American Fencing Magazine: Fencing Prodogies

[fencingtaxi]

Out of curiousity, how did they choose the children highlighted?

Why only one in sabre?

[Peach]

Probably because someone offered to write about them--that's how the magazine gets most of its articles.

[4qtrs]

I must admit that when I read the title I was expecting actual Junior fencers. Silly me.

[KD5MDK]

Juniors are middle-aged in the American Fencing World.

[Redblade]

Probably because someone offered to write about them--that's how the magazine gets most of its articles.

For any volunteer newsletter-like publication, if you submit anything with complete sentences and a graphic (photo) or two, you've got a good shot at seeing your work in print. At least until the publication develops enough material/writers to be picky.

Not saying anything about this magazine, mind you. Just in general.

[fencingtaxi]

The reason I started the thread was to see if anyone out there was wondering why only one fencer was listed in saber and there were several foilists highlighted.

I guess the writer was a bit biased or maybe he/she did not have the proper resources to obtain information about other weapons.

[CvilleFencer]

I guess the writer was a bit biased or maybe he/she did not have the proper resources to obtain information about other weapons.

Na, its cause saber is a dead weapon in the US. No talent or prodigies out there at all. Especially in WS and JWS. None at all...





(And then Cville quickly finds something large to stand behind. Not running mind you, more like strolling purposefully...)

[tbryan]

And then Cville quickly finds something large to stand behind.

Ironic. I normally think of Cville as something large to stand behind.

[Jay Young]

JWS is old news. THey're looking for someone that they haven't written about.

[attackme1]

there was mostly foil because the magazine came a certain day and on that day there was mostly foil fencing and a sabre girls Y12 so they got the winner of that which was the one sabre and they got the rest of the interviews from foilists who were fencing . If you look all of the kids besides the one sabre they all fence foil and where there when the magazine came for interviews

[matt9476]

I guess the writer was a bit biased or maybe he/she did not have the proper resources to obtain information about other weapons.

I don't think there was an intentional bias for one weapon over another. Most likely, this was a case of lazy journalism, doing what's easiest and quickest, rather than doing a comprehensive study. I've done it myself, although I'm not proud of it.

[Applesauce and Foils]

Did anyone else that read that article find it slightly depressing that these kids already have such a headstart? Ten? Twelve?!

[Coldfire]

Did anyone else that read that article find it slightly depressing that these kids already have such a headstart? Ten? Twelve?!

I started when I was 12 (3 years ago) and feel like I wasted a few years of my life and now need to make up for it

[leftyboy]

Did anyone else that read that article find it slightly depressing that these kids already have such a headstart? Ten? Twelve?!

I started two years ago at 15. It makes me feel behind the curve.

Really behind the curve.

[veeco]

Most things I have read don't recommend kids to specialize in any activity before 11-12 years of age. Before that, it's better to do a lot of different sports, if you want good development.

So by starting at 12-15, you're actually right on the money.

[Coldfire]

Most things I have read don't recommend kids to specialize in any activity before 11-12 years of age. Before that, it's better to do a lot of different sports, if you want good development.

So by starting at 12-15, you're actually right on the money.

But isnt it the case that many athletes who start before then (lets say age 8-10) and stick with the sport are usually the best?

[veeco]

There was an article about this in American Fencing a few years back, I believe.

They did some polling and/or research among the top olympic athletes, and they found out that most olympians didn't actually start in their sport very early. Instead, they did a lot of different sports when they were young, and then specialized at a later age.

I also have a reference book used in France for all candidates for the Maitre d'Armes diploma, which indicates the following (gross translation):

"Starting around 13-14 years of age, a very shaky period for most teenagers, most young adults go through a number of organic changes, related to their growth. These changes usually alternate at a rapid rate with a large increase in their physiological potential, usually associated with modifications in their hormonal development. For instance, testosterone increase will increase protein related anabolism, which explains growth but also strength increase. In addition to that, teenagers usually choose this period to define their personality, and refine their choices: it's time to specialize.

While avoiding acute crisis periods (which can be seen through period of increased growth), the coach should put an emphasis on developing power, stamina, introducing progressively strength, muscle development exercises and resistance to anaerobic, lactic acid producing exercises."

[Redblade]

There are exceptions, of course, but that's exactly why they stick out in the media (and are easily memorable later) -- those few people are truly exceptional, out of the ordinary. The majority, however, have more generalized athletic backgrounds as Veeco and others have mentioned. We just don't make such a big fuss about their childhood development because it's not as interesting.

[parrythis]

But isnt it the case that many athletes who start before then (lets say age 8-10) and stick with the sport are usually the best?

It depends on whether the parents want to raise an athlete or a person.

[introspective]

Also too, its sometimes that parents don't want their kids in the public eye too young so there's probably more talented kids out there, but haven't been written about.

But seriously folks, why argue about everything under the sun? They are apparently trying to meet the expectations of a vary diverse group.


You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people none of the time; but you can't please all of the people all of the time.