Other activities given credit for success in fencing

[BillWhoArms]

I've heard a lot of people trying to determine what other sports help with fencing. Some believe that basketball's good for reading opponents; that raquetball's great for hand-eye coordination; i've even heard some people that credit dancing for fencing. Every now and then even I get crazy enough to believe that my playing of the drums helps with arm speed or point control.

I was just curious as to how many of you out there have some activity to credit to any fencing success that you have. If you've got something, no matter how ridiculous, post it on this thread.

[Araznal]

Back in sophmore year, I had a lot of trouble with my point control (better now, not good enough). I also had a tough time drawing freehand in my drafting course. Even straight lines wouldn't come out straight! Finally my teacher, who knew I was fencing, said, "drawing a line in drafting is a lot like lunging in fencing. You don't focus on where your point is, but where it's going. So just lunge." Though not the greatest advice I've gotten in fencing, it did help considerably. I started to use my peripheral vision and suddenly, I could do stuff right in lessons. Thanks Mr. Becker.

[fencerontheline]

Swimming, Gymnastics and martial arts have produced some very coordinated kids outta the ones I work with

[Peach]

Running a marathon taught me how to take the long view in training.

[mackillian]

Racquetball is affected by fencing and affects my strategic game in fencing, as well as explosive actions. Fast hiking affects my stamina for fencing.

[VERITAS]

A good question.

I was pretty into basketball and roller-blading, and somewhat into swimming and bicycling before I began fencing, and it helped with acquring the body control associated with the new way of walking that is fencing footwork.
Having taken only a few karate lessons, I am sure of a connection and important parallels, similarities and differences, but I am nowhere near good enough for it to help significantly.
A variety of stretching and strengthening exercises adapted from ballet and yoga are used by my club. They help a lot in preparing the body for fencing, forming the balance and control necessary for optimum performance.
There is no substitute for the technical and tactial training specific to fencing, though.
What, if any, other martial arts have you found most helpful? I am rather curious what other combat training is found to be applicable...

charley

[Fechter1]

Originally Posted by VERITAS

What, if any, other martial arts have you found most helpful? I am rather curious what other combat training is found to be applicable...

I studied Tae Kwon Do for a few years (long enough to get my black belt, then I had to move, got a job, and no longer have time <sniff>). Strong emphasis on leg-work. Really improved my balance, flexibility, even my focus. Earned my B about 9 months after I started.

[grotto]

Sailing. In the summer I race Lightnings, I fly the spinnaker. (big balloony down wind sail.) the touch and concentration involved in keeping the sail full and drawing needs to be constant. I find that I use the same mental focus for both sports, that moment of mental lapse that gets you hit on the strip is the same lapse which collapses the sail or causes utter mayhem on the boat.

I think most sports can draw corrilaries, anything we do which requires athletics and concentration will dovetail nicely into the tools we use for fencing.

[Montoya]

Surgery. Performing it, not having it. Twenty plus years ago, when I had a brief foil fencing career, I tending to get panicky on the strip. I still feel some anxiety when I compete, but in general am able to stay quite calm and focussed. I think that what athletes experience when they are "in the zone" is closely related to what surgeons experience when they are working in the operating room. And nothing on the strip seems that scary compared to some of the situations I find myself in at work . . .

[Pauli]

Not odd and nothing particular, but I try to work on my cardio and on specific muscle parts in the shoulders. Not that I only train these special parts, but I do definitely do more for them than for other muscle parts.
And the once a week Taebo Training helps just about with everything, especially flexibility and speed and concentration.
Once summer starts I'll try to get back to mountain biking. Leg training.

But then, I could imagine every other sport does help.

[BillWhoArms]

Originally Posted by Montoya

Surgery. Performing it, not having it.

So in order to improve my fencing I'll just take up surgery on the side. Good deal. But since I lack the medical degree, I guess I'll have to work on willing people. Any volunteers?

[HDG]

Piano for finger (ie point) control.

[sreckiki]

Watching fencing on TV... But it's harder than you think because since you can do that only once every 4 years, you need to have a really good tempo!