Why do I fence?

[jumpsoffcliff]

I have been fencing for 5 years now and I'm 14. I just started competing last year and I want to get really good, really fast. My coach suggested we give him a write-up about why we fence and what our goals are. Although fencing is fun and does make me feel awesome, I feel like there should be another reason why I do it. My short-term goals are to be in the Top 3 in current national points of Y14 by the end of the year, which is a little bit of overachieving because right now, I'm 34. I also want to learn how to apply my creativity in my fencing because the reason why I idealize it as a sport is because to me, it should be just as much artistic, as athletic. When I'm competing, it's like I go into a mental block, where I just can't think of the appropriate actions and can't express the desire I have to win. Frustratingly enough, my coach perceives it as me not caring, and not having a drive, which is totally untrue. So basically, I want to figure out why I'm fencing (other than the fact that I love the feeling I get when I outsmart someonehaha) and maybe get some tips on how to be psychologically composed when competing. Thanks, I REALLY appreciate it!

[david.wendelken]

"Being in the top 3" is a rating that's externally determined.

By contrast, "being the best fencer I can be" is internally determined.

If you told me your goal was the latter, I would accept it and take it at face value.

I'm not convinced "being in the top 3" is REALLY your goal. (And I assume you aren't either, or you wouldn't have posted your question. )

What is it that you think you will get if you are in the top 3?

• Money?
• Fame?
• Babes? (Or Hunks, as the case may be.)
• Vindication that you're cool?

Think about it and let us know.

[pinkelephant]

Nobody REALLY wants to be "in the top three". If you are that ambitious you want to be number one.

[KD5MDK]

Many people seem to think "making the team" is a goal they can aim for, which is pretty similar.

[Goldgar]

Nobody REALLY wants to be "in the top three". If you are that ambitious you want to be number one.

Eventually, yes. But the OP wrote "My short-term goals are to be in the Top 3 in current national points of Y14 by the end of the year". Time-limited goals are perfectly reasonable, it seems to me.

[Mitlov]

Although fencing is fun and does make me feel awesome, I feel like there should be another reason why I do it.

I don't think there needs to be another reason. If there is another reason without you trying to "make" a reason, great. But this is more than enough reason to fence, on its own. I'm only saying this because from your post, it sounds like you're trying to come up with other reasons to give a thorough explanation to your coach when, in fact, this right here is the core of why you fence.

[leftweet]

My advice for you is to go out in every bout and just have fun. Don't focus on your desire to win during the bout. Focus on performing your actions well and making the correct choices. Don't worry about winning or losing. When you start to worry about the outcome of the bout, you lose focus on the moment and it can affect your fencing (that said, I believe competing is about winning, which is fun for me & that is why I try to focus on the moment).

Instead of going out on the strip and thinking, "Oh I need to beat my opponent." Go out there and think about how you will score the next touch, what you will do to score that point and how you will do it. And don't worry -- as you become more advanced as a fencer (and as you age) you will start to improve on how and what you should be doing. That just takes practice.

When some goes wrong in a bout, figure out how to fix it. Don't worry about that you did something wrong, focus on doing something wrong. And if the bout keeps going downhill, stay optimistic and keep your head up. Always believe that anything is possible. I've seen plenty of fencers make huge score deficits. Keep trying different stuff if it doesn't work. I tell people I coach that I'm fine if they lose 5-0 to someone as long as those 5 touches were on different actions.

Also, visualizing your actions perfectly helps and so does working on repetition so that each of your actions become second nature. These you can work on in practice.

And the key is to have fun!

[Mr Epee]

I have been fencing for 5 years now and I'm 14. I just started competing last year and I want to get really good, really fast.

Lots of people 'want' to get really good.

My coach suggested we give him a write-up about why we fence and what our goals are.

Not a bad exercise, but don't put too much stock in it. It'll most likely get a quick glance over and then be filed away.

Although fencing is fun and does make me feel awesome, I feel like there should be another reason why I do it.

There are many people in this world who never find anything that does for them what fencing does for you. This is not nothing. You're still very young. Take this for a ride. If you enjoy it, then work hard at it. It's amazing how this kind of passion and dedication can spill over into other aspects of your life. See where it takes you.

My short-term goals are to be in the Top 3 in current national points of Y14 by the end of the year, which is a little bit of overachieving because right now, I'm 34.

That's a mighty big piece of cake you're admiring. There are a whole bunch of folks ahead of you with similar ambitions, and a whole lot of folks behind you with similar ambitions. Also, Y-14 rankings are notoriously fleeting, and shouldn't be the focus of much attention. There's a heck of a lot going on at that age that you don't have control over; not the least of which is figuring out how to control a rapidly changing body.

