What was your Aha! moment?

[blondie1983]

Maybe you have one once a day, or once a year about your fencing. Feel free to share yours!


I had one last week when suddenly a lesson with my coach and something I saw in a fencing video clicked. I realized how powerful a tool it is to have an accelerated attack, to finish faster than you started, with the hand before the foot.

Sure I had been told this (a million times, by a dozen different fencers), but to see it in a video, to know what to look for when watching the video (and to see it win touch after touch), was amazing! Also, now that I have confidence that this actually works, if I perform it with confidence on the strip, I can make it a successful action! Now I have a solid starting point to build other actions from, and I am not just doing it because coach said so.

[DavidX]

what was the video chickita bonita?

[blondie1983]

Gold medal and top four bouts at the Div II womens saber at Summer Nationals 2009

[DavidX]

blondie lets rob a bank your saber and my foil nobody will be able to withstand or even comprehend such a synergystic and handsome coupling of slashing and point control.

Than we shall run away together - to aruba or maybe even bahama.

(come on pretty...)

[Foil.Leicester]

Mine was October last year (2008). I was in a team match (foil) and came into the last bout 34 - 40 down.

On the first hit I slowly and easily pushed the guy down to the back of the piste and hit him with direct lunge to chest. Suddenly had a moment of "hold on, I can do this fencing thing", and since I've felt a lot more optimistic and focussed about my fencing development.

(final score was 45 - 42 victory to us).

[Morale Officer]

Last year when I finally officially switched my primary weapon to Sabre (after I so expertly did a head cut in the middle of a foil tournament). lol!

[dramamine]

Probably:

- realizing that just because something was simple and worked, doesn't mean the other person is going to figure it out and i need to change

- realizing that "going point first" can sometimes just mean speeding up the point, not slowing down the legs

- realizing just how often direct lunges work if you're confident

I'm a foil fencer btw

[Bonehead]

Realizing that the praying mantis technique works so well.

Actually I have Aha moments all the time.

-realizing that staying close to an opponent is a good defensive choice

-I recently started trying "Italian style" as one coach would put it. That is fencing very close, and using attack in preparation to stop compound attacks, and just normal ripostes to stop direct. I don't like the style, but I didn't think it would work at all, and it's surprisingly effective.

-When I was younger, stepping into a flick was a pretty big aha moment.

-Small step on preparation was sort of a Aha moment.

-Making some sort of action into someone else preparation (even if it's just a feint) was kind of an Aha moment

-Listening to Take on Me at the 80's Dance was a pretty good one too

[blondie1983]

blondie lets rob a bank your saber and my foil nobody will be able to withstand or even comprehend such a synergystic and handsome coupling of slashing and point control.

Than we shall run away together - to aruba or maybe even bahama.

(come on pretty...)

Interesting, but I don't see how this aha moment helps you in your fencing.

Also, I do not think there are any clubs in the Caribbean that are worth escaping to.

[Bonehead]

Also, I do not think there are any clubs in the Caribbean that are worth escaping to.

The Cubans weren't doing half bad a few years ago.

[milstdfarm]

Realizing that the praying mantis technique works so well.

Bonehead made a joke about it (I think). But my moment was when I realized that I could get my fencers to understand tactics by using animal name and behavior analogies to teach fencing.

Cobra, Mongoose, Tiger, Grizzly, Drunken Monkey, Flying Squirrel, Scorpion are all names we use. It's a little bit goofy but the kids love it and it works.

[hello?]

"Aha! So THAT's where all my disposable income is going!"

[Bonehead]

Cobra, Mongoose, Tiger, Grizzly, Drunken Monkey, Flying Squirrel, Scorpion are all names we use. It's a little bit goofy but the kids love it and it works.

When I first read this post my gut instinct was to respond with derision, but the more I think about it, the more I think it's a good idea to use strong visualization and incorporate imagination to make kids perform actions the way you want them too.

Attack like a snake... sloooowwwww then fast.

Balance like drunken monkey, with the upper body very relaxed.

That might have some potential there...

[Fiat Slug]

Balance like drunken monkey, with the upper body very relaxed.

I just had my "a-ha" moment!! I realized that when my coach says that I move like a f***ing drunk ape, he's actually complimenting me. Cool!

.

[Dev]

When I first read this post my gut instinct was to respond with derision, but the more I think about it, the more I think it's a good idea to use strong visualization and incorporate imagination to make kids perform actions the way you want them too.

Attack like a snake... sloooowwwww then fast.

Balance like drunken monkey, with the upper body very relaxed.

That might have some potential there...

Drift warning: I once reffed a Y14 kid, both locally and nationally, whose father would call out actions for him to perform during the bout--except he would use kung-fu movie phrases.

"The eagle chases the snake."
"Point of no return."

Kid wasn't a bad fencer, but it was difficult not to laugh because the instructions were delivered in a really serious, deep intonation, as though they were hidden techniques that were going to make the other kid's heart explode or his lame' fall off.

[lauragoodin]

To continue the karate/kung-fu motif, one of my more profound "aha" moments came when I took a really heavy side kick to the ribs, grunted "Good kick," at my opponent, and kept on sparring. The realization? I'm tougher than I think. This realization will probably be of use as I progress in fencing -- what do you reckon, experienced people?

[Palisadeur]

"The eagle chases the snake."
"Point of no return."
...difficult not to laugh because the instructions were delivered in a really serious, deep intonation, as though they were hidden techniques that were going to make the other kid's heart explode or his lame' fall off.

Hell, that made me laugh without even witnessing it. Which inspires in me a new kung-fu title: "Honourable Ref of Iron-Clad Giggle Suppression."

There's a whole thread of 'Kung-Fence' right there.

My AHA! moment was realising that even though i couldn't see the little area behind my opponents elbow, it's a good target.
(Left vs Right-hander)

[piste off]

blondie lets rob a bank your saber and my foil nobody will be able to withstand or even comprehend such a synergystic and handsome coupling of slashing and point control.

Than we shall run away together - to aruba or maybe even bahama.

(come on pretty...)

You just broke Miley Cyrus's achy breaky heart.

R-

[JacoKierkegaard]

There was a tournament last year where I sort of figured out how to use the second intention really effectively. This was the first time I had any real success at a tournament. I started fencing really conservatively and waiting patiently for mistakes, then capitalizing on opportunities for fast counters and ripostes. I did extremely well in pools, got a bye for the first round, easily defeated a fencer of similar skill in the second round, and in the third round I went 14-15 with three double lights after la belle against a much higher rated fencer who went on to win the tournament.

[edew]

25 years into fencing and my aha moment. I'm fencing a complete noob. I make a beat feint and he reacted by launching a simple lunge at me, hitting me. I thought "WTF?" So to test it, I made the same action, but instead of a feint, I just completed the extension and lunged. Yup, that guy lunged at me five times in a row. But here, it was my point for five after the first one to him.

I then realized that what coaches taught as possible reaction by an opponent is not always the case. That's when I realized that all (foil) bouting requires testing out your opponent for their reactions to certain actions. Of course, the tougher opponents are harder to divine their reactions, but that's what makes them tough.

Before that moment, it was round peg trying to find the round hole. Now, it's helping the opponent shape the hole properly so I can fit whatever peg I have. If I want to make a double-disengage, I will set up the opportunity to do so. If I want to make a counter-attack, I will set up the opportunity to do so. Of course, the better fencers make the set-up harder to do (without revealing my intent). Sometimes, you can't set everything up just perfectly. You gotta do enough and let athleticism and fundamentals take over.