Hollywood Fencing Club


Home Classes Hours About the Sport About Our Club Register Contact Us
Home	To My Son: You decided to practice the sport of Fencing. As parents we are here to support you in all the ways possible so you can reach your goals as a fencer/athlete. But first, there are a few things we will like to share with you from previous fencing research. (We’re self-taught know-it-all moms!) We found out that: Fencing is the art of: 1. Analyzing the situation. 2. Deciding what action is necessary to score. 3. Executing the needed action (technique, conditioning, etc.) Analysis requires careful study of your opponent, sometimes with only a very short time available. This gives you the ability to read his intentions and anticipate his actions. Then you can start to set traps. The next step is decision making or rather, making the right decision. In the long-ago age of dueling, you couldn’t afford a mistake because your life depended on your judgment. The art of making the right decision today depends on MENTAL CONDITIONING and feedback. Last, and most difficult, the execution. You can have that analytical genius of a chess master; you can be as decisive as any CEO, but you still have to EXECUTE THE ACTION AT THE RIGHT TIME AND DISTANCE, using the chosen technique. That is what people call the “feeling” or the “gift” for the sport, but it is THE RESULT OF DEDICATED TRAINING AND COMMITMENT. Just as drops of water can wear down stone, thousands of repetitions can form a winning mentality and lead to perfect execution. The difference between Fencing and other sports is that Fencers must have the qualities that athletes in other sports possess: speed and endurance (track and field), power (Olympic weightlifting), coordination and flexibility (gymnastics), quick reactions (boxing, table tennis), special footwork (tennis), and many others. On top of all these physical gifts, the fencer has to have a mind that can analyze the problem and deliver the solution in split seconds. A trained fencer can choose a parry and riposte for the opponent’s attack before someone without training can realize that the attack is on its way! Fencing is a sport practiced in many countries. We have a country not far from Florida that produces world champion fencers. That country is Cuba. From our research we found out that these fencers begin fencing in gyms without air conditioning and water. They cannot afford foils so they fence with bamboo canes and have one mask to share between all of them. There is one little valuable quality they have over other fencers from other countries. Do you want to know what their secret is? The answer is PASSION and DEDICATION. Cuba has lived 40 years under a communist regime and brutal poverty. A former epee champion once told a reporter: “Cubans are born fighting; it’s just a natural Cuban characteristic.” To them, is a sword fight, not a fencing bout. While other countries have coaches, trainers for each fencer, carbohydrate-rich diets and matching white tracksuits, Cubans in direct contrast, train on a diet of rice and beans with bamboo canes, etc. And yet still they win. Since they are small kids, they teach them to be valiant and fearless. The whole purpose of making you aware of this, is for you to look around and observe all the blessings you have. Think, analyze and TODAY make the decision that you are going to OBSERVE and learn from other’s experience. To be a good fencer it takes hard work, patience, heroism, talent, sacrifice and believing in yourself. Remember to be proud but never arrogant. Fencing was based on the principle of defending your own life but even more importantly, of defending honor. Fencing remembers that we defend our own honor and the honor of our country. The lady of our hearts? (Hmmm maybe it’s too soon? Pick up your foil and let’s discuss it, with Coach Toni of course! LOL) You know how much we love you. We not only tell you verbally but we push our responsibilities aside to drive all the way to your practices and pay for them too. Sometimes you might feel annoyed by our “pointless criticism”, but we can see and perceive things way before you can. That’s one of the few advantages of being an adult. Afterwards, we are watching for your best interests and outcome. Never forget we are on YOUR SIDE. We hope in this season we can all work together (coaches, parents, students) to accomplish great results. MOM Miami, Florida, February, 2010
	Become a Fan! Hollywood Fencing Academy is on Facebook. © 2009 All Rights Reserved. Email webmaster to report technical problems.