Numb Awareness...?

[Epee Scherma]

I've heard a lot that a fencer is in the right state of mind during a bout if they have this "numb awareness". I think it's best described as being aware of what is occuring during the bout, but not over observing the details and actions that you and your opponent are making.

By over observing, you are simply overwhelmed and can't keep your attention centered. This results in a lack of ability in your timing, tempo, technique, tactics, and well fencing in general.

What level of awareness is appropriate in fencing?

How much focus should be devoted to yourself when you are executing a move? I think you should devote very very little focus in a competitive bout on yourself, and more so on what you need to do to make the touch. But during practice its alright to focus more on the technique, timing, and speeds of your action for training.

What are yout thoughts on the state of awareness a fencer has to be in during competition and practice?

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Don't worry about it.

[ChrisBrasel]

Thinking is seriously overated. Just do and everything will work out is what works best for me.

[Mr Epee]

Originally Posted by Epee Scherma

What level of awareness is appropriate in fencing?

7-8 depending on the situation.

[Slim]

Originally Posted by Epee Scherma

I've heard a lot that a fencer is in the right state of mind during a bout if they have this "numb awareness". I think it's best described as being aware of what is occuring during the bout, but not over observing the details and actions that you and your opponent are making.

By over observing, you are simply overwhelmed and can't keep your attention centered. This results in a lack of ability in your timing, tempo, technique, tactics, and well fencing in general.

What level of awareness is appropriate in fencing?

How much focus should be devoted to yourself when you are executing a move? I think you should devote very very little focus in a competitive bout on yourself, and more so on what you need to do to make the touch. But during practice its alright to focus more on the technique, timing, and speeds of your action for training.

What are yout thoughts on the state of awareness a fencer has to be in during competition and practice?

The term used in asian fighting arts is "mushin no shin" (japanese), which can be roughly translated to be "empty mind", or total awareness with no distractions. You are in a state where you are not so much consiously thinking anymore, but rather feeling what is happening and intuitively knowing how to react to what is happening around you. This comes from repetitive drills and ingrained muscle memory. And lots of practice. Very similar concept to memorizing a complex piece of music. Once mastered, the individual and notes and chords are no longer part of the consious thought process. Just let the music flow.

The direction I give to my kids is, for any given session, to pick one action (or I'll pick it for them) and repeat it over and over during practice bouts. Dont worry about making the touch or winning the practice bouts. Just focus on "feeling" the action and work on making it technically correct, and looking for the opportinity to use it.

During a competition, I tell them just to let it flow. Just fence. Feel the actions rather than thinking about them, and try and feel what your opponent is doing (hopefully it's not the feeling of getting hit 5 times). If they have practiced the actions enough, then they will eventually come. If not that day, there is more practice and always another competition.