Breaking a bad habit

[rudd]

I was fencing a clubmate yesterday and after the bout he pointed out a very disturbing habit of mine. It was something I was aware of doing in the past but though I had stopped. When I start an attack or a riposte I have a tendency to pull my hand back towards my hip, wind up and go.

I think I developed the habit doing a broken time attack of sorts. While this work fine to certain level, its easily exploited by a superior fencer. This is what happened yesterday. It also explains why ripostes I though were direct get timed out by fast remises. Well that and my ponderous food work.

Obviously I'll consciously try and avoid doing it but in the heat of the moment this isn't always possible. And advice or anecdotes appreciated.

[Coldfire]

I had the same thing pointed out to me by a director after a bout a few weeks ago. He kept calling attack in prep on my because i pulled my hand so far to my side and winding up when cutting to 4. I lost the bout because of it. I had no clue I was doing it and dont know how it started. For the most part I've stopped it but it is hard to stop especially when you are in a competetive bout. My advice to you is to just practice making straight cuts. Drill with a partner. Get within lunge or advance lunge distance and cut to an open line. If you get the touch good for you but try to focus on not pulling back and just doing that cut. After 10 reps switch and make him attack you. Make sure you riposte is direct so you don't get locked out. Once you master this make it harder by allowing feints. After practing this for a bit bout and make sure whoever is reffing you clearly looks for this and calls it against you for attack in prep. Once you start losing touches and bouts because of this the habit will fade quickly

[seven6ty]

Fence epee. That'll learn ya right quick.

[RebelFencer]

I was fencing a clubmate yesterday and after the bout he pointed out a very disturbing habit of mine. It was something I was aware of doing in the past but though I had stopped. When I start an attack or a riposte I have a tendency to pull my hand back towards my hip, wind up and go.

I think I developed the habit doing a broken time attack of sorts. While this work fine to certain level, its easily exploited by a superior fencer. This is what happened yesterday. It also explains why ripostes I though were direct get timed out by fast remises. Well that and my ponderous food work.

Obviously I'll consciously try and avoid doing it but in the heat of the moment this isn't always possible. And advice or anecdotes appreciated.

You focus on fixing it in practice. You shouldn't be going balls out to win there anyways.

[parrythis]

One thing at a time. Pick a time period (a day, a week, or whatever) and for that time period focus on working on that one thing - in every practice bout you do. Pay no attention to how you do in the bout. Focus on only whether you get through the bout without performing that bad habit.

[the doc]

the only good way really is to get a coach to show you how to do it right, learn how doing it right feels, then repeat he correct action 10,000 times.

problem solved.

[D'Artag-NOT]

the only good way really is to get a coach to show you how to do it right, learn how doing it right feels, then repeat he correct action 10,000 times.

problem solved.

Nicely stated. Simple--but not easy.

[LeftHanded]

The key is to be perceptive of everything you do. Feel the presence of your arm. As you practice be aware that you cock your arm back and force yourself not to do it. It is all about having your mind set and focused on nopt doing it.

[S. Richardson]

I agree with what others have said, ie, get a good coach to work with you, practice with a partner for that one single skill, and focus on that over and over again. One little trick I'd suggest though is to put on a tight sleeve that goes over your elbow before you fence. Have it tight enough that if you bend your elbow deeply -- as I assume you are when you make this move -- you can really feel it, but not so tight that it hurts or anything like that. Then while your fencing you will get that tactile reinforcement as to when you are and are not bending your elbow back. You will soon find you are no longer doing it, hopefully.

[rudd]

Thanks for the tips and suggestions. I've mentioned it too my coach and we're going to work on a few things. It's not something that shows up in my lessons but rather in the heat of the moment. After further analysis its less pure pulling back but more a synchronization of the arm with the lunge. Tactically it works at time but as it's subconscious I just want to root it out as a habit. Just have to work on getting the arm out there.

I will, as was suggested work on it during bouting. Asked someone last night to indicate to me every time I did it which helped. The fact that he got me with a stophit 50% of the time also worked wonders as well