I also want to learn how to apply my creativity in my fencing because the reason why I idealize it as a sport is because to me, it should be just as much artistic, as athletic.

Ok.

When I'm competing, it's like I go into a mental block, where I just can't think of the appropriate actions and can't express the desire I have to win.

You shouldn't have to think of the appropriate actions. That's what the training programs are for. They should just come to you. There's not enough time to 'think' about things.

Frustratingly enough, my coach perceives it as me not caring, and not having a drive, which is totally untrue.

I, for one, wish that coaches would stop reading pop-psychology books as gospel. Not everyone is wired to be comfortable going around making bold proclamations about their goals and ambitions. Show up early. Stay late. Keep a keen eye on what's going on in the gym. Monitor your own progress. Take personal responsibility for your performance. Draw on the resources of more experienced competitiors. Work hard. Do these things and it's pretty difficult for anyone to perceive you as 'not caring'. It should be that simple.

So basically, I want to figure out why I'm fencing (other than the fact that I love the feeling I get when I outsmart someonehaha) and maybe get some tips on how to be psychologically composed when competing. Thanks, I REALLY appreciate it!

Don't be afraid to say that you enjoy the process. Success is a by-product of process.

[Allen Evans]

I and maybe get some tips on how to be psychologically composed when competing.

Who are you? Who do you want to be?

Are you happy with who you are?

Where are you going?

Do you have a plan to get there (a big plan composed of many little plans?)

Every composed competitor I've met seems to know the answers to these questions, and these answers don't change. At 14, you're still figuring those answers out, and fencing is going to be one of the things that helps you decide what those answers are (as a clue, the answers are less: "I am ranked number 3 in the US" and more "I try to learn more about my sport every day").

Good fencers work on being good fencers, before anything else. That seems trivial, but is ignored all too often by younger fencers.

I would take Mr. Epee's advice to heart.

A

[Fencergrl]

jumpsoffcliff: Mr Epee not only made it to the elite levels of fencing but coaches top ranked fencers. Listen to him.

[freerider258]

I don't think the question is why you're doing it. The most important thing is having fun and becoming successful at fencing. It's not necessary to define why you like something. It's not what's important right now for you.

[jumpsoffcliff]

David: Thanks for replying! I wish that I didn't have to make result-based goals, but my coach has gotten frustrated and told me that he doesn't care how hard I'm trying, if I'm not getting the results. I fence every day and am always working on things to get better, whether it's specific actions or maybe a new style of fencing. Being in top 3 is only important to me as a title as a fencer, pretty much just for props. I don't care that much about results, but of course my coach does. I've met many fencers whose whole style was ugly and almost not even fencing, but end up doing better than me because of their aggression. Being in top three is just proof of my skills, its more about having something to show for all the hard work I put in. What my goal really is, is to fence beautifully, while still outsmarting my opponent and being creative. I just wish there was a road map or guideline to get this, rather than have to find it within myself. Thanks again!

Pinkelephant: Of course I want to be number one, it just seems way more unrealistic and far away. Just thinking about having goals like that discourages me.

Mitlov: You are 100% right, I shouldn't be trying to come up with untrue reasons to satisfy my coach. I love fencing because it is my stress-reliever. I do it everyday after school, and it's the only thing that really makes me happy. Given the choice of hangin out with friends or fencing, I'd choose fencing. All of your replies have helped me figure out what I really love about the sport. The mind games. It makes me feel like I'm the detective in a crime show, that is manipulating the suspects to get the information I need(anyone know Lie to Me and The Mentalist) My opponent is the suspect, the information is the touch and the mind game is the means by which I outsmart my opponent. Thanks for the help!

leftweet: I wish that at competitions I could just enjoy experiencing the new fencing styles and have fun, but I just get so nervous with the pressure to perform. These nerves make me do less than my best and fence passively rather than express myself. I have trouble focusing on the moment because I'm too busy anticipating and planning the future. That in turn, while I'm thinking, gets me hit. Taking everything you said, I will bring it to my next competition and try it out. I will stop worrying about the outcome of the bout and instead fence each second to its fullest. And of course, practice practice practice! Thanks so much for all your help and guidance!

