When did you start getting better?

[Nail Biter]

I've been fencing for three years and sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in this stage. When do I start getting better to catch up with others who are passing me and always beating me??

[parrythis]

The answer depends on a lot of things.

More information would be helpful...

How old are you?
What weapon do you fence?
How often do you get lessons?
How long are your lessons?
How many practice bouts do you fence in a session?
How often do you practice between lessons?
How often do you go to tournaments?

[noodle]

the short answer to your question sounds harsh, but its very true: when you start trying.

[the ancient one]

Are you practicing and competing in more than one weapon?
If you are, it is time to focus on just one.

Get regular lessons, if you are now and are not improving you may need a new teacher. Usually that means sacrifice of time and money. If the resource of a good teacher is not locally available at least attend some "fencing camps".

Make sure that your physical conditioning is not holding you back.

I started to improve when I addressed the 3 issues above.

[TBean]

How much time are you putting into training? I don't mean open bouting, I mean training. Are you drilling with others in your club, are you doing footwork by youself, are you taking lessons what is your level of conditioning, how many days a week can you train.

Really, before I had a child and could devote four hours at a time, four or five days per week and go to tournaments - I improved rapidly. Now, with just two nights per week to train, while I still improve those who have more time - like the juniors - pass me very quickly and my own progress is much slower.

It really all depends how much time you have to give the sport - your progess is proportional to the amount of time you train and fence.

[slowgraffiti515]

the more experience you get from tournaments, the better you will become. the key is actually taking in everything that happened, whether it was good or bad and figuring out what you need to improve upon.

[TooLoftheDeviL]

I'd like to think that I started getting better the first time I got en guard. The first time you hear "bend your legs" you know more than you did when you walked in the door.

It's all about how you apply what you learn. You can spend a long time working to make certain actions "better" and your competition results may suffer, but the idea is that you are improving, even if it doesn't mean a first place medal at every event you go to.

Every practice, every tournament, every lesson, every camp, every book, or every fencing conversation with a coach or colleague has the potential to make you "better" as long as you're willing to work to learn from these things, and work even harder to apply what you've learned.

[Allen Evans]

Originally Posted by TooLoftheDeviL

Every practice, every tournament, every lesson, every camp, every book, or every fencing conversation with a coach or colleague has the potential to make you "better" as long as you're willing to work to learn from these things, and work even harder to apply what you've learned.

And willing to continue to try any of the advice/lessons/information you get even if it fails the first few times.

AE

[lindajdunn]

As someone who started fencing in her fifties and watched all the teenagers fly past her in terms of skill development, I sympathize.

The key elements to increasing the speed of "getting better" are:

1. Don't get injured.
2. Practice outside of practice. Keep notes (even if they're just mental notes) on what you need to improve. Focus upon key elements. I sometimes confuse nearby drivers as I sit in my car doing parry fives while waiting at the stop light.
3. Don't get injured. This is very important.
4. In open fencing, try to fence people who are better than you, but not so much better that you don't know what happened.
5. Don't get injured. This is really, really important.
6. Watch videos. If possible, make a video of yourself and get a look at where you need to improve. I sometimes take a portable DVD player and prop it up on the bathroom sink while practicing parries in the mirror. At least there's no one around (other than my husband) to think this is weird.
7. Don't get injured. This is REALLY important.
8. Practice your parries in front of a mirror so you can see your movements. Practice with your eyes closed and then open your eyes to see how you're doing without watching.
9. By now, you should know that every other comment will be DON'T GET INJURED!
10. Use your own yardstick. Do not measure your progress by the progress of those around you. That way lies madness.

Oh, yes. One more thing: DON'T GET INJURED!!!

Getting injured really, really sets back your ability to progress and it's very frustration to start over again and again and again.

And remember Peach's famous words: No pain; no physical therapy.

[jkdjeff]

I'm still very new (just started in October) and I certainly feel like I'm getting better.

Now, getting good is a long, long way off, but I already feel like I'm progressing at a pretty good clip despite a somewhat mediocre class this past weekend.

[AdamH]

Breaking from playing an 'easy' game with beginners and practicing what you need to do based on actual tournament experience.

