CBO 2010

[anotheranon]

Big 2 day local fencing competition this weekend. It's an annual event and a memorable one, so it's good to compare to my experience last year:

• More endurance, physically and mentally. I am tired and a bit sore, but don't feel like I just got scraped off someone's shoe.
  
  
• My big game changer is being better able to focus on the target and let my body work. Given my control-freakiness and distrust of intuition, this is something of an achievement.
  
  
• It's what I do know that will hurt me - I do far better against opponents I've never seen before than I do against familiar faces as I don't know their abilities and can't psych myself out.
  
  
• Most of my attacks are still weak. My defense against disengage attacks is abysmal. V. is right, I "like my parry" so well that my point control falls apart with the riposte.
  
  
• Pro: managed to stay physically loose and not let my tension gather in my shoulders. Con: tension settled in my throat leaving me distractingly verklempt.
  
  
• I am well and truly sick of pollen. Even with medication I feel sluggish and like I'm blinking/inhaling sand.
  

Comments

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

I've noticed in just 2 "classes" I'm having trouble keeping my shoulders down and relaxed. (I'm also still having issues with keeping my elbow in-line with my body and extending my arm before stepping forward during a lunge, but those should get better with practice.)

It seems like my allergies are going to do me in trying to get started with fencing. Having to breathe through my mouth so much is rough when I'm trying to do some beginner drills. And I'm maxed out on allergy meds.

Did you have a good time in the end?

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Though I was a bit fed up at myself for my shortcomings by the end of today, I did largely have fun. My clubmates were there, and I did have a better day yesterday (results (http://askfred.net/Results/results.php?tournament_id=11010#47293) - I fenced foil both days).

The physical motions are like learning to dance, and will become instinctual in time. Climbing the learning curve with allergies has got to suck :(