Mr. Epee: Wow! Thank you! I really appreciate you sharing your experience! When I say that I want to get really good, it's because I'm the kind of person that believes you can achieve anything if you REALLy want it, which I do. Hard work should always pay off, but it seems like it isn't or maybe just very slowly. The passion and dedication I have for fencing is unmeasurable. I am a good student, love music, art, other sports, many interests...but when it comes to fencing, it's the only thing I really care about that makes me happy. Which sucks because although my coach says I have talent (which for all I know is just him bull****ting for another customer) I feel like I don't know how to unlock it. And I fence every day, when I could be nurturing other things I'm good at. It gets me discouraged that I'm wasting my time if I can never be the best, or at least up there at the top. I'd be willing to do anything, but it's not like there is a "how to" guide to get me there. The fact that its all internal, because I have the technical stuff down from practice, makes the pursuit so much more difficult. I'd like to think that the people ahead of me, and the people behind me, don't have as much determination as I do, and don't want it as bad. I'm hoping for a break through, where I just miraculously understand everything and fencing just comes to me, but for all I know that's a bunch of crap. Maybe some people can fence, and others just can't. Maybe there's a limit to how good a person can get, no matter how hard they try. I'm only 14, so I don't think I've reached that, but the uncertainty is a put down. My attitude as a whole is a put down, and I think it's what I really need fix. The problem is, I have no idea how. For now, just enjoy myself and forget about getting results because, as you said, they should just with the process. Thank you so much!

Allen Evans: I understand what you mean. I don't want to define myself as a fencer based on my results, but I feel like to know that I am getting better, results should come with it. I have no idea how to answer those question, and that's ok since I'm only 14 but it's comforting to know that fencing brings me closer to myself every day. I'm always thinking about fencing, even when doing other things, and I always relate things to moments or feelings I get in a bout, which helps me grow both as a fencer and a person. That's why I love the sport. I do strive to be a good fencer, more than anything, I'm just getting frustrated that because of my performance anxiety, the results aren't following. From what I've heard, just relaxing and letting loose, calming down and focusing on little things is what I should do. Get a positive attitude, live in the moment, and enjoy myself will make me a better fencer and a happier one too. Thank you so much for all your help!

Thanks everyone! It's great that we have such an incredible fencing community! Your help is well appreciated!

[edgemontfencing]

how ironic!
i live in new york
i am 13 years old
i have been fencing for 3 years
i suck at fencing
i want to get good fast.
i fence because i feel obligated to do it, even though im the only person in my family that does it. i started not knowing anything at all, and for the last three years i was completely misguided in fencing. by your ranking, im assuming you are a better fencer than i. (but really, you have no idea how bad i am) also, where do you fence?

[jumpsoffcliff]

I go to the New Amsterdam Fencing Academy North, also in New York. Why do you feel obligated to do it? What is motivating you to want to get good, if you feel like fencing is a chore?

[Mitlov]

Mitlov: You are 100% right, I shouldn't be trying to come up with untrue reasons to satisfy my coach. I love fencing because it is my stress-reliever. I do it everyday after school, and it's the only thing that really makes me happy. Given the choice of hangin out with friends or fencing, I'd choose fencing. All of your replies have helped me figure out what I really love about the sport. The mind games. It makes me feel like I'm the detective in a crime show, that is manipulating the suspects to get the information I need(anyone know Lie to Me and The Mentalist) My opponent is the suspect, the information is the touch and the mind game is the means by which I outsmart my opponent. Thanks for the help!

These are GREAT reasons to fence. Most people will never be the best, or even in the best three, regardless of how hard they bust their butts. But if you genuinely get enjoyment out of the sport regardless of whether you finish on the podium or not, you're going to go far.

By the way, either make friends with the people at your fencing club, or get your out-of-fencing friends to take up the sport too, and then you don't have to choose between "hanging out with friends" and "fencing"

[edgemontfencing]

I go to the New Amsterdam Fencing Academy North, also in New York. Why do you feel obligated to do it? What is motivating you to want to get good, if you feel like fencing is a chore?

i dont really know why i feel an obligation. im 'supercompetitive' in almost everything, so i think its just that i want to win really badly.

[jumpsoffcliff]

edgemontfencing: The fact that you're on this site, talking about your fencing, makes me think that you actually do like it and care about it.
Mitlov: Haha that's true, the only problem is that you have to fence them, and when they're your friends, it hurts you when you see them upset after you beat the **** out of them, but at the same time, you never want to lose.

[Alexander Kai]

Mr. Jumps off cliff, you are right. Almost everyone that posts here loves/likes this sport enough that they're willing to debate it endlessly on the internet. If they don't, then they're just a crazed economics major that simply likes debating and arguing online.

[Inquartata]

You say that as though it's either/or.

[Alexander Kai]

Ah, yes, but it IS. =D

Tell me then, what would YOUR answer be?