anotheranon | rapier wrap-up for the year

Due to holiday scheduling, this was the last meeting of my Regular Historic Fencing Club for the year. I asked one of the assistant coaches for an assessment of my mad (ha!) rapier skillz so if I am able to find people to practice with over the holidays, I'd have some idea of what to work on.

First the bad:

Endurance - it's hard to concentrate on much else when I'm struggling to wield the blade. I can definitely practice standing on guard as long as possible on my own, so there's no excuse not to.
Distance - I need to start "finding" further out and not hesitate on moving in - I came up short several times.
Cuts - gotta make them if I'm too close to stab. My inner sword-snob shudders at the mere idea that I'd let an opponent get that close, but I have to acknowledge that lining it up perfectly and finishing neatly in one lunge is an ideal and not reality :P
Overarching theme in all of my fencing - I rely too heavily on defense and need to start having a plan to provoke my opponents so I can control what I'm defending against. Doing something stupid just to relieve the tension (or the pain in my shoulder) isn't working and never has.

The good:

My "back" (left) leg can take most of my weight now like it's supposed to and going on guard feels fairly natural.
For defense, at least, I go in with a plan instead of flailing around, even if I don't have the strength to execute it.
I'm always moving - fewer "deer in the headlights" moments.

I also did a bit of saber and was pleased to see that I'm still ok at it. I even managed to help out one of the newer sabreurs a little, or he said that he found my suggestions helpful, so that feels good :)