Improvement

[sunkissed]

Hey I am new to the historical fencing. And have a question, When should i start seeing some improvement? My boyfriend has been doing this for over a year and i only started in September. It seems like the newer people have passed me up and the scholars dont really like working with me cause i need so much improvement. It is fustrating cause i am really fustrated and feel left out. my boyfriend says i have improved a lot since i started and the other "newbies" have had experiance with sword play in other various forms.


Also, please dont be offended are all fencers kinda' geeky? sorry, I just am so new and you all seem to be a totally different breed than what i am used to. Seems like you are all genuine and extremely kind and fun people...
Thanks so much shannon

[RPI Epeeist]

Also, please dont be offended are all fencers kinda' geeky? sorry, I just am so new and you all seem to be a totally different breed than what i am used to. Seems like you are all genuine and extremely kind and fun people...
Thanks so much shannon

Ummm... yes. (Speaking for my own division at least)

I started fencing at RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and if that doesn't sound like Geek University, then I don't know what will. Also, I've noticed a lot of fencers interested in the maths, sciences, and engineering. There are the exceptions though.

As for improvement... just keep practicing and stay positive. You can't improve if you don't think you will. And have fun.

[RebelFencer]

Hey I am new to the historical fencing. And have a question, When should i start seeing some improvement? My boyfriend has been doing this for over a year and i only started in September. It seems like the newer people have passed me up and the scholars dont really like working with me cause i need so much improvement. It is fustrating cause i am really fustrated and feel left out. my boyfriend says i have improved a lot since i started and the other "newbies" have had experiance with sword play in other various forms.


Also, please dont be offended are all fencers kinda' geeky? sorry, I just am so new and you all seem to be a totally different breed than what i am used to. Seems like you are all genuine and extremely kind and fun people...
Thanks so much shannon

Well, this is a sport fencing forums (99% of it), which is very different from Classical. If you have some questions we could try and answer them, but some of it might not be the kind of fencing that the people in your group are trying to teach.

Also: It varies. I know some very geeky fencers (most of the fencers at my college). The ones at my club however, not as much.

[RITFencing]

Hi Shannon, I'm going to preface this by saying that I am from a sport fencing background, not a Historical one. However, I have some good, general advice for you and I'll try to remain neutral in the whole sport/classical/historical debate. Wish me luck.

Improvement is a very erratic thing; sometimes it will happen steadily over a period of time, sometimes a person expeirneces epiphanies, sometimes someone will go for a long period without improving, and someitmes people will seem to get worse with new training before getting better. This is true of a whole bunch of things, not just fencing. If you're patient, apply yourself, and ask questions of the instructors and the more experienced people, you will improve. It's a little disheartening that people don't want to work with you because of your newbie-ness (newbishness? newbitude?) but that's another thing that happens all over, not just in various types of fencing. People tend to forget that they were once "that damn newbie" too. You can still practice your footwork on your own, and do target work as well. It will help to have a competent person watching you to make corrections, if you can get somebody. Remember to stay nice and loose (this is very important,) make blade actions with the fingers and be light on your feet.

As far as fencers being kinda geeky? A lot of us are, yeah. I've found that this intensifies in the classical/historical sect, but it's the kind of thing that attracts us geeks. However, a lot of fencers also get enough social interaction, and as you say are very kind and helpful people, that while they do enjoy geeky things, they tend to still be bearable in social situations.

[sunkissed]

that's funny my boyfriend is an engineer. totally makes sense now (and you want to see a totally different breed, hang with an engineer for a year!!!)
I do understand that you are all more for the competition and more modern, however, there are no forums that i am aware of for the historical fencing.
Thanks for the encouragement. I think my biggest struggle is my timing and to move my feet with my actions.

[RITFencing]

If you're having trouble moving while you do blade actions, just try and stay relaxed and realize that your hands and feet are like the X and Y components of a 2 dimensional vector; they combine to form one thing, but each is independant of each other. Guess who else went to a technical college.

What helped me separate the two was to do strips of advances and retreats really fast while slowly moving my hand in and out and then to switch it up and move my body slowly and my hand quickly. I didn't have precisely the same problem, but I had a similar one and this helped me.

[sunkissed]

I see the Rit
Did you go to Rochester institute of technology?
if so, this world is way to small........
and i may be introuble for calling him a geek on the internet

[RITFencing]

Yeah, I started the club at RIT. Did you (or your bf) go there?

EDIT: Wait, is that your bf in the picture? Is his name Josh? If so, yeah, I know him. Tell him Sean says hi.

[Jen]

I think the biggest thing about improvement is to not be too hard on yourself and realize that improvement comes over time. Fencing, and I'd assume classical fencing as well-since this is true of most things, take time and a lot of practice. I was a tennis player and very athletic when I started fencing and could not do anything right in the beginning. I fell over lunging my first time, but I drilled and learn not to expect perfection or anything close to it for a while. As for what RITFencing said about the different types of improvement-it's very true. When I switched to epee I was "meh." Then one day stuff clicked, in the middle of my first tournament mind you, and all of sudden I was able to fence. It was very exciting for me, and absolutely confusing for my poor opponent who ended up backing into a wall about ten seconds after I figured that I could fence.

