Strength Training vs. Fencing Practice

[Mikoyan]

This is an issue I'm currently wrestling with. The coach at my club suggests that it's better to spend extra time practicing things like point control than it is to maintain a fitness regime. I'm conflicted; I'm considering an early-morning gym routine to make sure that I'm able to stay physically competitive, but maybe I'd be better off with extra weapon practice?

(I fence epee, and generally make it out to three practices a week, though I'm hoping to increase that to 4 soon.)

[Greg]

I don't agree with your coach. The fencing specific training is important, but the strength training is also crucial. For one thing, getting rock solid legs and knees from strenght training helps prevent injuries. Contrary to what some think, fencing does require strong muscles for endurance and power.

[Mikoyan]

That's more or less what I was thinking as well. I'll admit that I could use more point control and the rest, but it seems like a physical base will always benefit.

[glowstix]

i agree with your coach up to a point (btw, this has been beaten to death on here and inevitably someone will say use the search function, ). if you absolutely have lots of time on your hands, supplemental training can't ever hurt...however...most people don't (though you did say you could). i personally don't really believe all the extra training is necessary unless you're fencing in huge competitions that could drag on for hours...in which case you'll need to deal with the nutrition aspect as well. to be realistic, most local tournaments are 15-25 fencers or so and you can get by even if you're not in that great a shape anyway. i think you can build up all th strength and power you need from just practicing fencing actions; i.e. if you want a better, faster, explosive fleche then practice fleching. why waste time doing all the other stuff (unless you actually enjoy them of course)?? you have to practice the fleching anyway. i know some seriously strong fencers who've been to olympics/world cups/etc. and not even they are doing any of those things. in the end it comes down to talent.

[Allen Evans]

In almost any sport, it's not strength training OR skill training, it's strength training AND skill training, so your instincts are correct.

Depending on how good a shape you are in now, and where you are in your training cycle, you might need more skill training than strength training at this point. This is a decision up to you and your coach, and it sounds as though he/she has already weighted in on this.

I don't compete any more, but I do coach a good 2-3 hours a night. I've found that lifting twice a week and supplemental cardio work goes a long way towards keeping me fit enough to keep up with my students. I also do a lot of the drills for point control and distance that I use to do when I was a competitor to keep my skills adequate.

AE

[noodle]

Originally Posted by Allen Evans

In almost any sport, it's not strength training OR skill training, it's strength training AND skill training, so your instincts are correct.

Depending on how good a shape you are in now, and where you are in your training cycle, you might need more skill training than strength training at this point. This is a decision up to you and your coach, and it sounds as though he/she has already weighted in on this.

I don't compete any more, but I do coach a good 2-3 hours a night. I've found that lifting twice a week and supplemental cardio work goes a long way towards keeping me fit enough to keep up with my students. I also do a lot of the drills for point control and distance that I use to do when I was a competitor to keep my skills adequate.

AE

this^

[Craig]

Originally Posted by Allen Evans

In almost any sport, it's not strength training OR skill training, it's strength training AND skill training, so your instincts are correct.

AE

What he said (all of it)

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Its my mantra that starting early with strength training is important if you want to reach a certain level of athleticism later in your career.

You'll make nice improvements with 6 months of strength training, but if you keep it up for 10 years, you'll be at a place physically that will make a huge difference in your fencing.

Just don't let the focus of your training become only strength, because that can be detrimental to your fencing

[HDG]

Is your coach making this point generally, or is he making it about you now? In other words, is this a specific prescription for your improvement at this stage of your development?

[statisticool]

Originally Posted by Mikoyan

The coach at my club suggests that it's better to spend extra time practicing things like point control than it is to maintain a fitness regime.

I agree with that. It doesn't sound like he said to neglect a fitness regimen all together, but to just that it is better to focus on fencing to become a better fencer. Seems common sense.

[Gav]

To have good technique you have to practise techinique.

To have fitness you have to have a fitness regime.

If you want to be a good fencer then you need both of these things. Thinking anything else is foolish.

[stu]

These don't seem like things that will get in the way of one another, so there's no reason why it should be an either/or situation. The thing to ask is why you're wondering about whether to do the technical training. Are you looking for an excuse to duck out of what you know is going to be a boring and difficult piece of technical training?

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

On a slightly more relevant note...

I was talking with a guy a while back who knows Bucky. He relayed something from Bucky that I'll paraphrase to the best of my ability "If you're doing all the fencing you can, go ahead and strength train too, cause extra strength is good."

Do a search.