The Mental States of Fencing

Fencing is arguably one of the most mentally abusive sports in existence. As I grew up fencing, I think this degree of subtle torment is healthy/incredibly traumatizing for young minds. Your opponent is never a forgiving individual & at the best of times is confused. At the worst of times he is dancing circles around you and throwing out the occasional parry 8 while giggling. Through all that you experience in your time competing, you will learn to be more merciless as your opponent.

I cannot claim to teach people how to be pleasant. I teach them to be respectful, but that is hardly the same thing.

The following are observed mental states that I have experienced over the years. They are not necessarily experienced by themselves and can be experienced together with other, more basic emotions. This list is not comprehensive and I would love to hear about other ones that people have experienced. These are all from a Saber point of view, so keep that in mind

1. Low Energy Deviousness
Low Energy Deviousness is characterized by a physical calm radiating out of a fencer at points that you would expect energy and explosiveness. This permits the low energy fencer to see more and develop more coherent and complex attacks. It is also easily prepped by someone geeked on adrenaline with a good sense of timing.

2. Vengeance fueled focus
Easily one of my favorite mental states to watch, this type of focus comes when you are facing an opponent who is intentionally and loudly humiliating you. Not humiliation of technique, which is your own fault, but something deeper and much more insidious. I can't give you a good example because I haven't had it happen to me in some time, but I can tell you how it goes:

Fencer A is fencing Fencer B. Both Fencers are happy with life and relatively excited to be competing. Fencer B does something hilarious and barely stifles a laugh, or visibly thinks this is hilarious. Fencer B does it again. Fencer A notices what's going on the second time around and immediately goes cold as ice....and becomes murderous. That is Vengeance fueled focus.

3. Peace Through Exhaustion
This is one you always have to earn and is hopefully only seen in practice. Peace Through Exhaustion comes after fencing for about an hour or two straight with various different people who have been doing the same thing. It is during this mental state that your body has given up and you are fencing on pure willpower and what little reserves of adrenaline you have remaining. This is one of the best mental states to train in because you can focus on perfection even while exhausted.