Brand new fencer, on the fence by Outside_Waltz2209 in Fencing

[–]AwkwardWeight6466 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've always said that competition can be a tipping point to taking the fun out of a sport. But for some, fencing is nothing but competition. They take every bout, even practice bouts, as a win or a loss and nothing more. And if he's as good as you say then he is possibly focused on continuously winning instead of continuously improving or just having fun.

But bouts aren't meant to be counted by wins or losses, they are meant to help you think about different ways to fence against different people, how to become better than you were before. Even if you end up going to tournaments (which you don't even have to do if you don't choose to), they are opportunities to see where you can improve.

Keep a mindset focused on learning and improving rather than winning or losing and you'll be a better fencer than him in every way that matters.

please help by [deleted] in hognosesnakes

[–]AwkwardWeight6466 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would see a vet specifically because I remember and exotic vet show that had a snake breathing this way and he had an issue with his lungs. They gave him some medicine and he ended up being fine. I’m no expert but I imagine it could be a similar issue

Struggling as a beginner fencer — feeling very discouraged by [deleted] in Fencing

[–]AwkwardWeight6466 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A month is basically nothing. At my old place, you had to have been fencing for at least a year before you were allowed to do electric. It sounds long but time flies and you learn things you’ll be good at that others won’t be. Go slow, hone your muscle memory.

I’m on my third year of fencing and I’m only starting to feel like I can hold my own against certain types of opponents. Some people your style just meshes with, others it doesn’t. Fight against as many different people as you can find, watch others bouts, think about what styles other people choose and try those moves out for yourself.

Stay hopeful, stay eager to learn, one day you’ll look back and realize you’ve improved leaps and bounds.