!! I knew there was a reason why I like you so much.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Can I make the obvious reference to.....a sleeping dog?
Your brain's reticular system is working overtime. I guess as long as you don't scream after a "dream" touch in your sleep, have at it.

I don't have fencing dreams yet, probably because I do a lot of fencing in the waking hours. ...leaves more dream time for the good stuff.

Its exactly like a sleeping dog.

[Epeecurean]

Its exactly like a sleeping dog.

Woof! Grrr <I'll get that cat next time!>

[glowstix]

I have a theory that to be great in anything it must encompass your entire life; to become good you must obsess. But then you miss out on so much more in life. Whats the point?

i agree 100% with that. i've progressed more than anyone else in my beginners class of last year simply because i'm "psycho" as i label myself in that i read books, buy dvds' (from fencing.net ) and do so much extra work. i think about this stuff all the time.

as far as the missing out part goes, i don't think so. no one is forcing me to do this stuff, its what i want. its the reality i am creating for myself at this point in time. when i decide its not i want anymore i'll do something else; 'till then i'm not missing out on anything.

[Epictetus]

Yeah, ditto to just about everything that's been said.

However, I joined fencing with a group of three or four others from my dorm. We're pretty good friends by now, and the whole fencing team is ver close knit. So, as far as a social life, I have gained more than I have lost.

[Elemental]

Wait... there are fencers who don't practice in the shower, do footwork on the trains, and dream about fencing all the time???

[glowstix]

Wait... there are fencers who don't practice in the shower, do footwork on the trains, and dream about fencing all the time???

hey it was a shock to me too!!!

[Stylothek]

sometimes certain music triggers fencing madness in me....like call on me by dj pryce. i was in a german club when i started doing footwork an lunges at my friends...wierd, luckily, i didn't know most of the people watching.

[Larrison]

Umm... I've caught myself at work, doing lunges at the copy machine. (Small button, requires precision to hit it at good distance.... ) Been a few years since that though, so folks have forgotten about it and think I'm "normal"

[Calder]

you know you are addicted when at least on of the following occurs:

You find yourself walking slightly sideways, with one hand slightly lower then the other. (explaining this to fellow co workers in the halls can be a bit perplexing!)

You immediately drop back on step and crouch slightly when someone approaches you head on to speak...again, this requires a bit of explaining to co workers and supervisors.

You awake in the middle of the night and find your hands permanently fixed in their respective grip position.

You find yourself focusing on small areas of any surface, and fighting off a strong desire to jab at them with any sort of slender, pointy object. (dont read to much into that one!)

Your computers history file shows more fencing sites then it does work related ones....

You long for the smell of a sweaty mask....is there really any better aroma?

You find yourself missing the warm, comforting enveloping structure of a good plastron, chest protector and jacket...mmmmm!

You have to blink several times each day to remind your brain that everything is not covered with a fine mesh screen....

wow.....Ive got problems ......

[ThatReallyHurt]

People at work don't ask me about how "swordfighting" is anymore... they've learned not to get me going...

[pacer]

I only wish I could fence as well in real life as I can in my dreams....It's kind of like dreaming in a foreign language while studying one.

I too have a family that got used to my husband's cooking when I was taking lessons 2 or 3 times a week. Then work hit the fan! Now I'm lucky to have enough energy to do footwork drills in the hallway.

[The Mormegil]

when you manage to change any conversation to fencing, just so you can talk about your addiction to fencing, and how awesome fencing is, the workout, the insanity, your addiction to fencing, lunges, parry/riposte, your addiction to fencing . . . .