Combating heat

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Ok,

I've found that in bouts, when I get overheated, I just cant think clearly, and my fencing becomes a disgusting mess. What do you use to combat overheating?

[ThatReallyHurt]

Yeah, I've got a pretty low tolerance for heat too. As silly as it sounds, I found that drinking liquids at room temperature as opposed to really cold seems to help somewhat. What I eat before exerting myself also makes a difference - heavy stuff like meat or eggs seem to make me feel warmer when I'm exercising...

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

It might also be that I fence in a room thats about 90 degrees on any given day. But still.

[ThatReallyHurt]

Ah, well... I suppose that could be a factor.

Me, I'm just gifted with a good layer of nature's insulation - I get warm if I get up to change discs in the DVD player.

[glowstix]

yeah, this was my situation in the summer. what i did was spend less time warming up, take more powerade between bouts and spend a little longer time resting between bouts. if you don't make adjustments your fencing will fall apart and your actions will become crappy and that means bad habits..

[Ordway]

Keep in mind that when you're hot, your body tries to sweat so that the evaporation of the sweat will cool you down. Three layers of fencing clothing = very little evaporation happening = body keeps sweating, sweating, sweating trying desperately to cool down (it doesn't know any better!)

And when you sweat, you're losing not just water but also electolytes (potassium, sodium) and iron (not sure if that's considered an electroylyte or not). So that's the real reason sports drinks are helpful in hot weather - not just the carbohydrates for fuel, but the replacement minerals and salt which your body needs to function properly.

Salty snacks would also help, along with drinking water, if you don't have sports drinks or want something more solid.

[pacer]

Monday's sports page of the Denver Post was all about the Bronco's loss and one writer was hung up on the heat and humidity in Miami as a major factor. ( if only) Nonetheless, unaccustomed heat can impact performance. Hydration and training being the only things I can think of to help in the long run, although I've wondered if one of those headbands that are filled with water absorbing gel would be "cool" to use..

[Cipher]

That's really one of those things that is only helped by 1) physically cooling down, or 2) getting used to it. You can acclimatize yourself to perform better in the heat, but there is only so much that acclimatization can do. If you suffer from physical symptoms then you need to take steps to hydrate better, but if it's just a loss of concentration due to the discomfort, then you need to train more in the heat.

There's an Army saying that might be applicable, "Train as you fight."

[bwoodward]

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

Ok,

... What do you use to combat overheating?

I find that it's not the heat so much as the symptoms of the heat - mainly sweat dripping down my face. I keep a terry cloth wash rag jammed in my back pocket and wipe off whenever I can. Without the sweat running into my eyes I have the illusion that it's not so hot. I also find that drinking mainly water but also the occasional swallow of orange juice helps.

[chiz]

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

Ok,

I've found that in bouts, when I get overheated, I just cant think clearly, and my fencing becomes a disgusting mess. What do you use to combat overheating?

D+,

It's not just the heat, a big part of the problem is fatigue. Any type of fatigue makes your thought process go out the window. To combat the loss, train in the environment which creates the problem, cold is a good training tool, so is hot. You CAN NOT do this type of training on your own. If I could say that louder I would. Look at how the special forces train the newbies. Keep in mind that over 80% of the trainees leave the class before completion, the training manuals are out there so look at what they are trying to accomplish. Fatigue is a big problem, you can’t make good choices. So, look at how successful athletes, warriors and trainers get past the BEAR. Also look at successful middle weight boxers, see how they train. That may be the best way to look at our sport for training. The foot work is very similar.

Chiz

[Black Jeebus]

I've found that loading up on the sports drinks before fencing and then drinking room temp water (think about it, would you pour ice cold water on hot engine, admitidely this is a bit extreme but it's still the same principle) during the bout helps keep me cool. Also between bouts I switch back to the sports drinks. Living where you do DFP I know this isn't the first time you've had this problem.

The absolute most important thing to do is to listen to your body!!! If you feel like you should be drinking water- DRINK WATER, if you feel like you need something salty drink a sports drink! If you listen to your body it will let you know what to put in it.

