Games that Help

[LeftHanded]

I was talking to someone on another thread about ping pong and how it help coordination. I started thinking, what are some other activities that help with fencing. I know that Billard help my concentration a little bit. You have to focus on a point and hit that point. Any bit to the left or the right you will miscue. Can anyone else think of activities that help, other than conditioning like running and weight lifting.

[achilles_heal]

real tennis.

[peet]

Originally Posted by LeftHanded

I know that Billard help my concentration a little bit.

Yeah, I think most fencers could do well at pool too. It shares some physical issues (manipulating a long skinny thing to hit other things with the small end), and some mental issues (confidence, mind control; being able to make a shot is mostly about believing you can make the shot)

Originally Posted by LeftHanded

You have to focus on a point and hit that point. Any bit to the left or the right you will miscue.

But of course when you actually shoot, you concentrate on the object ball, not the cue ball.

And then there's when you purposefully hit the left or right side of the cue ball in order to put english on it...

There was a time in life when I spent waaaaay too much time in bars shooting pool.

-p

[fatfencer]

Everyone knows the glove game, but there are many fun drills that are fencing related.

Doing an actual sport to get fencing benefit really is counter productive, i.e. nothing makes you better at lunging than lunging, etc...

Drills are an important part of fencing, and they can be as fun too.

FF

[Shi no Tenshi]

I would have to say that doing another sport to get fencing benefit is far from counter-productive. Doing cross training can give you a different perspective and/or better overall control of your body movement, enhancing coordination in a way that you just cannot get from drilling one thing repeatedly. Sometimes it's the things that seem totally unrelated that are the most helpful.

[parrythis]

Old-school video games. Things like Galaxians, Defender, and the like. They exercise eye-hand coordination, get you to watch the big picture while focusing on a particular target, and think both offensively and defensively at the same time.

[Jay83]

Ballroom Dancing. Really good for footwork.

[trazom]

Games / Sports which seem to help with various fencing skills -

Any sport with lots of quick direction changes - such as tough basketball defense.
Sports which require lots of leg push, very similar leg muscles, such as crew.

Chess for general strategy

I find doing shorter but tougher runs, like trail running w/ lots of hills up to about 5K worth, is very helpful for building endurance to make it through tournaments with tough bouts. Longer than that and you're building longer endurance which doesn't necessarily help fencing.

jump rope (does that count?)

[LeftHanded]

Originally Posted by Jay83

Ballroom Dancing. Really good for footwork.

The ballroom dancing really helps. Most people think balrrom dancing is for whimps but it is one of the hardest things I've done. Anyone with a back side can Pop-Lock & Drop It, and anyone with a little rythem can snapp their fingers but it is totally different when you and someone else are using body language, signaling to each other, and moving with one mind is something totally different.

Also, Glowstringing helps. Yes I am talking about raving. You have to be aware of where not only the ends are but where are but how they are moving. you have to be aware of everything that is going on around you or you will hit someone or knock yourself in the head. I know it sounds crazy but it really does help with awareness as well as coordination.

YouTube - Glowsticking.com Stringing: Legend Glowstring 7.22.06

[ChamorroZorro]

I think the dancing may help, as well as the basketball.

I was thinking of trying bowling because the release is similar to a lunge but it's the only sport where they bring food to you and you can eat when it's not your turn which is a bad thing.

[Timo]

I like juggling, helps with hand-eye cordination

[ciffangh]

I'm sure this has been said before, but I would imagine football (soccer) to be helpful. Considering the number of terrifically accomplished fencers Europe has... maybe they've got something, there.

edit:
I forgot to mention that soccer should be played with a tennis ball--it's a lot harder to control, and is good for improving your reflexes, anticipatory cognition, and making your movements smaller... (this is now the game of choice for warming up at my club ).

Another of my friends insists that there's a lot in common with fightings games, i.e. Soul Calibur II; though I don't know that that's what you're looking for.

Oh, and just for fun, what about frisbee? Or just anything with intensive plyometrics.

[contre-Sixte]

Hey ciffangh, longtime no hear.

Basketball is also nice. Especially contested layups. Or fencing a different weapon, or fencing with the weak hand.

[lone-woodwose]

riding horses really helps me pay attention to my form on the strip.
after having to pay attention to where your hands are, keeping your back straight, and keeping your heels down on a horse your guard stance is much better. sometimes dealing with a bad horse is like dealing with your opponent too...

it also works many of the muscles needed for fencing...posting makes your lunge really strong.

making chainmaille helps with manipulating small things. it also helps you pick apart complex patterns and figure stuff out, that improves your strategy and ability to deal with different situations.

[qatet]

Originally Posted by ciffangh

I'm sure this has been said before, but I would imagine football (soccer) to be helpful. Considering the number of terrifically accomplished fencers Europe has... maybe they've got something, there.

My coach is absolutely convinced that soccer is a primary reason for good footwork in European fencers. During recovery phases he is very fond of soccer ball drills.