Motivation and Goals

[KBayDog]

All,

Without revisiting the topic of "being the best in the world," I am curious:

1. What drives you to fence, and
2. What are your fencing goals (both short- and long-term)?


For me:

1. I simply love it. I began fencing as a cross-training activity for my running, and now I find that I run to cross-train for my fencing! The intense physical and mental attention required leaves me exhausted, yet euphoric. As a stress-reliever, it is without parallel. (There is just something satisfying about running somebody through after a hard day of work...)

The mental aspect of the game is my favorite part. The greatest challenge is trying to get inside my opponents' heads; to discover what makes them tick.

2. My short term goal is to build a solid foundation in the fundamentals. After all, only perfect practice makes perfect...

My long term goal is to be the best fencer I can possibly be. I want to reach my cognitive, affective, and psychomotor peaks.

However, as stated previously by other postings, this will never happen as long as I am an active student of the game. Thus, it will be a lifetime persuit.

[Style]

Why did I start?
Cause my gf cheated on me and left me a miserable wreck.


Why did I keep fencing?
Cause I have a natural talent in it. I've been fencing for 5 months and beat most people who have been fencing for 2-3 years.


What do I plan to do in the furture with fencing?
I'll be world champion in men's foil or epee. Yes I will.

[Sarah]

Why did I start?
I had quit soccer because my coach was an idiot, and I wanted to continue to play sports. My mom told that there were two sports that were good for me; fencing and la cross, I chose fencing because you could hurt people (I don't do that any more) That was 1 3/4 years ago.

Why did I continue?
I loved the sport and I was a quick learner withen 2 weeks I was getting medals at local tournaments. I was a natural and I still am!

Short-term goals-
To do well at Summer Nationals, like getting top 8!

Long-term goals-
To get on the US women's foil team, go to international tournaments and eventually be the US womens foil representative at the olympics!

Sarah

[Mischa]

My goal for next season:

To get onto the GBR Epee cadet team.

Lol - ISR (foil) and GBR (epee). Now all I need is a third nation for Sabre.

[Mo]

Originally posted by Sarah
Short-term goals-
To do well at Summer Nationals, like getting top 8!

Long-term goals-
To get on the US women's foil team, go to international tournaments and eventually be the US womens foil representative at the olympics!

Sarah

Top 8 in what event? Y14??
You can do it, you just will have to work harder!!

[oiuyt]

Mischa- Too bad you can't represent both countries within 3 years of each other.

Sarah- you wanted to hurt people and you DIDN'T choose LAX? Uhm, I'm not sure you really understood how the game's played. And yes I realize that women/girls LAX is *cough*non-contact*cough*.

-B :)
*who spent 4 years at Johns Hopkins and saw his fair share of LAX practices and games*

[oiuyt]

I guess I should answer the questions too if I want to post on the thread.

I fence because I enjoy it. I enjoy the competition, and I enjoy doing well.

Short term goal is to make points next week.

Longer term goal is to make it to the top 32 on the points list (sabre). Further goals beyond that, but that's a first step. Unfortunately I don't really train adequately. I'd rather spend the majority of my fencing time coaching. I feel that I'm still improving and therefore should still be able to make 32 with my current routine, but am honest enough to realize that I'm not maximizing my chances. It's a trade-off that I've thought a lot about and am comfortable with.

Additional fencing related long term goals involve my team, both in their results and development, both as fencers and personally. These tend to be less quantified goals and given that people on my team read this forum I'm less than fully interested in going into details of my vague qualitative ideas.

-B :)

[Sarah]

Top 8 in what event? Y14??

Either Y-14, cadet, junior, Div II, or Div III
Thanks! Maybe I'll see you at Summer Nationals. I'll be the only Hawaiian Y-14 foil fencer there! I just moved to Tx.

[Jupiter]

Well, good luck Sarah! It will be nice to be reunited with your fencing buddies. Which club did you fence with?

[Zelda]

1. I started fencing due to a messy break up. I keep goin as I its the first sport I have found that I enjoy, am reasonably profiecent at and may have a chance at National representation
2. My Goals...
Short term (next year or so)
To make the top 10 in the Australian Senior points list.
To improve my fencing despite the fact there is v.v. little competition or coaching where I am living.
Long term (5 or so)
Well its kinda a secret. I'll let you know when I have achieved it.

[Mischa]

Mischa- Too bad you can't represent both countries within 3 years of each other.

Son of a....

Now what can I do - what's the point of competing next season at all? I can't get ranked in Israel cause I don't live there, and any ranking points I get here will mean nothing

[pammie003]

I started fencing because my roommate in second year didn't want to go by herself. I went semi-reluctantly, as I was completely not into any sports. She quit due to the demands of being a science student, and I stayed, and found out that I was good at it.

Short term goals - work on my defensive game, make the parries stronger and more reiable, as well as making the university finals next year.

Long term goals - Don't know. I want to compete at national level, but I need to see how next year goes first.

[Boo Boo]

Mischa

Maybe you need to think longer term goals. Do you want to do foil or epee?

Do you already compete in the UK? Even if you don't get Israeli ranking points for competing in this country, you can still get valuable competition experience.

Have you spoken to the Israeli fencing federation: if you do well enough in this country, they may give you special dispensation to enter A-grades for Israel and you can use the A-grade results to qualify for the Worlds (some federations do this: there is a female foilist in the UK who competes internationally for Nigeria, but - to my knowledge - has never fenced in Nigeria (but you may know that already, since she fences at Boston)).

Where there's a will...

Boo

[corps a corps]

My wife gave me a fencing lesson 12 years ago for my birthday. I enjoyed the one on one aspect of the sport and stayed with it. However, I think my wife has regretted the birthday present!

[FoilyGeezer]

I just recently rejoined the sport after about a 25 year hiatus. Originally I did it in high school to keep in shape for Track & Field. I fenced HS for four years and did pretty well (Top 10 in CT Junior and Senior Years) (6th in New England Junior Year). I didn't do it in College because I didn't know where to find it. Same after college. Now I have kids who are interested in the sport so I've rejoined it to "Lead from the front" so to speak.

My short term goals are: 1.) To not hurt myself too badly. 2.) To instill motivation in my sons to excel at fencing. 3.) To have fun and maybe do a few seniors tourneys.

My long term goals are: 1.) To not hurt myself too badly. 2.) Maybe to coach. 4.) To beat much younger opponents and then act paternally condescending while explaining to them why their tactics are the epitome of inneptitude, and wholly inneffective against my wily old fox superpowers.

[Mischa]

Boo Boo

I definately want to do foil. I only thought of doing epee next season (it would be my second epee season) as I believe I have the potential to make the GB team and I can get a lot of free coaching from Peter Barratt.

I'll email the Israeli Federation and ask them about it: for example if I do well enough over here they might allow me to enter the Eden Cup (in London, where I live) or something.

Depending on what they say, I'll either drop epee or continue with it.

Thanks for the advice.

PS Her name is Jackie Esimaje. She also fences occasionally at Salle Joseph.

[Boo Boo]

Mischa

You're welcome.

If you can persuade the Israeli federation, I would imagine that they will let you do more than London: they will probably let you do whatever competitions that they have space for another team member. So go for it and good luck :-)

I know Jacqui - she is a really nice person and great fun :-)

Boo

[Mischa]

Well, I've sent an email off to israelfencing@hotmail.com.

I believe that's their email: http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache...hl=en&ie=UTF-8