Not coaching.

Tournament experience.

Stick with one weapon, or consistent equipment.

Decide what works for you and start making a game out of it - a strategy built of tactics based around actions that make perfect sense to you.

Practicing what doesn't turn on a light because I'm not good at it - and need to improve.

Gosh, truth be told I've monsterly plateaued at 'experienced novice' for years now. Have to push, push and push some more. Oh aye, and get fitter.

[LeftHanded]

You really get what you put in. If you are content to fence the people at your club and win a bout or two then fence a couple times a month and go to the occasional tournament. If you want to get better faster then you have to put more time into. I started getting better when I gave 100% in every bout, practice or not. Because I started on school team we all trained together. I found the best person on the team (the capitan) and if he ran laps I ran them faster. If he ran without slowing down, I wouldn't take a single break. you have to push yourself futher than you can do. For some people it takes a motive. For others it takes a training partner. For others if may be a rivalry. What ever it takes to make you give that extra push.

Also, think about taking private lessons. The coachs should know a lot that they can teach. After every bout talk to the opponent and see what they were getting touches on. Even if you win, talk to the opponent. If they got a touch that means that you have some room to improve. Also, talk to your coach or to another teammate to see what they saw. Become a vacuum for information and take all the help you can get.

[Phaeton]

Train smart and get as much experience as possible.

Fencing skill doesn't have linear growth. People get stuck for a while and all of a sudden have a massive revelation and get far better in a very short period of time. You'll explosively increase and then plateau. That's the nature of the sport. Get private lessons and focus your bouts on executing what you learned. I'm having a plateau phase myself. It happens. Last time I was stuck for a few months, headed to several camps, something clicked and BOOM!

Be patient and be smart. You'll get better.

[Hollywood Troy]

At three years, I would say the better question is- where do you feel that you are stuck? You must have progressed to some extent over three years. Really examine your game and try to focus on where you need help. How is your footwork? Distance? Blade work? Do you use the same attacks all the time? How is your diet? Maybe it is time for a different coach or club?

[tkexi991]

1. Practice and practice the basics (en garde, advance, retreat, thrust, lunge)
2. Take practice bouts seriously, even if they are against rank beginners.
3. Cross-train and work on conditioning. If you are gassed, you're through.
4. Compete as often as reasonable.
5. Be in the salle/club as often as reasonable.
6. In competition, whether U or A, fence like you are going for a 5-0, 15-0 score.
7. If/When you get knocked out, stay until the end and watch bouts - especially the Top 8 and up.
8. Learn to direct - and direct good bouts.
9. Talk to opponents - discuss and understand how you touched them and how they touched you.
10. Make sure you eat well leading up to tournaments and even practice. The difference is astounding.
11. Be confident. Confidence comes before the evidence justifying it.
12. Practice the basics.

[Nail Biter]

How old are you? 15 male
What weapon do you fence? Foil
How often do you get lessons? 3 groups and 2 private
How long are your lessons? Group = 2 hours Private = 20 minutes each
How many practice bouts do you fence in a session? about 8
How often do you practice between lessons? none
How often do you go to tournaments? this year = 2 NAC's

[Nail Biter]

Originally Posted by slowgraffiti515

the more experience you get from tournaments, the better you will become. the key is actually taking in everything that happened, whether it was good or bad and figuring out what you need to improve upon.

Should I go to the local tournaments even if they are small...like less than 8 people? Does that help? or are you talking about the big nationals ones.

[dridge]

I'm curious. Perhaps I missed something.

How well do you fence now? Have you been successful in tournaments? What are your expectations?

This may help when people offer advice.

[HDG]

Originally Posted by Nail Biter

Should I go to the local tournaments even if they are small...like less than 8 people? Does that help?

If nothing else, it's exercise.

[sabreteur]

Sometimes we're not the best judge of our progress. For example, I've been fencing for not quite four years, have a B in sabre... And I know in my heart of hearts that I suck at it. Every victory is an accident and one day it'll all catch up with me. The reality of the situation is probably somewhat different than that.

Tell your coach how you feel and ask him\her for a honest accessment of your abilities.