Fencing in The Off-Season + Motivation

[Greg]

I think putting down the foils and getting away from the sport for a couple of months is worth while. I doubt you'll lose any ability with time off. Most if not all professional athletes have off-seasons where they cross train just to stay fit. Time off keeps me from getting tired of fencing, stale and injured. I come back enthusiastic. After a few practices, my timing and form are back.

[eac]

I've never voluntarily taken time off from fencing in ~3 years of recreational and then another ~3.5 years of competitive fencing. Which means that except for a month-long period in which I was disgusted with glasses and hadn't gotten contacts yet, I don't think I've failed to fence for more than a few weeks at a time. I never get sick of it. Also, last off-season (which is to say, between Nationals and the start of the new season) I got probably more improvement (and especially, more fundamental improvement) than most of my peers, and I caught up to some people that way. So if you're not in danger of getting sick of it, go to a club and train. And if you're worried about going to a club a couple hours a week having a negative effect on your grades, then either a) you spend 100% of your waking hours doing homework, or b) you could take the time spent on fencing out of your weekly TV allotment and still do fine in school. Going to a club (particularly a good club) will improve your fencing more than you could possibly imagine coming from a high school league. It's also much more worthwhile and will be vastly more likely to get you recruited to a college (depending on how much you train and what year you are now in high school).

[Inquartata]

Yes, Greg, of COURSE putting down FOILS is worthwhile. ( And putting down epees is positively salvational. )

Putting down sabres, OTOH, might well cripple a fellow for life.

[Rick Shellhouse]

July 9 to early September, usually.

Edit: July date varies year to year, of course.

Most people who know me....know that it never ends for me...lol..it was a joke...


R

[nahouw]

Most people who know me....know that it never ends for me...lol..it was a joke...

I found it quite funny

[Rick Shellhouse]

I found it quite funny

Thankee...


I try....


Im a riot in an empty room....




well at least I think so...


R

[Inquartata]

I could arrange to have you shot with some rubber bullets...

[Chafunkta]

edit: no, i want to imporve, its just i cant seem to set goals.

If you want to improve, you have to set your own goals. We can give you basic guidelines, but it must be you that decides your goals.

Relying on others to guide your training won't improve yourself nearly as fast as you can by yourself.

[RITFencing]

Yes, Greg, of COURSE putting down FOILS is worthwhile. ( And putting down epees is positively salvational. )

Putting down sabres, OTOH, might well cripple a fellow for life.

Keep at it, Inq, and the at the next NAC I'll show you exactly what can cripple a fellow for life.

[piste off]

Keep at it, Inq, and the at the next NAC I'll show you exactly what can cripple a fellow for life.

Yes... we can show you how salvational putting an epee down, or even up, can be.

--------(--

Rick

[Inquartata]

I am all about putting epee down, as you should well know by this time.

And I am not afraid of anyone named after a dye.