Are you superstitious?

**swordchick** · 08-10-2006 02:53 AM

What superstitions do you have when you fence?

**purpzeyFCLI** · 08-10-2006 02:58 AM

I think I am fairly normal when it comes to superstition. I always fence in the same socks. (YES I DO WASH THEM). I consider them my lucky socks and I try not to go to a competition without them.

By the same token, once I pickup a weapon for the day, I stay with it until it breaks or some such. Even if I lose a bout, I just feel, I picked that one for the day, and it has to bring me to my fate.

I can't really think of anything else.

**swordchick** · 08-10-2006 03:01 AM

If my body cord and the reel cord are aligned when I first grab them, I at least used to think that was a good omen of the bout to come. I'm not sure this has statistically proven itself, but I still think about it when I hook up.

I have an A-rated fencer friend who believes it's good luck to hook up and get to the ref and be checked first. He's pretty committed to this belief.

**telkanuru** · 08-10-2006 03:01 AM

I believe in tournament Karma; IE fencing really well one day will be balanced out by ****ty days. By training I can slide the bracket up notches, but it will still be there.

**Zilverzmurfen** · 08-10-2006 03:08 AM

Originally Posted by swordchick

What superstitions do you have when you fence?

No superstitions really, but for competitions I usually wear the one and same scarf (ie. bandana).

I'm not sure this has brought me any luck, it's more a feeling of 'inner comfortness'...

**erooMynohtnA** · 08-10-2006 03:48 AM

I have this weird belief that I might lose if my opponent scores more touches than I do, so I try to avoid that (moreso at tournaments).

**Inquartata** · 08-10-2006 05:15 AM

It's not a huge superstition, but I am always happy to find a penny the day of a tournament.

**Invictious** · 08-10-2006 05:31 AM

I somewhat kiss my foil before I go for a bout, I believe it will help me, but it's not superstitious.

**lindajdunn** · 08-10-2006 05:38 AM

I fence better at competitions if I first find a legit reason to fence badly. IOW, once I have an excuse for failure, the pressure is off.

**LUDICROUS** · 08-10-2006 05:49 AM

After sacrificing a goat to Odin and Thor, I slaughter my good horses and any prisoners or useless slaves I have with an axe, and then cry "ODIN!!!!" This all happens the day of the tournament, in my sacrificial(spelling?) pit.

Then, the day of the tournament, I look for any omens - two black crows usually means my weaopns will fail.

**Epee Scherma** · 08-10-2006 06:10 AM

Whoo superstitious don't get me started. I only get real superstitious before the tournament starts. I have to do this action where I touch and feel the surface of the strip with my hand. It's like I gain a wisedom from the surface I'm about to fence on.
In my car going to a competition, I always feel much better if I scream occaisonally at the top of my lungs and drive really fast. I'm not kidding.
I also maintain the belief that I will not perform well unless I wear the best of my gear at it's freshly laundered. I have to double layer my socks or else I won't move as easily. Those are are all necessities for me to believe the day will be a good a day in a tournament.
There is also a lot of talking to myself in between points. I am not sure if that is really a superstitious action but I have concluded talking for a quick second to myself absolves me of my last **** up.

**AndrewH** · 08-10-2006 08:12 AM

Before every bout, after putting my mask on I bend my blade with my hand, then tap it twice against the inside of my right foot. Then come en guard. If I find myself losing, I'll tap it on my foot again before coming en guard. Also, after every touch I usually grab my blade with my unarmed hand while walking back to the line.

I swear i'm not OCD.

**daveappr** · 08-10-2006 08:28 AM

I don't have too many superstitions, but one thing I do without fail is the night before a tournament, I invaribly find myself thinking about a lesson I had with a coach some 20 years ago. He's passed on now, but remembering the specifics of the lesson, and more importantly the talk we had afterward puts me in a good frame of mind the lesson was about maintaining calmness and a 'can do' attitude. My wife swears I fence better the next day if I've had a few margaritas the night before- she'll point out a tournament several years ago where an opponent said "He has great disengages." - it was only my hand shaking from being out too late the night before

**Allen Evans** · 08-10-2006 09:21 AM

This article:

http://www.slate.com/id/2146635

In Slate had an interesting discussion of the fine line between sports psyche and pre-game superstition. Worth the quick read it takes to get through it.

**parrythis** · 08-10-2006 09:32 AM

I have one black underarmor shirt that I always wear at tournaments.

Black is so slimming.

Not much else.

**AndrewH** · 08-10-2006 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by daveappr

My wife swears I fence better the next day if I've had a few margaritas the night before- she'll point out a tournament several years ago where an opponent said "He has great disengages." - it was only my hand shaking from being out too late the night before

Yep, you're a Rutgers alum all right

**Timacheff** · 08-10-2006 10:55 AM

Kolobkov has an old, ratty, smelly t-shirt he wears for every important bout, at the least (maybe always) ... I got a little too close to it one time (!), and someone from the Russian team told me the story -- that he is superstitious about wearing it. It was partially shredded and totally soiled and gross...

**Zilverzmurfen** · 08-10-2006 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Epee Scherma

I also maintain the belief that I will not perform well unless I wear the best of my gear at it's freshly laundered.

Clean kit for competition more or less goes without saying...

Originally Posted by parrythis

I have one black underarmor shirt that I always wear at tournaments.

Not much else.