Month: February 2016

Building Positive Team Culture For Fencers

On February 9, 2016

Building Positive Team Culture For Fencers Though fencing is technically an individual sport, it’s always important for kids to build positive interactions and to learn how to navigate the world of people. After all, even though each child is on their own on the strip, they’re constantly surrounded by their teammates and other people. No one lives in isolation!

Individual sports like fencing don’t always give much energy or attention building a strong team culture, but it’s something that is really worth giving attention to. Fencing is built around the team structure, even as our competitors technically are fighting for themselves.

When fencers go to competition it is quite common for them to find themselves competing against their teammates, eliminating one another in order to advance. To keep hurt feelings at bay, it’s super important that they learn how to get along during those kinds of stressful times.

When we say “team” we mean a club, and not 3 or 4 fencers squad for a team competition. Members of a club practice together, sweat together, celebrate together and get through hard times together. When there’s a good team culture, there’s great camaraderie and just a beautiful nurturing of growth for fencers.

What is Team Culture?

Focus, Fun and Elite Athletes – How enjoying your sport makes you better

By Igor Chirashnya

On February 4, 2016

In Mosaic

Super fencing Bowl How enjoying your sport makes you better fencing and football Elite athletes can be found in all sports, but undoubtedly one of the biggest sporting events every year is the Super Bowl.

Football and fencing might seem like polar opposites, but in reality they have a lot in common. First off, both are very physical sports that require precision and focus. They also both have proud histories. Fencing and football each require years of discipline and dedication in order to achieve mastery. There’s a certain amount of daring required to play football and to fence, after all each does require you to hit you opponent.

Finally, both can be perhaps a bit stuffy and stiff. That’s not to say that they aren’t fun and immensely enjoyable to engage in, but it is to say that there is a perception that in order to be good in football or in fencing you have to be ultra serious. Practice and competition aren’t supposed fun – they’re supposed to be focused, right? Well, actually you can be both focused and have an incredible amount of fun. And probably this is the only way to succeed by having both.

The Importance of Breath Control for Fencers

By Igor Chirashnya

On February 2, 2016

In Coaching

Importance of breath control for fencers Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Seems simple enough right?

Breathing is really simple. It comes naturally to our bodies as a way to nurture and sustain us, providing life sustaining oxygen to our brains and our muscles. The simple act of drawing air in and then expelling it is universal, extending to land animals and even to plants. It is fundamental.

However for the fencer breathing can be so much more than just a life sustaining action. Good breath control is a way to take your fencing to the next level. How? Because just as we refine the way that we stand and the way that we walk as fencers, so too do we refine the way that we breath in order to give us that next level of control.

But as breathing is important for any sport, little is being said about proper breathing for fencing.