[Zhi]

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

Ok,

I've found that in bouts, when I get overheated, I just cant think clearly, and my fencing becomes a disgusting mess. What do you use to combat overheating?

As for me, I'm always focusing myself on the game..... It's only in the mind..

[mrbiggs]

As of late, I've started to take off all my fencing stuff between bouts (or every few bouts, actually. Every time I get off the strip.) It takes a couple seconds, but it helps me keep cool and focused. Plus, if I sweat too much, it gets on my lamé and damages it.

[foildad]

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

Ok,

I've found that in bouts, when I get overheated, I just cant think clearly, and my fencing becomes a disgusting mess. What do you use to combat overheating?

I think the problem might be fencing when you're "in heat"; that would explain the disgusting mess.

[Black Jeebus]

Originally Posted by foildad

I think the problem might be fencing when you're "in heat"; that would explain the disgusting mess.

Shhh! DFP is still a minor and I think we are supposed to be avoiding that kind of education right now!

[Aestro]

Given how prone I am to getting hot off the strip, it always surprises me how little heat affects me in most tourneys and even a number of summer practices without air conditioning. The obvious one is to keep hydrated - water, or I prefer orange gatorade (the most refreshing flavor!). Something with a little sugar but nothing like coke or anything.

The other thing is do is just keep moving. I rarely notice temperature so long as I can stay on my adrenaline rush - I do my best when I hit that high early on and have little time in-between bouts. If I do have more time than needed in between bouts, I offer to judge to keep my mind clear of other things, and also to keep moving up and down the strip without wearing myself down too much. So long as I don't think about being hot or tired that first time it usually doesn't bother me at all. I'll come out of several practices with my jacket soaked and me not even notice because I fenced pretty hard the whole time.

[fencergal33]

Let me just say, that I certainly share your problem. Not only do I get overheated, but my ENTIRE BODY breaks out in this horrible itchy heat rash when I fence in a long tournament. Not fun at all. Here are my suggestions:

1) A couple of months ago, I invested in Under Armour. I never thought it would make such a difference. It actually pulls the sweat away from your body, helping you to cool down. Definitely worth the money, and there are off-brands (at Wal-Mart for instance) that work just as well for a lot less money. I would invest in the underwear or shorts, as well as a shirt.

2) Drink!!!!! However, be careful of over doing the sports drinks. You can actually flood your system with too many electrolytes, which almost worse than severe dehydration. For ever Powerade you drink, drink a bottle of plain water.

Good Luck!

[Zelda]

OOOH OOH pick me! I have this problem in spades.

I do not sweat much at all. My body doesnt like producing sweat. I generally find trying to keep my fluids up, and just slightly unzipping my lame and jacket between bouts can make all the difference. I also strip off my lame/jacket/BP between poules and DE's, and will even change my t-shirt. Though generally the only way I can truely cool down is to stand under a cold shower or sit in a cold bath.

[Allen Evans]

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

I've found that in bouts, when I get overheated, I just cant think clearly, and my fencing becomes a disgusting mess. What do you use to combat overheating?

Changing t-shirts and such between pools and DE's is good advice. Nothing made me feel more refreshed and ready to fence then a clean, dry t-shirt. I too, swear by Under Armour for it's ability to wick moisture (incidently, why isn't the USFA after them for sponsorship? They're a natural fit to our sport).

If you don't have time to change clothes, the most important thing you can keep cool is your head. Race car drivers recognized this years ago and for a while were designing helmets with built in cooling systems (I don't know if they still do that, or if they've found another way to attack the problem). If I don't have time to change clothes between bouts, I at the very least try to get cool water on my head and my face. I always found that it helped me clear my head for the next bout.

[shlepzig]

I have found a cold damp rag (icecubes in a bandanna) on the back of the neck makes the whole body feel pretty cooled down.

Fluids, electrolytes and all that, I concur. I mix gatorade from dry mix so I can dilute it properly (about half strength works for me), so I don't have to worry about managing which bottle I have with me.

Shlep.