tournament results

I did ok - not as well as the last, but not shabby. I made it to DE and struck out at the first bout, but I was able to see what my opponents were doing, even if I couldn't do what I wanted/needed to in defense. This is only my 3rd competition and as such I may be jumping the gun, but I think I'm seeing some patterns:

• The best warmup for a competition is fencing. My first couple of bouts in pools usually suck while I get my bearings. Practice bouts between friends before everything starts are good.
  
  
• I tend to fence a defensive rather than offensive game (at least so far). As such I know what to do against an aggressive fencer but NOT against one who fences like me! :P I end up attacking without having a solid plan and playing right into their hands. Need to work on my offensive game.
  
  
• My endurance tends to go in an inverted "u" shape - a couple of warmup bouts, the ones in the middle are good, then I seem to wimp out for the last (the starting pool is 6 people, everyone fences everyone else. So, 5 bouts). This isn't true of everyone - I talked to a woman today who tends to do well early on, and others tend to improve each bout.
  
  
• My mid-afternoon (~3-5 pm) "lull" is crap for my game. Must take thermos of coffee in addition to water next time.
  
  
• I hate the wait, both to start and in between pools and DE. I'm aware the organizers have to take time to do math/paperwork, and the resting period is nice but it's hard to stay in the headspace. Must work on this.
  

Altogether good, though. I'm tired but not wiped and may try and make it out for rapier tomorrow (groceries/stuff around the house permitting).