Bad Habits

[Queen of Hearts]

I, and several people from my club have developed some really bad habits that are really hurting our fencing. Does anyone have advise on how to work them out? Sorry, I can't say exactly what they are because well, it is pratically everything. Some of us differant than others. One more thing, I fenced left handed last night (only to drill with another youth fencer for about half an hour), and I notice that once I hot used to my feet being "backwards" and using my off hand that I didn't have those same habits. Why is that? Anyways, I would really appreciate it if you could help! Thank You in Adavced!

Queen of Hearts

[Iwant2bafencer]

I couldn't tell you about the bad habits, but one explination for doing better with your left hand instead of your right hand is that in a way you're starting fresh with your left hand, so you're kinda starting to learn everything over again, therefore you're able to do it right.
Just my thought on it.

[MyraTrue]

Queen of Hearts, you raise an interesting question (that might even be posted in general discussion, its very relevant!). Of the two questions, the easier one to address might be the left-handed question.

I'm also right handed, and was shocked that my point control was so good left handed with an epee one day. I too have the problem with the feet going in the wrong direction, etc when I fence left handed.

I have come to the conclusion that because I Am so intent on trying to still hold a good guard, keep my feet where they should be, and so on, I don't have any part of my brain left for all those right handed habits. Also, a lot of habits we right hadned people have don't work with a leftie very well. Also, when you do them often enough, you don't think about it anymore. The hand, or foot, etc, just DOES it for you.

So, you've all got bad habits you need to break? Thats a tough one (I sympathize!). First of all, you say its everything, but the one thing I've learned is that you can't change it all back at once (no matter what my coach thinks). Try picking one habit, and concentrate of changing it. Ignore the others until you get the one under control.

Also, maybe get other fencers to help. I roll my back ankle, and every time I do it, they yell at me. "STOP THAT!" I don't even notice that I do it anymore!

Maybe the other thing that might be breeding these habits is familiarity. You fence the same fencers, time and time again, practice after practice. After a while, it stops being real and becomes "dinking around" and you do stupid stuff you'd NEVER do on the strip. And then it becomes a habit.

Hope something in there helps. If you are aware they are bad habits, its part of the battle right there. When you refuse to admit you do anything wrong, you're in trouble. Best of luck!

-D'myra

[Artisan]

Bad Habits? On word:

Coach.

but there's more:
.... if you don't have a coach, then rely on yourself via mirror and video. If you have training partners, tell them what you're trying to corrrect, and ask them to give you feedback. Fence practice bouts to perform actions correctly, not to win the bout. Don't fence when you are too fatigued - you'll only reinforce the poor habits rather than the correct actions.

[Queen of Hearts]

Alright. Great advise going into all of this. But honestly, my main problem is that I'll do a beat attack without the beat (so I guess you could just call it an attack) and it never works. Another thing is that I'll do a flesh without moving the blade out of the way. So, out of all this I guess you could conclude that I just can't move the weapon out of the way. Also, I can't do parrys verry well and if I do mage to pull one off I can't manage a riposte, ever! Please help me!!!!

QoH

[MyraTrue]

Ouch... I take it you fence epee? I'm guess this because of the fleche comment- you have no right of way to protect you in epee, so a take of the blade is important.

So, both the fleche and the beat without a beat are related. I'm not sure if I've got great advice, but for those, get a partner, and just practice a beat attack. Keep distance with them, and then have them randomly open up for a beat attack, at which point, you beat and go.

With the fleche (if it really is epee) than you might want to do the same thing, but instead of a beat-lunge, use a beat-fleche. Or, a bind, or a take in 6... well, losts of ways to remove a blade. Even try beating their blade upward and fleching under.

Parries... I can't help you much at all there, this is my worst fault. In epee, I tend to use a circle six and a two, and NOTHING ELSE. In epee, 1, 4, and 7 are less useful because you are opening up to use them (IMHO). Again, it comes down to drills. Get a partner, and trade rolls with them if you'd like.

And who ever said it (Artisan? Too lazy to look), when you bout, don't bout to score, but bout for good form. You'll bout to score on the stip in tournament, but practice time is to learn and to fix.

Best of luck

[Queen of Hearts]

Thank you again! I do indeed fence epee if that is any help. Any more suggetions?

[MyraTrue]

Geez... you may well be a better epeeist than I am. I make no claims.

I was just thinking about the two parries I do use ("incestantly!!!!" I'm told). I realized about a month back that if they were all I used, and I coudn't seem to use anything else, I might as well perfect them. I never knew how you were supposed to reposte from parry two, so I asked, and learned all sorts of repostes. Same with my circle six- I got help to make them GOOD parries, and to add repostes (which I don't use.)

If you have a flaw you cant get rid of, use it for something instead. Make it a signature that no one can duplicate, or something everyone whispers to their friend while hooking them up- "watch out, she's got a wicked reposte from two!"

Besides that, help and a lot of time. And I've fenced little besides foil for 3 months now, and I'm starting to parry. *groan* NOOO!!!

[vegan]

Queen and Myra,
Some ideas (keeping in mind that I am a foilist, but teach some epee) . . .
1. on the beat attack, beat the blade hard enough to move it out of the way until you arrive with your touche!!
2. for parries, use opposition- that is do not let go of the parry at all during the repost. Control of your opponents blade is the key!
3. Sometimes a straight counter attack is better then attacking (just push the distance a little, and when they attack you, stick that arm out aiming for a closer point on them then they are on you, and make SURE you hit!)

I find that four is also a usfull parry if you use it in opposition, and that the attack is much harder then the counter in epee.

Cheers,
B.
Ps. this should be in the main section!

[Queen of Hearts]

Do you have any advise on how to pratice and get better doing all of this? Alone or with another fencer?
Thanks again,

QoH