So
You Want To Be A Better Fencer?
Getting to be a better
fencer requires that you
want to be better - not say
you want to be better, but
actually be willing to do
the work it takes to be
better. Fencing is a sport
like any other sport - the
high school football team
does not win state
championships by practicng
one hour one day a week. To
be elite in any sport
requires 1000 hours of work
every year, 20 hours every
week, week in, week out.
Not
everyone wants to do this.
Nor should everyone. Being
a recreational, one session
a week fencer is a great way
to enjoy the sport. You
will improve, you will get
good exercise, and you will
enjoy the people you fence
with. Over the course of a
lifetime, fencing will make
a significant contribution
to your life. That is a
good thing, and one of the
principles on which Salle
Green is based - lifetime
sport for all.
But if
you want to be better than
you are now, there are
things you can do to be
better. Each of these steps
can make you a better
recreational fencer or a
better competitive one - it
is a question of degree.
...
First, set goals. They can
be as simple as wanting to
actually get your arm moving
first. They can be related
to Salle competition and
your place on the quarterly
Ladder. They can be related
to progressive improvement
in amateur competition. But
if you have no goals, any
level of performance, even
progressively poorer
performance, is good enough.
...
Second, take lessons. Our
schedule is full, but every
weapon has at least one
alternate session a week.
There is time available on
Fridays and weekends. There
is time for 5 minute
intensive lessons during
Sunday Open Fencing.
...
Third, fence bouts and fence
seriously. We have a Ladder
competition. Treat ladder
bouts as though they are
full scale
competition. When you are
practicing, never fence for
fun, not counting touches.
Fence every bout for 1, 5,
10, or 15 touches, count the
touches, and write down
the score. Fencing is about
fencing bouts, and if you do
not practice your technique
in the context off whether
or not you succeed in a
limited number of hits, you
are deluding yourself. When
you play with swords, you
are not fencing, you are
playing with swords.
...
Fourth, do the exercises
posted each week in the
Salle Blog. Start at the
beginning (if you have not
already), and work week by
week through the syllabus.
This daily practice will
make you smoother in your
execution.
...
Communicate your goals and
your plan. If you want to
be a better recreational
fencer, we will get you
there. If you want to be a
World Champion, we will
devote the time and energy
needed if you are willing
to. But you have to set
goals, take lessons, fence,
practice at home, and commit
to the level you want.
