intensity?

[saberkid]

just kinda wondering (there probaly isnt a way to teach yourself how to do this overnite, but hey WTH) when I get into bout (specificly DE's) i start the whole yelling thing, and though, im not forcing, i know im trying to get my brain to yell, it gives you that intensity, and gets your adrenilin flowing, wich intern makes you fence MUCH MUCH better, though, iv had a problem of getting over intensifyed(sp?). is this a normal/common thing? dose anyone possably know a way to get yourself almost to that breaking point of almost over the edge, but not quite? because i can get WAY up, and then blow it and go over the edge, and i dont think correctly, intern making me lose a DE 6-15 when it should have been more like 15-6.

i dunno, It was on my mind, and im going to PCC's (hoping to take top8!) and dont want to comepleatly screw myself on the mental game. any ideas?

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Fence with the best die like the rest!

[Stryder]

Sabrekid, I recently went to a sports psychology session and this was discussed in depth. The key as I recall is noticing the physical symptoms or changes that occur that tell you that you are over the adrenaline limit. Once you learn to recognize when you have crossed the line, you can start learning to calm yourself down.
The reverse is also true. You need to learn to recognize when you are too calm, and stimulate yourself.

Notice things that you do differently during bouts that you lose. For me it's arguing with the referee. When I am too excited I whine and ***** at the ref and I get distracted. When I am at my perfect intensity level, I react to touches scored against me with anger and indignation directed at my opponent not the ref' (Oh you are gonna pay for that, boy!)

Watch yourself and have friends watch you. When you are losing it, you will give it away with your actions. Maybe you start to attack foolishly, or parry wildly. If your friends are good, they already know what your "tell" is. Even if they don't know they know it.

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www.geocities.com/strydermike

[vegan]

Sabrekid,
There are several books on this subject in the sports pysc. area- some even specific to fencing!!! Go out and read "Clearing the Path to Victory" or "Preparing the Mind"; both by A. Kogler. These books contain some weird (at least not typical!) ideas about how to key oneself up for bouting, to practice, or whatever, as well as ideas about what to do when you are to hyped up . . . or your arousal level is to high. They are great books. Most of the mental training is based upon autogenic training, which is a cool technique; although a little odd at first.
Good luck
B.
PS. if anyone wants more info on this PM me, and I'll tell you how I use it, and how to get started.

[space_cadet]

Yeah, I just thought I would edit your post. No actual comments.

Just kind of wondering, there probably isn't a way to teach yourself how to do this overnight but hey, WTH. When I get into a bout (specificly DE's), I start the whole yelling thing. Although I'm not forcing it, I know I'm trying to get my brain to yell. It gives you that intensity and gets your adrenelin flowing which, in turn, makes you fence MUCH MUCH better. Though, I've had a problem of getting over intensified. Is this a normal/common thing? Does anyone possibly know a way to get yourself almost to that breaking point of almost over the edge, but not quite? I can get WAY up, and then blow it and go over the edge. I don't think correctly which makes me lose a DE 6-15 when it should have been more like 15-6.
I don't know; it was on my mind... much like the way I imagine myself eating a Big Mac. I really don't care about all the cholesterol when it comes to two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame-seed bun. Can you dig it? My parents think I'm crazy and so do my friends. Fencing is just a distraction to cover up my one true love, the Big Mac. Oh, a day never goes by when I don't think about biting into one. Sometimes, my mind wanders off into the distance. I don't want to get too personal; but, there are times when I imagine myself walking along the coast of Southern France in the morning and eating a Big Mac and fries. Think about it... French Fries in France. Back to the topic, I'm going to PCC's hoping to make it into the top 8 and I don't want to comepletely screw myself on the mental game. Any ideas?

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Fence with the best. Die like the rest!

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Cadet à Space

[This message has been edited by space_cadet (edited 05-04-2001).]

[kro]

I can tell you that "Clearing the Path to Victory" is an excellent book. I had the reputation of becoming 'intense' in a bout and if I messed something up or a call went against me it would go over that edge and completly lose control and that would be the end of the bout.

Staying on the edge of control, both physical and emotional, helped my fencing greatly. This book showed me how to get myself to that edge and keep it under control when things start going bad. I know for a fact that I have won two 15-14 foil bouts (one comming from behind, one when I was ahead and lost a bunch of points) that I can attribute to reading this book and practicing the mental excercises. The great thing about the book is that if is written for fencers and the applications fit nicely with what we do. I would suggest this book as well.

kro

[attila]

Space case

Man. I think you are setting a precedent that will come back to haunt you.

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"Kill the men, save the women, and by the gods, do not spill the wine"

[Cyranox11]

Hi Guys
OK, this weekend I fenced in a provincial ranking competition.
I did REALLY badly in the epee cos I was concentrating on my next DE bout (I was fencing some-one I should beat easily) I therefore lost the bout as I was completely off focus and not concentrating.
The next day was foil (my forte) I fenced really well. I was fencing AND fighting in all my bouts. The 'intensity' was just right and I demolished the fencers I beat and came VERY close to upsetting the favourites (I had the eventual winner and silver medallist in my pool). I carried this through to the DE until the 1/4 final. I had to fence my club mate who has been fencing twice as long as I have. I fenced really well, taking an 8-3 lead through ferocity in attack, careful countering and decent tactical awareness; he fought back to lead 10-8 as I lost focus when I tried to out fight him; I then took a commanding 14-12 lead with 6 seconds left I tried to force the win and ended up losing 15-14.
I learned to keep the intensity at the right level, I ended up fighting too hard and fencing too little. I also learned (as Stryder mentions) that I need to keep things in cheque and listen to ones own body/mind...
This is easier said than done but I think I am learning how to get there. You need to listen to your body and find th eright level, then maintain it.
May your swashes never buckle
Cyrano