Many factors are considered when entering and competing in a tournament in division, sectional, and national competition. The three important areas to consider are skill acquisition, physical fitness, and psychological awareness.Fencers have varying degrees of training and equipment. Having a good background in basic footwork, attacks, and parries is essential. Before competing in any tournament it is important to have footwork incorporated soundly into your preparation for the competition. It is your footwork that will allow you to get to your opponent's target area quickly as well as allow you to get away from your opponent's attack. If you are not comfortable with your footwork or are not properly warmed up you are entering competition with a significant handicap. Beginning fencers as well as many advanced fencers rely on their weapon arm and their upper body movement to finally bring the weapon to the target area. Keep in mind that it is your footwork that brings your upper body to a target zone. Other skills like attacks and parries are the result of training and trial and error experiences that you will encounter in tournaments. Don't hesitate to ask for help and advice from members of your club or salle. If the competition is a friendly one, you may want to ask for help and advice from your opponent after the bout.
Physical fitness involves your own awareness of your physical condition. Any experienced fencer can tell you that tournaments are long, drawn-out affairs! It is not unusual for a competition to last from 8 to 12 hours in one day with additional hours in another day. Some tournaments are several days long with some intervening days with no bouting at all. Most of your attention to physical fitness should occur prior to the tournament. Several days of a good diet prior to the tournament is a good idea. Many fencers support the idea of carbing-out the day before competition begins. Although fencers are prone to party and mingle with the natives at a tournament venue, common sense dictates getting a good night's sleep prior to the day of competition. In addition, excesses of any kind (name your poison) can be detrimental to your ability to compete at your highest level. Taking care of your body during the competition is also very important. Always warm up! If that means crossing blades with someone for a short while and stretching major muscles groups... do it! Often times there is a long waiting period between your bouts. It's very easy to become overheated during and shortly after a bout. Don't allow yourself to cool down quickly or to chill! Invest in a set of sweats or warm-ups that will keep your body heat in and cool you down slowly.
A great deal can be said about psychological awareness in fencing competition. A book called Inner Fencing or Zen Fencing is waiting to be written by one of you! Approach every bout with as much of a positive attitude as you can muster. Even if the other fencer is an A fencer with world class experience you can still gain much from the bout. First of all, compete in fencing for the sheer joy of enjoying the sport. When the sport no longer is enjoyable for you then it's time for you to quit. A basic rule of thumb for any bout in which you are engaged is If a technique, attack, or strategy is successful, keep on doing it until it doesn't work any more. Don't change a successful attack just because you think it would be nice to vary an attack. Always respect your opponent! Don't under or over-estimate their skills. Remember, every fencer has his/her strengths and weaknesses. Clearing your mind of all distractions is important. There should be only three people that are significant during your bout. The first, of course, is your opponent. Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to defeat him/her. Use everything (legally) available to defeat your opponent. The second person to consider is the director. Always fence for the director! Directors often have preferences for styles and techniques. By carefully watching your director in other bouts you will have an idea about his/her preferences. Always show respect to the director. They really do appreciate it. Finally, the third and most important person in a bout is you. You are in charge of your attacks, parries, and successes. If a directing decision goes against you, don't dwell upon it. Keep fencing at the best level you can.
Max Callao is a senior fencer.He is a senior fencer because he is older than all of you. He started his fencing career at San Jose State College in l960.