Training logs and their benefits

[Li'l Bebe]

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I keep a log of every bout I do, both in practice and in competition. I also write down any drills I do, and what it was they were trying to improve and if it were effective. After lessons, I always summarize the information my teacher gave me, and look back on it so that I can always rehash the lesson if I need it. As I analyze tapes of world cup and olympic fencers, I write down the techniques and tactics they use. I even keep track of the cross training I do, and chart my progress in my strength, endurance, speed, and agility. Above all, I write down how I feel about my fencing on that day and what I can do to improve.

By charting my progress in a visible way, it's really encouraging to me when I get stuck in one of those "I f***in suck" moments, to look back at my fencing scores and the weaknesses I struggled in the past, and to look how far I've come.

When I'm in a competition, I find it incredibly helpful to have a page dedicated to each of the fencers I fence frequently, and tidbits about other fencers I've seen only in competition. I write down what tactics work against them, what their favorite moves are, their general style, and any mental pitfalls I might be able to exploit. Then I don't have the pressure of trying to rack my brain to remember what worked before, and I can focus on my game.

Do any of you guys use a log of your fencing activities?

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by Li'l Bebe

Do any of you guys use a log of your fencing activities?

Not anymore, but a couple of years ago I used to have an "Opponents Book" sort of how you describe yours. (Although I never noted footwork activities and such.)

I had a page for each opponent and wrote down their build, their specialities, date and bout results etc. Then over time I could (alas, not in all cases) see an improvement in my bout results against that particular opponent.

[JackOfHearts]

Originally Posted by Li'l Bebe

Do any of you guys use a log of your fencing activities?

Its odd. I keep a journal of sorts with me at all times, though I very rarely write any fencing stuff in it. I have been playing around with using a digicam to capture some of my bouts, though the lighting inside the gym where we fence is terrible. I'm going to get a couple of new notebooks for my fencing and classwork,though, and hopefully that will help me some.

[Durando]

Originally Posted by Li'l Bebe

Do any of you guys use a log of your fencing activities?

Playing around with a Palm Pilot DB to track opponents/training, although am thinking this may be obsessive overkill. That said, anyone interested in sharing the effort?

[RITFencing]

I use a log (though I've been lazy about it recently) for practice and competitions. Before I practice, I write down goals for myself. Most are qualitative (better distance,) but I always have one quantitative (hit with a one two attack ten times.) At a comp, I don't record as much beforehand, because I am more focussed on winning than improvement. Afterwards, however, I write down what I did well, what I did not do well, and when it was practice, if I did or did not achieve my goals. I also list reasons I for each of those categories. I find it helps me diagnose my own fencing much more easily.

[acaba]

I use my fencing log a lot. When I was taking lessons, I would write down each drill and comments about it. I used this portion for two things: 1) before the next lesson I would review the previous one and try to work on the specific things coach was yelling about, 2) I could track my progress; since coach was always complaining about *something* in my fencing, the log would indicate when he stopped yelling about certain things, so I knew I must be improving!

Also, during both practice and tournaments, I would record not just bout scores, but also general physical feeling, mental state, food/water intake, etc. From this I was able to see patterns of activities that made me fence better or worse, so I could either replicate or remove particular activities during the day.

For specific fencers, I would make notes on what actions worked and did not work, then I could review it before my next bout w/ him/her.

[cellistic]

Originally Posted by JackOfHearts

I have been playing around with using a digicam to capture some of my bouts, though the lighting inside the gym where we fence is terrible.

I was lucky enough to get a video of my bouts from the last nationals, and all I can say is that beats any log/notebook. Because when you write down what happened in a bout you only get your perspective, which can be a little unhelpful. But watching video footage when your blood has cooled a bit, you get to see everything from slight repetition in your footwork through to how many times your opponent disengages in a particular sequence.
Using video footage has helped me immensely, I'd recommend you try having a friend/teammate/family member come along to comps and record you.

[JackOfHearts]

Heh, I haven't started actual competition yet, but I'm prepping for it. I'm going to see about getting a better camera, a good video record of some of my bouts would definetly come in handy.

[rcmatthews]

I write down what my coach went over with in lessons. I find that it is helpful for reinforcing what I should be working. I have my lessons in the mornings, and then go to class (school, not fencing). I give it about an hour or two, and then I try to write down everything that I can remember from that days lesson.

[Inquartata]

I don't keep any records. It just seems like way too much work to put into an activity that's about having fun.


( Realize though that I also don't do drills or fencing exercises, and have no aspirations to world-class success. YMMV. )

[rcmatthews]

I have more fun when I win. And, besides that, I really don't look at writing down what we went over in my lesson as work. It's more just an extension of the enjoyment I get out of taking lessons.

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by rcmatthews

I have more fun when I win.

And you would never win unless you make sedulous notes?

Odd, I have never suffered from that affliction...

I wonder if Nadi and Santelli kept logs?

However---whatever floats your boat. Just giving my opinion.

And, besides that, I really don't look at writing down what we went over in my lesson as work. It's more just an extension of the enjoyment I get out of taking lessons.

The definition of work: Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something.

Notetaking doesn't qualify?

[rcmatthews]

Well I meant that I think it helps me to win, and that it takes a minimal amount of effort. By work, I meant it in the more colloquial sense of something that you don't want to do, not its more literal meaning.

[oso97]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

I wonder if Nadi and Santelli kept logs?

I belive Nadi mentions a couple of times in his book a journal of competitions he fenced.

[Sciurus-Rex]

I keep a journal so that later generations may learn from my wisdom. Sometimes it's helpful, too, to let my training associates peruse the text so that they can appreciate why I am so much better than they are. It gives them reason to try harder. (Ultimately, they fail, but at least they're motivated...)

[Mr Epee]

I onced trained a log to play dead.

It was quite convincing.

I didn't keep it, and when the time came... it left.

I would never keep a log against its will.

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by rcmatthews

Well I meant that I think it helps me to win, and that it takes a minimal amount of effort. By work, I meant it in the more colloquial sense of something that you don't want to do, not its more literal meaning.

I know what you meant. I even agree with it, for the type of person who finds it useful. I was just being my usual querulous self. ( I have a reputation to uphold, after all. )

[rcmatthews]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

I know what you meant. I even agree with it, for the type of person who finds it useful. I was just being my usual querulous self. ( I have a reputation to uphold, after all. )

Well, certainly one has the right to repond in kind occasionally, yes?

[Li'l Bebe]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

I wonder if Nadi and Santelli kept logs?

I know Tiomkin has kept a log of every bout he's fenced the past 8 years, and we all know how good he is....

[RITFencing]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

The definition of work: Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something.

Notetaking doesn't qualify?

Ah, technically the definition of work is force applied over a distance.