Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

thekoby · 07-14-2008, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen Evans

This is probably a very bad idea. I have a number of students who do well in strong competitions, and we continually go back and refresh, refine, rehearse technical actions, and they are "A" and "B" level students.

Technical skills can be de-emphasized during a period of training, but they should never be ignored. You're an "E" in foil and epee, correct? Especially in epee, technical skills are very important, and past a certain point, you won't advance without them.

AE

I never stated that I fully supported this idea. I still work on technical stuff (or worked on it up to the point when he moved) in private lessons, he just didn't teach me anything new.....basically sanding down the rough edges, to use telkanuru's example of carving wood.

I am alway trying to find a way to make myself a better epee fencer (since this is my primary weapon and I am wishing to one day get at least a prevot certification in this weapon). So basically any advice is helpful.

MdA · 07-14-2008, 11:11 AM

Is there another coach in your area with whom you can work? There may not be anybody in Muncie. You may want to travel up to South Bend and work with the ND epee coach Marek Stepien...I think he is closest to you...or someone in Indianapolis or Chicago.

thekoby · 07-15-2008, 03:39 AM

South Bend is a bit of a trek for me right now (with gas being so damn high), but Indy would be a possibility. However, the only clubs I know of in Indy with decent coaches are Bladepoint Fencing Academy (formally Alexandre's Fencing Academy) and IndySabre (who's primary focus is sabre).

telkanuru · 07-17-2008, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekoby

basically sanding down the rough edges, to use telkanuru's example of carving wood.

If you're an E in epee, you're still a square block. Sorry.

thekoby · 07-17-2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telkanuru

If you're an E in epee, you're still a square block. Sorry.

Pardon me for not having an exuberant amount of money to travel to higher-rated tournaments. With current gas prices I've had to make the tough decision of withdrawing from several tournaments where I could have earned a higher rating so that I may be able to pay my bills on time.

telkanuru · 07-18-2008, 05:01 PM

Right. I have no idea what it's like to have to make crap for money and be able to afford fencing. No one else does either. Clearly it's impossible to gain any significant rating and be able to feed oneself.

erooMynohtnA · 07-18-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekoby

Pardon me for not having an exuberant amount of money to travel to higher-rated tournaments. With current gas prices I've had to make the tough decision of withdrawing from several tournaments where I could have earned a higher rating so that I may be able to pay my bills on time.

Not to jump all over you, but there's not exactly a dearth of tournaments within $20 of you. http://askfred.net/Events/map.php It's an issue of commitment. I don't really have joyful money either.

A little advice about your rating: look at what it says about you given the USFA ratings chart. An E says to everyone he can beat five Us, but he can't beat 14 Us. A D says, he can beat 14 people, but not if anyone's good. A C says that he can beat 14 people and a couple people who might know how to fence. And so on.

We're almost always within a DE of earning a new rating. That's how the system works. I can't count how many times I was "close" to a C but didn't get it, or now that I'm a C, how many times I've been "close" to a B, but didn't get it. (I didn't get them because I didn't deserve it.) No one wants to hear stories about how "I'm a D, but I fence at a C+ level like this one time at an A5 where it ended up an E12, and my coach says I could be a B- if I got a different haircut, blah blah blah."

Just to break it down, a lot of people on this forum are not going to take you seriously as a competitive fencer if you're not going to Div I NACs.

thekoby · 07-18-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erooMynohtnA

Not to jump all over you, but there's not exactly a dearth of tournaments within $20 of you. http://askfred.net/Events/map.php It's an issue of commitment. I don't really have joyful money either.

Not sure where you are gathering gas prices, but $20 will put roughly 5 gallons in my car. With the MPG my car typically gets on the highway, that is about 10 miles short of just reaching Dayton, OH. Then i would have to put more gas in my car just to get back home afterwards.

erooMynohtnA · 07-18-2008, 06:44 PM

I suggest better mileage, closer cities, and fewer excuses

thekoby · 07-18-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erooMynohtnA

I suggest better mileage, closer cities, and
fewer excuses

I would suggest that if you wish to berate me more for my poor choices in spending my money, please do so in a PM or a profile post so that we may keep this thread on topic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by journalmom

When does a fencer start to fence with planned actions with intent rather than reflexively? Or does it matter how he/she does it as long as she gets the touches?

I'm eager to hear others' thoughts on this.

telkanuru · 07-19-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekoby

I'm eager to hear others' thoughts on this.

On a vague, open-ended question? One that oversimplifies the problem and makes it falsely into a binary solution?

My thought is it's not a good question to ask.

Once again, your mental response to something unexpected is never planned. If your opponent fleches at you, you're working on muscle memory. Also, you can plan to second intention on some actions, but any further than that you're once again in reaction territory. What I'm saying is you never really abandon reflex.

If you ask when do fencers start being proactive rather than always reactive, for the vast majority this happens immediately, because otherwise no one would score touches.

PS- I'm sorry that you get offended when people are trying to help you. An accurate assessment of one's abilities is pretty key to coming along as a fencer. Excuses as to results, etc are never helpful. As they say, if wishes were fishes there would be no room for water.

MdA · 07-21-2008, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erooMynohtnA

Not to jump all over you, but there's not exactly a dearth of tournaments within $20 of you.....
Just to break it down, a lot of people on this forum are not going to take you seriously as a competitive fencer if you're not going to Div I NACs.

Fencing is an expensive sport. In the USA, the amount of money you can put into it makes all the difference...then you add hard work and commitment.

I have spent many thousands on my fencing education and on my kids. If it works out...there are a few NCAA fencing scholarships for the kids...if not at least you are left with a lifetime of enjoyment and participation...at a high level in...healthy and physically challengin sport.

Golf is also expensive...Skiing...Super Bowl tickets.

But fencing is worth it. Competing and teaching at B-C skill level is extremely rewarding. That is when the really fun stuff starts in fencing...and then there is coaching and refereeing.....international travel opportunities.

There are ways to off-set the cost of fencing. Get a referee's rating and get paid to ref one day and fence the next. Volunteer to drive the team and share gas money...do bout committee work or become a division officer or armorer. This is a good way to get to the NACs.