Name ONE book that helped your fencing

[Sciurus Rex]

One book per message, please. I'd like to collect the responses in a simple format to share with other people.

Why was the book helpful?

[Bugaboo]

"The Inner Game of Tennis," by Timothy Gallwey

A phenomenon when first published in 1972, the Inner Game was a real revelation. Instead of serving up technique, it concentrated on the fact that, as Gallwey wrote, "Every game is composed of two parts, an outer game and an inner game." The former is played against opponents, and is filled with lots of contradictory advice; the latter is played not against, but within the mind of the player, and its principal obstacles are self-doubt and anxiety. Gallwey's revolutionary thinking, built on a foundation of Zen thinking and humanistic psychology, was really a primer on how to get out of your own way to let your best game emerge. It was sports psychology before the two words were pressed against each other and codified into an accepted discipline.

The new edition of this remarkable work--Billie Jean King called the original her tennis bible--refines Gallwey's theories on concentration, gamesmanship, breaking bad habits, learning to trust yourself on the court, and awareness. "No matter what a person's complaint when he has a lesson with me, I have found the most beneficial first step," he stressed, "is to encourage him to see and feel what he is doing--that is, to increase his awareness of what actually is."

There are aspects of psychobabble and mysticism to be found here, sure, but Gallwey instructs as much by anecdote as anything else, and time has ultimately proved him a guru. What seemed radical in the early '70s is now accepted ammunition for the canon; the right mental approach is every bit as important as a good backhand. The Inner Game of Tennis still does much to keep that idea in play.

[This message has been edited by Bugaboo (edited 06-29-2001).]

[Sciurus Rex]

"Mind Gym: An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence," by Gary Mack (and other authors?)

I came to appreciate this book after a long series of other weaker self-help sports psych books. This is simple stuff, but it hits competition right on the nose.

[Miguelito]

Epee Fencing: A Complete System, by Imre Vass. Currently my club's without a source of formal instruction or private lessons in epee (apart from occasional pointers from the more advanced epeeists I fence with), and so I'm trying to get my hands on every potentially valuable resource out there. I just got my hands on a copy a few weeks ago. Since then I've made a habit trying some of the techniques I've read about each time I fence, and it seems to have helped.

[veeco]

No book can really help me when it comes to fencing. I have read a few, and aside from the occasional distraction they give me, they really can't replace regular lessons with a coach.

Remember that fencing is a sport before all, so in this case, a picture a worth a 1000 words. In my case watching tapes of high level fencing helps more than reading about how to do this or that.

"The Big book of Fencing". By Dr. Rudy Volkman. This book does'nt so mush teach you to fence as it does help you fix and adjust the finer points of your fencing when you have a bad habit.

[Gav]

Ive got the MagnumLibre and its ok. Good fencing dummy plans.

lets see...

Epee fencing by Roger Crosnier. Good book. Good discussions on tactics - makes for ood arguments at the pub.

The Complete Fencer by Bob Anderson. Don't know if Bob Anderson is still kicking around - his books out of print. Good illustrations (photo's), excellent discussions on class lessons.

[SteveMcDonough]

Actually, someone lent me a book on Max Cavalera, Sepultura's (now Soulfly) singer. I know it's hardly a fencing book, but I found it handy. It gives an insight to his pre-gig mental preps, and that sort of stuff.

He is a fascinating bloke.

I have trubble Psyching myself up before a bout. this book was brilliant.

When I remember the title, I'll post it here.

Steve

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I am spitting kitty. Ftt Fttttttt. I am angry bear. Grrrrr. I am large watermelon seed stuck in your nose. Zermmmmmmmmmm. I am small biting spider in your underwear. Yub yub yub. I am shameless plagiarizer chuckling you with others' words.



[This message has been edited by SteveMcDonough (edited 06-30-2001).]

[Christopher J Umbs]

A Brief History of Everything by Ken Wilber
(actually, anything by Ken Wilber, but B.H.E is the best into to his work).

A philosophy book, but one that I can use to make fencing part of my philosophy - making fencing my yoga (yoga in the widest sense meaning any phisical practice that leads to enlightenment).

[This message has been edited by Christopher J Umbs (edited 06-30-2001).]

[Peach]

Winning: The Psychology of Competition by Stuart H. Walker. Even if what he does has nothing to do with fencing. He's an international dinghy champion, former Olympic team member, and a professor of pediatrics.

He put into words what I think is the core of competition for me: One plays to win because winning is the object of the game, not for the sake of winning. The object of the game is to win, but the purpose of playing is to play.

A Fencer's Start-Up: A Beginner's Guide to Tradtional and Sport Fencing by Doug Werner.

I found this easy to read and very useful.
It helped me to understand the basics that my coach and I worked on at the salle. If you are looking for something technical, don't read this.

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You CAN teach old dogs new tricks.

[sabreur]

Fencing and the Master, by Szabo. Even though it is oriented toward teaching, there is a wealth of information for the sabreur.

Regards, MR

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Why sabre? Because you don't take heads with the point.

The Art and Science of Fencing,
by Nick Evangelista

This fascinating book was one of the primary inspirations for me to go from collecting swords and watching Zorro movies, to getting off my backside and learning how to fence.

Evangelista deals with everything from the history of swords and fencing, to getting started in a club and taking your first lessons. As well, he gets the reader started with detailed introductions to the basics of fencing: how one is expected to move, hold a weapon, think and behave when fencing.

As a first-year fencer, I have developed my own "homework" assignments, using this book before and after class to reinforce what is covered in class.

I'm just starting several other good ones but, if I had to pick one, this would be it.

[DarkTransient]

Idiot's Guide to Home Improvement

[tinasam]

The Tao Of Pooh

Simply to find that calm serene place where I can just be....

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I fence, therefore I am...


In My World You Can Slay Dragons Before Breakfast

[big poppa]

Vanwick's Foil fencing 1971 the book is a well done rip off of Hugo Castelo"s book, but I found it to be an excellent guide to this sport as good in parts as Volkman's book

[Tomas N]

I haven't found any book on fencing to be more helpful than a 10 minute lesson with a good coach. I'd say the USFA rulebook is the best reading you can do. Although I may try some of the "motivational" books recommended to deal with those pre-bout jitters.

[its_me_mango]

i like the rudy volkmans' gigantic book of fencing, it's gigantic because it has everything in it, it reminds you to practice something that you hadn't thought of for a while, just glancing through it is very worthwhile.

[Stryder]

I agree Tomas.

Books tend to focus on the higher philosophy of fencing. Good reading for someone who already has a strong background in actual fencing, but really more useful for up and coming coaches than for fencers.

They are poison for beginning fencers. Unfortunately beginning fencers seem to be the most commonly drawn to them.

BEGINNERS! DO NOT READ FENCING BOOKS!
It will turn your attention from the things that improve your game. Fencing books teach only that which you already know, or that which you are not prepared to learn.

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www.geocities.com/strydermike

[This message has been edited by Stryder (edited 07-02-2001).]

[Peach]

Now there I disagree. I think beginners, especially adult beginners, should read all the books they can get their hands on. This not only confuses and bewilders them nicely, rendering them entertainingly garbled in their conversation, it also distracts them from paying attention to the fact that it is taking FOREVER to learn to fence and they don't know a parry from a feint-deceive from a passatta sotto and when the coach gives them a compliment they have no idea why and whenever they take a lesson afterwards they go out into the street and scream "I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING," speaking purely from personal experience, mind you.