Confidence in fencing is like that elusive goalpost in a game you’re always chasing after but never quite reach. It’s the magic ingredient that transforms a good fencer into a great one. You’ve probably heard fencing coaches shouting it from the sidelines like a mantra: “Confidence! Be confident!” But what exactly does it mean? And how do you actually get it?
Let me share a recent conversation I had with some of my fencers. They were disheartened after being eliminated from their competition earlier in the day. I reassured them that they possessed all the necessary physical skills and conditioning to excel. What was lacking, however, was that intangible quality – confidence.
So, what is confidence, really?
Picture this: You’re cruising down the road at 40 miles per hour, approaching an intersection. Suddenly, the traffic light ahead switches from green to blinking yellow. You have a split second to decide: do you speed up and cross the intersection or hit the brakes?
If you’re a confident driver, you don’t waste time second-guessing. You swiftly calculate the distance and timing, weighing it against your gut feeling about the yellow light’s duration. With unwavering certainty, you decide to glide through the intersection safely.
Now, contrast this with the uncertainty of an inexperienced or insecure driver. They hesitate, unsure whether to accelerate or brake. Their indecision could lead to a screeching halt at best or a dangerous encounter with oncoming traffic at worst.
But let’s add a twist to this scenario. What if, alongside the blinking yellow light, you spot a fast-approaching train from the right? Suddenly, the stakes are higher, the danger more palpable. Yet, the fundamental factors remain unchanged – speed, distance, and timing.
Confidence is about maintaining that same level of conviction even in the face of added challenges. It’s about executing your actions decisively and wholeheartedly, regardless of external circumstances.
In fencing, as in life, confidence can make or break you. It’s the difference between seizing victory and conceding defeat. You may possess all the technical skills and strategies, but without confidence, you’ll struggle to unleash their full potential.
Confidence in fencing isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s the lifeline that keeps you afloat amidst the swirling currents of competition. Do you remember the heat of a priority minute when you’re engaged in a fierce exchange with your opponent, every touch crucial as you battle for victory? Do you recall those nail-biting last two seconds of a bout with you one-touch behind or ahead of your opponent, where every movement counts, where a single touch could mean the difference between victory and defeat? Can you relive in your mind that pivotal moment just one round away from the medals, where the pressure is palpable, and the stakes couldn’t be higher?
In each of these scenarios, confidence isn’t just a luxury – it’s a necessity. It’s the force that delivers you that half inch of the distance you need for the touch, that split second to win the timing, those additional 10 grams of power to fully contract the spring and make the machine light up. It’s what separates the champions from the rest, allowing them to rise above the uncertainty and deliver when it matters most. So, when you step onto the strip, carry with you the unshakeable belief that you have what it takes to succeed and the unwavering belief in your abilities. Trust yourself, trust in your training, embrace the challenge, commit to your actions, and let your confidence propel you towards success.
And for those nitpickers pondering the legality of our traffic analogy, let’s just focus on the bigger picture here – confidence. After all, it’s the driving force behind every triumph, pun intended.
Image: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Not only as a fencer, but also reffing. Confidence puts your fencers at ease. If you’re not confident, coaches will eat you up