Not being in pain after fencing is an alien thing, so alien, its bewildering
It seems that I am finding my mental rhythm, and documenting where I am for my own record as well as to share where I am, and where future focuses might lead.
I'm still stunned that I am not hurting from practicing, especially after two tournaments and riding during the weekend. I continue to be almost in a state of disbelief. It's sad that it was an expected aftereffect of fencing for especially the last 4 years to have swollen & grinding shoulder pain, low back ache and screaming lats. I have had problems with my shoulder since surgery way back in 1990/1991, and have had issues with my back especially since being rear-ended in 2000/2001. I stubbornly pushed through any flareups with the assistance of stubborn resolve, ibuprofen, ice, robaxacet.
I'm not sure what exactly "did it", but it's a combination of using a well balanced blade combined with better alignment and flexibility through massage, chiropractic and some at home exercise that the children have allowed me to do. A friend made a comment about gum infections impacting health, and I did have deep cleaning to deal with what was probably onset for gum disease two months ago, although I felt nothing wrong or painful, but the dentist said it was there, possibly onset during pregnancy with Alicia. I don't think that my prior fighting form was that off, but whatever "it" is has made a physical difference. Its almost an incredulous euphoria, which is weird. But this also has huge effect on my fight, as I'm not fighting fatigue or pain at practice, rather I am fighting time, as I run out of practice time before I run out of energy. My personal confidence in my current abilities and future capabilities is strengthening.
As I've returned to fighting, I've been working on maintaining consistency in my fights. I've been trying to just return with the fundamentals I was training with in Italian style and just really trying to tighten things back up. Feedback is that generally, my overall form and guard are reasonably consistent, but that I needed to bring more snap, control and ownership aggression to the field. Simple goals have been keeping my footwork soft and balanced beneath me, maintaining a good guard and keeping my elbows behind my guard. At events this year, the feedback and suggestions were to avoid being in refuse, to avoid retreating, and to avoid crossover. For aggression and ownership on the field, its been a challenge to quickly find that place where the Grr is, but I have been stepping into more fields and more immediately advancing to drive my opponent.
This spring I began even more consciously being more consistent in line coverage in addition to what I was already doing, and to follow through with my motion on more attacks. These are certainly things that I have been told before. I have always understood the context of line coverage, and was teaching the concept to students even though I knew I was not quite seeing what I knew I was supposed to be seeing. Following through with additional steps has been another challenge for me, as my tendency was for my motion to stop once I had made whatever my attack was, and was not stepping through. I've been working toward those suggestions, and in bouts over the weekend, and more specifically last night at practice I felt an expansion of vision. With each fight last night I found myself using more of the times of their committed actions for mine, I perceived a greater dominance over the lines of attack. I've been driving myself mentally to take those additional steps whether its passing by, driving in past their blade or redoubling my strike to get the double tap. This started really happening for me on Sunday and at practice last night.
I'm not trying to overanalyze, or pat myself on the back to any level that I blind myself to the future of growth. I'm just pleased to find that not only is my passion is renewed and increasing, but that physical and mental barriers are breaking away.
I'm still stunned that I am not hurting from practicing, especially after two tournaments and riding during the weekend. I continue to be almost in a state of disbelief. It's sad that it was an expected aftereffect of fencing for especially the last 4 years to have swollen & grinding shoulder pain, low back ache and screaming lats. I have had problems with my shoulder since surgery way back in 1990/1991, and have had issues with my back especially since being rear-ended in 2000/2001. I stubbornly pushed through any flareups with the assistance of stubborn resolve, ibuprofen, ice, robaxacet.
I'm not sure what exactly "did it", but it's a combination of using a well balanced blade combined with better alignment and flexibility through massage, chiropractic and some at home exercise that the children have allowed me to do. A friend made a comment about gum infections impacting health, and I did have deep cleaning to deal with what was probably onset for gum disease two months ago, although I felt nothing wrong or painful, but the dentist said it was there, possibly onset during pregnancy with Alicia. I don't think that my prior fighting form was that off, but whatever "it" is has made a physical difference. Its almost an incredulous euphoria, which is weird. But this also has huge effect on my fight, as I'm not fighting fatigue or pain at practice, rather I am fighting time, as I run out of practice time before I run out of energy. My personal confidence in my current abilities and future capabilities is strengthening.
As I've returned to fighting, I've been working on maintaining consistency in my fights. I've been trying to just return with the fundamentals I was training with in Italian style and just really trying to tighten things back up. Feedback is that generally, my overall form and guard are reasonably consistent, but that I needed to bring more snap, control and ownership aggression to the field. Simple goals have been keeping my footwork soft and balanced beneath me, maintaining a good guard and keeping my elbows behind my guard. At events this year, the feedback and suggestions were to avoid being in refuse, to avoid retreating, and to avoid crossover. For aggression and ownership on the field, its been a challenge to quickly find that place where the Grr is, but I have been stepping into more fields and more immediately advancing to drive my opponent.
This spring I began even more consciously being more consistent in line coverage in addition to what I was already doing, and to follow through with my motion on more attacks. These are certainly things that I have been told before. I have always understood the context of line coverage, and was teaching the concept to students even though I knew I was not quite seeing what I knew I was supposed to be seeing. Following through with additional steps has been another challenge for me, as my tendency was for my motion to stop once I had made whatever my attack was, and was not stepping through. I've been working toward those suggestions, and in bouts over the weekend, and more specifically last night at practice I felt an expansion of vision. With each fight last night I found myself using more of the times of their committed actions for mine, I perceived a greater dominance over the lines of attack. I've been driving myself mentally to take those additional steps whether its passing by, driving in past their blade or redoubling my strike to get the double tap. This started really happening for me on Sunday and at practice last night.
I'm not trying to overanalyze, or pat myself on the back to any level that I blind myself to the future of growth. I'm just pleased to find that not only is my passion is renewed and increasing, but that physical and mental barriers are breaking away.