Stress Managment, Visualization, and Relaxation Techniques

[Slavheart]

This is from the FAQ:

"Psychologically, a fencer must be able to maintain focus, concentration, and emotional level-headedness under intense conditions of combat. Stress management, visualization, and relaxation techniques are all helpful to putting in winning performances. "

Does anyone have any suggested drills or training along these lines? I don't know the first thing about stress management, visualization or relaxation techniques, at least not in this setting.

I'll appreciate anything that anyone's willing to share.

Thanks!

-Slavheart

[Zelda]

I generally do deep breathing exercises just before a bout. The day before I try to just imagine where I want to be position wise after each round. I also try and think about what I do best and how I can use that. A few minutes before the bouts start I find my strip and just stare at it, trying to totally zone out and focus on the moment. I hope this helps.

[Slavheart]

Thanks, Zelda. This gives me a start on understanding what's involved. I appreciate it.

[Fencing Mom]

There is a psychological training manual for fencers that can be downloaded, located on the USFA site under sports medicine. It addresses all of those concerns.

[Jeric]

I gave up fencing awhile ago because I couln't keep focus. I have started again.

[Slavheart]

Thanks, Fencing Mom. I've searched the USFA site, but I haven't located the section you mention. Could you post the url? Thanks!

[Craig]

Here you go.

(pdf file, 144k)

[JEC]

I found, in particular, setting "Challenging but Realistic Goals" one of the best and most useful tips of this notebook (pages 9-10).

[jspierre]

Try reading Aladar Kolger's books. He's written several, and all seem to rehash his core work, though 'Yoga for Athletes' spends more time on yoga, obviously, than his other titles. Check Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

[remise]

My son will go out of his way to avoid anger and stress. He'll meditate the night before and even the day of. He finds that anger causes his foil to swing wide and miss what would normally be an easy target. He considers stress akin to anger with the same results.

My daughter harnesses anger. She had only been fencing for 2 months, and became upset by an offhand remark by her brother. Unfortunately for her opponent, she took her anger out on the strip and put this kid away 5-0. (He'd been fencing 2 years). That's when she discovered her anger can be an asset - it actually helps her game.

As for me, I'm too busy trying to calm down to worry about calming down. I'm very intimidated by fencers who 'scream' when they're on the strip, so I try to focus on what to do if I have a screaming opponent.

[Peach]

I prefer to be in as bad a mood as possible at tournaments. I once devoted several months to the Kogler method of visualization and relaxation, and was so relaxed and focused I lost all my bouts and finished last at Division I National Championships. If I'm going to finish last, I prefer to do it without nearly as much investment in mental work.

[remise]

Peach, you are a hoot. You've got to teach me how to make that work. I've tried to get my daughter to show me, but I'm so attuned to sound that the minute someone screams or yells across from me, that's it. I mentally fall apart. My son told me once,"Mom, there's only one solution for you. Earplugs. I followed his advice, but they worked so well, I never heard the referee call a halt. Cross out that solution.

[Inquartata]

Alcohol.

[Jason]

Originally posted by Inquartata
Alcohol.

There might be something in that. Many hugely successful fencers (particularly Eastern European ones) adhere to the "drink away the fear" method of relaxation in fencing.

Now, if we could adopt the Soviet program of inspired alcoholism, the US could finally be a fencing superpower.

It could also solve a lot of that whole "sponsorship" problem: "What beer does, superstar fencer, Drinks Malone use to be at his best? Bud-ade, the thirst quencher."

[Swordsman]

Am I the only one who gets the shakes AFTER the bout? I get worked up a little going into it, then manage to just concentrate on the fencing itself for the bout. As soon as it's over, though, I start shaking like crazy.

[peircer]

I found if I don't rein in my bad mood I tend to explode. I do my best if I keep my mood neutral, but focused. I sometimes get the shakes at tournaments right before I start if I've got high expectations for myself. If I don't care one way or the other then I'm fine. Mental case...

[remise]

I'm like the Swordsman. I shake a bit before - and especially if my opponent is super-sized. I will literally quake in my shoes until I hear,"Ready---Fence!" Then, an eerie calm comes over me. I'll fence the bout (provided no one screams in my general direction), then after the bout, I'll fall to pieces....even if I won.

[D'Artagnan1673]

Pain, anger, yelling. All of these do wonders for my fencing.

Anger in general can work against me too. If I am angry before a bout, then I can usually harness this anger to make myself super focused. If I get frustrated in a middle of a bout, I will make the same mistake only worse.

I fenced a bout once where my opponent was extremely mad at me for making fun of how long he takes to put on his glove. You could see it in his eyes, he wanted to kill me. However, his deep desire to run me through worked against him and I dealt him 10 successive blows to end the bout. What did he do? He got upset so daddy drove him home so he wouldn't have to deal with it. He's rarely come back since.

One way I used to focus before tennis tournaments or fencing tournaments was to read something really adventurous. My finest placement in a HS tennis tournament was the one where I read 256 pages of The Three Musketeers in-between bouts. I stayed focused and creamed my opponents so I could get back to the book!

[Zelda]

I forgot about the pain factor....
I once fenced 2/3 DE bout and a final on a grade 2 sprained ankle. The Adrenalin was pumping so hard I didnt feel it till I finished, packed up and got back to my room,... I think suddenly went OUCH and to top it all off we had a presentation dinner the next night and I only had high heels.... now THAT is pain!!

[magma]

there must be some tapes somewhere, i'm looking for a few tapes about achieving goals. positive thinking tapes. there's also a guy who wrote Power of Positive Thinking; and Positive Self Talk.