The biggest things that have helped me has been drilling. At my club and camp I work with the most experienced fencer who was willing and I drill and bout-its hard but it's improved me so much. Also if you need to work on footwork, having someone do it with you and watch for mistakes, or using a mirror can be very helpful. Also remember to stay relax and not "freeze up" and get stressed out. You're doing this for fun and you're a beginner. It's not about winning, it's about learning and having fun.

As for the nerd factor-it's quite strong with some of our beginners at our college club, not so much at the club I train at. Some of the kids possibly need to learn that their is a life outside the SciFi Forum or Anime club. However, our saber squad is composed of loud and proud macho guys who are like the antithesis of geeky-except that half of them are comp sci majors.

Ooo RPI guy-my school went to your tournament back in October. hehe we thought we were geeky, sadly I think we felt a little bit better about the fact that our team was half engineering majors, when we saw that you all were. Most fencers I've met leave their basements at least once a week. Good Luck!!

[sunkissed]

I know you, you are one of his best friends. if i remember correctly, the one that was in the military.
I am in so much trouble. he knows i think you guys are all geeks, but i thought maybe this was a little more annonomys.
I will text him, he is in for such a big surprise.
Yeah,, i am doing this after i met him and really like it.
shannon

[RITFencing]

I wasn't the one in the military, no, but we did hang out a lot when he was there.

[sunkissed]

then which one are u the only sean i know is that one and the one that just got married and is anhealthcare administrator. i am however, having trouble remembering all you guys as he has a lot of friends at home. and i have never met any of them so i sometimes have to be refreshed.

[RITFencing]

I'm the Sean that used to live in the RIT Inn and the one that started the fencing club.

[sunkissed]

i didnt know about you starting i think the inn was the one kinda' off campus.
he showed me it on a satelite pic of RIT we were looking at one day and he was pointing out the various buildings and such.

He is such a great guy.... he treats me really well, and it sounds like he also has great friends!!!!!

[Ordway]

Hehe. The net is not nearly so anonymous as many people think. That's actually why I use my real name - I know that anything I post is totally public, so I wouldn't say anything that I'd be unwilling to say in person or put my name. And in that case, I might as well just put my name to it anyway.

On the original topic, I'd just suggest that you try not to compare yourself to other people. As others have said, different people improve at different rates, and those rates change over time anyway. I am actually a really slow learner in fencing, but "slow" doesn't mean "it doesn't happen."

I would suggest trying to pay attention to not developing bad habits. Watch the very best fencers that you can, and try to learn from them. It is much better in the long run to not develop bad habits, than to develop them and have to un-learn them later on. Sigh... I spent the whole first year of working with my current coach in undoing the fifty bazillion bad habits that I'd developed over 10+ years of do-it-myself fencing...

If you really want to improve, you can also think about what other things (other than fencing) you have control over, that would benefit your fencing. Are you athletically in shape? I've finally gotten my butt in gear and have a proper cross-training program (working with a trainer) since I've gotten to the point where my athleticism is a bottleneck for what I can do. Even mild conditioning and improving your eating habits, for instance, is helpful.

But mainly, have fun! My advice is coming from the point of view of being a competitive sport fencer, waaaaaay far from being a purely recreational fencer, but the *reason* I compete and train hard is because I love fencing. That's the key.

[fatfencer]

that's funny my boyfriend is an engineer. totally makes sense now (and you want to see a totally different breed, hang with an engineer for a year!!!)
I do understand that you are all more for the competition and more modern, however, there are no forums that i am aware of for the historical fencing.
Thanks for the encouragement. I think my biggest struggle is my timing and to move my feet with my actions.

Sweetie, that's EVERYBODYS struggle to a greater or lesser degree. What you just described IS fencing.

We all struggle with it. Been doing it for almost 5 yrs now. Am I pretty good at it... spose so but I'd like to get a LOT better.

What helps me is to listen to classical music. It has different tempos you can move your feet to.

Fencing is ALL about the legs.

Fatfencer

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Hey I am new to the historical fencing. And have a question, When should i start seeing some improvement? My boyfriend has been doing this for over a year and i only started in September. It seems like the newer people have passed me up and the scholars dont really like working with me cause i need so much improvement. It is fustrating cause i am really fustrated and feel left out. my boyfriend says i have improved a lot since i started and the other "newbies" have had experiance with sword play in other various forms.


Also, please dont be offended are all fencers kinda' geeky? sorry, I just am so new and you all seem to be a totally different breed than what i am used to. Seems like you are all genuine and extremely kind and fun people...
Thanks so much shannon

Well, most historical fencers are total nerds. Come do some sport fencing, and you're more likely to meet people from other walks of life.

[OROD]

Well, most historical fencers are total nerds. Come do some sport fencing, and you're more likely to meet people from other walks of life.

Agreed!

BTW... can you describe what the "fencing" you and your group are doing looks like? I'm curious as to what it actually is, since IMO, very few if any people actually do "historical fencing". It's always something else. So, I'd like to know what you guys are actually doing.

.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Agreed!

BTW... can you describe what the "fencing" you and your group are doing looks like? I'm curious as to what it actually is, since IMO, very few if any people actually do "historical fencing". It's always something else. So, I'd like to know what you guys are actually doing.

.

Um, I'm a sport fencer.

[OROD]

Um, I'm a sport fencer.

Uhmm, yeah, I was talking to sunkissed!

.