Cross Training

[graham]

In another thread I mentioned that I had been told there was a tiny bit on fencing in the recent Sports Illustrated. Well, I picked it up and the mention sure is tiny.

The story is thet there is a young player in the NBA, Dirk Nowitzki, who plays for the Dallas Mavericks. He has a personal trainer who has him on a somewhat eclectic training regimen. Part of his training includes fencing, because "Fencers always have to be 100 percent on the defensive before they can go on the offensive". The article doesn't mention agility and balance as being one benefit of fencing but I expect that is one of the reasons for including it in his regimen, because both of those elements seem important in the rest of his training.

While I was disappointed, once again, at the sparse mention of fencing, the article got me wondering. So, here are a couple of questions for the enlightened masses:

1) Do you use fencing as a cross-training aid for other sports?

2) Do you use other sports as an aid for your fencing?


GT

[Dan H]

You mean, other sports exist for a reason other than cross-training for fencing?

[graham]

Originally posted by Dan H
You mean, other sports exist for a reason other than cross-training for fencing?

Of course not! If it doesn't have some application to fencing, it isn't a sport - and why does it even exist

I am curious, though, about what other sports you all fit into your schedules. Me - I cross-train for fencing by competing in a head-to-head battle of wills over homework three times a day, five days a week, the household maintenance decathlon, child-rearing triathlon, and the basement cleaning marathon. Beyond that I only have time for cycling and cross-country skiing in the appropriate seasons.

I guess you could say that fencing allows me to get through the rest of the stuff and still keep a smile on my face.

GT

[Daylight]

I must admit to not having time to do anything other than fencing right now (and truthfully, not much of that). However, I used to do some cycling as it relied heavily on the quads as well. I know a number of people who use (and I know it isn't really a sport but...) yoga to help in their fencing. The flexibility and calmness being what they wanted to attain.

[Falling Cow]

Since I don't run many races anymore you could argue that it isn't a sport, but I run. There is something to be said for the raw endurance that I haven't been able to find in any other sport.

[Voldune]

Well I ballroom dance (swing, cha cha, rumba, salsa, tango, etc) for cross training. Also not a sport but it helps with balance, timing, staying on the balls of my feet, and moving smoothly. Plus it's not that bad of a workout also if you do it for awhile...plus its fun and you get the chance to dance with cute girls.


Patrick

[Slavheart]

I run. I also do some weight lifting, but not too much. It's easy to over train (for me, at any rate).

[Saber-Psycho]

Swimming. Swimming is good for, muscle relaxation, stretching, toning, making the fencers not have one thigh bigger than the other. and it's good for acme!

Running's good for you too, but who wants to run? Running is the punishment of other sports.... Fumble that football, run a mile.....double dribble ... run a mile!
No running!

[earlie]

Swimming is the way to sleek that body. In the Pacific there is much sleek swimming persons. Fencing is uneven, undoubtedly, the two legs is not the same and the back the back, hey, it is working different leftside-rightside. Swimming is slick that boddy.

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

1) Do you use fencing as a cross-training aid for other sports?

2) Do you use other sports as an aid for your fencing?

I use fencing to fight crime... at night... in my super-hero outfit.

[graham]

Don't you mean to foil crime?

GT

[Inquartata]

You'll epee for that pun, Graham.