(Tutorials > The Zen of Fencing)

The Zen of Fencing
By: Eric Bolten (Webmaster of the Fencing HQ)

Note: This tutorial has been written from the point of view of a foil fencer. Some things may not apply to other weapons, and I apologize. Whether you decide to take my advice or not, at least ponder ways to make your own ideas work, whether my tutorial inspires new ideas in you or helps you refine old ones.

There are some things in life that can't be explained. Some things must be experienced before you can truly grasp the concept. One of these things is fencing. To many an observer, fencing appears too hard or complicated. Many more believe that fencing is easy, and that they can fight just like the people in the movies. This disappoints me to a great extent. So many people put aside fencing because they do not believe it to be a traditional sport ("Where's the ball?"). However, most who have tried it have loved it. Fencing is so different from so many sports; you truly need to be in a state of Zen to compete well. Some people would not believe that Zen exists, but most experience it in some form. Some people call it being "on," or "in the zone." One way or another, all successful fencers have a mindset while they are fencing. This is what I am here to discuss.

Fencing is such a fast sport that many moves need to be purely acquired instinct. Anything from a simple parry-riposte to a "Rock and Roll" takes concentration and effort. To fence well, these efforts need to be channeled and directed. For fencers way back when, fencing was a sport of life and death. You must win or die. This mentality can be properly applied to the sport today (not literally, of course!). There are several things you need to convince yourself of before you being a fencing match.

First of all, you need to believe that you can win. You should never be sure that you are GOING to win, because that is always a big mistake. If you become too arrogant or cocky on the strip, you're likely to be knocked off of your pedestal. However, you must know that the outcome of a bout is never pre-decided, and it is up to you to be the victor.

One thing I suggest you do is begin a pre-bout routine. Whether it's eating a certain food, drinking a certain drink, or just repeating a saying or phrase to your self, just do it. It may sound superstitious, but getting into a rhythm before the bout helps, at least for me. Know that you have the power to win. Know that you CAN win. Know that once the bout begins, you and your competitor are in the exact same position, and being prepared is the first key to gaining an edge.

Once the bout begins, your mindset is crucial. You must pay no attention to anyone or anything other than your opponent and the director. The fans are not there cheering for you, nor are they cheering for your opponent. There is no one with a video camera. There is no machine. Even if you think you have scored a touch, never look at the machine until you hear halt called from the director. Many new fencers make this mistake and are beaten because of it.

During your fencing training, you should make one of your chief goals bringing your footwork and bladework into harmony. You should never have to think about where you feet should be when you're doing an attack. Another common mistake is staying in your lunge too long. If you've think you've scored a point, that's no reason to stay in a lunge; no matter what you think has happened, immediately return to your en guarde after lunging, or parry/dodge whatever attack has been thrown at you if your lunge was parried/dodged. It is important to never linger, the smallest portions of seconds can decide the outcome of a bout.

Never be intimidated by your opponent. No matter what you've heard about him/her before the bout, no matter how she/he taunts you, you must always remember that you can be just as good or better than they are. Many opponents will taunt you or yell "war cries," as I call them. These mean nothing in the long run and do not let it throw you off guard.

Most of fencing is incredibly fast, and you need to keep up the pace. Never let the speed of your opponent blind you to the moves they make; however fast they may be, they are performing the same attacks as a slower person would, and each can be parried. It is also important to riposte immediately after a parry. Most of the time, when an opponent's attack has been parried, there is a small time frame in which they can do nothing. You must immediately take advantage of this and return with an attack as fast of you can.

No matter how invincible an opponent seems, they are never unbeatable. Everyone has weaknesses, and one of the keys to winning is discovering your opponent's weakness. Feinting attacks can often incite defensive maneuvers from your opponent and you will quickly learn how they react to certain attacks. You also have your weaknesses, and it is important to do your best to not let your opponent exploit them.

Finally, you should always be courteous. Whether you utterly destroyed them, they utterly destroyed you, or it was a close bout, a handshake and a smile is always appropriate. Never show your anger on the strip. Sometimes appearing cool and confident can be more intimidating than an enraged person. Remember: whether you win or lose, there's always next time.

Whether this tutorial helps you or not, you must remember this: if you don't believe you will win, you never will. This is all my personal opinion, and it may not apply to you. However, it works quite well for me, and I only hope that my input helps you to become a better fencer. Whether you can truly appreciate the Zen of fencing is up to you. Personally, I find that taking deep breaths, collecting yourself, and keeping your emotions cool is the best mindset, not only in fencing, but in every sport. If you do make a mistake, never compound it by making another consecutive one. The most important aspect of fencing, you know, is to have fun. I know I said "Win or die" (hehe), but that's only in serious competition. If you never get the chance to enjoy the sport, it's not worth doing. That's my two cents.