Being mentally prepared for competition can help develop consistent results. You may be able to perform up to your potential while improving your already sharpened physical skills. One aspect of mental preparation is focusing on your fencing during a bout (as opposed to the impending outcome of the bout) before you actually fence it.
“It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am.” - Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is known for repetitive dominant performances in harrowing competitive conditions and his extremely confident attitude. There is little doubt that he was able to feel self-assured about his performance before he stepped into the ring.
Mental preparation involves trusting your skills and abilities. This trust is a display of confidence, a must-have in the world of competitive fencing. It is the belief that you are able to perform certain skills.
The objective of mental preparation is developing a mindset that creates consistent performance your talents. Athletes such as Lance Armstrong, Pedro Martinez, and Michelle Kwan have consistently outstanding feats and it is out of the ordinary for them to have sub par performance. Developing the proper mindset that prepares you for tournament after tournament can lead to peak performance.
Ready? Fence!
Mental Preparation Tips for Competition
Being mentally prepared for a tournament is just as important as being physically prepared. A successful fencer requires strong muscles, quick reactions, and refined motor skills to defeat their opponent. Having a strong mind, quick attitude responses, and tailored mental skills gives an equaled matched fencer a distinct advantage over their competition.
Anxiety on the Strip : An Examination of Predictors of Precompetitive State Anxiety in Epee Fencers
Research continues to look for the sources of state anxiety for individual athletes prior to competition. State anxiety is of particular interest to sport psychology consultants because it can be debilitating, especially for non-elite athletes (Gould, 1993; Gould, Horn & Spreeman, 1983).
