What kind of sport to do: Fencing for Development body and logic
WHO HAS NEVER tried to imitate musketeers or Zorro even on baguettes, he did not have a heart or, at least, childhood. Seriously, we can’t imagine the same fabulous one – the heroes and the few heroines of fairy tales and movies are immediately remembered – and an elegant way to dilute a sedentary lifestyle, like fencing. We talked with coaches and athletes and found out that even for a busy and not very physically developed city dweller, fencing is available in the same way as bored aerobics and yoga (or boxing, crossfit and rock climbing that we mentioned).
For some reason I want to start talking about fencing not with a description of practices and not even suits that look, say, no worse than Wang’s latest collection (“For real athletes, they are made from Kevlar – it’s Batman’s suit, you know?” The trainer exhales “ Digital October Fencing Club ”by Anna Anstal), but from the elitism that everyone who knows him from afar breathes from this serious sport. The romance of fencing is quite easy to explain, without even delving into a lexical interpretation (with a sword immediately appears a brave prince or at least a musketeer with a noble mission). Firstly, it is beautiful. Secondly, fencing developed as a noble occupation accessible to nobles – such a reputation even now adds points to it in the eyes of a certain beholder. Thirdly, in a sword fight (rapiers or sabers – it depends on the choice of the trainee), the head works almost more than the body. “Fencing develops thinking and logic – it is not without reason that it is called fast chess. In a battle, you need to see the enemy’s weaknesses in a short period of time, lead him to make a mistake, and make an accurate, quick attack. Or in time to react and defend in time, if the opponent has guessed you before, ”says Yana Zvereva, Honored Master of Sports. In this mode, maximum involvement in the process allows you to abstract from the routine: “People who really think a lot at work say that training is“ cooler than alcohol “, because during them it’s impossible to concentrate on anything other than combat”, – confirms Anna Anstal.
Immersion in the process is not only characteristic of the battle itself – long fencing sessions change the attitude to all processes – external and internal. “Fencing is about the right action at the right time,” picks up Daria Tymoshenko, also training at Red October. “There are no former fencers, so even outside of training, you stop doing too much and react to false actions.” “Now I engage in fencing less often, because I study at the theater academy, and sometimes amazing things happen to me. For example, on stage, I accustom myself to instantly enter the role, immediately immerse myself in my character, and therefore I come to training and understand that it has become much faster to engage in battle. And vice versa: in training, I try to understand my opponent, predict his behavior, respond to his actions. I come to the rehearsal after training, and my master says that I began to feel a lot better partner in the passage. Fencing is always somewhere nearby, I think about it, draw parallels with life, keep battle diaries, ”writes Ekaterina Dar, actress and master of sports in fencing with swords.
The ability to think tactically in fencing, in fact, will be more useful than a pumped muscle corset. The latter will never hurt, but if the cognitive abilities leave much to be desired, success will not work. “I remember that in another club two girls of about thirteen began to go to training (this is the most suitable age, because by this moment the children are good at building tactics of movement). One of them was already a master of sports in figure skating, she moved extremely dexterously and she had a super trainer. But, um, she couldn’t be called smart. The second was physically developed much worse, but at 15 she entered the Moscow State University and generally showed herself to be smart. And guess who became a master of sports in fencing and got into the national team, and who didn’t even get a “candidate”? The second girl perfectly analyzed the actions of the opponent and, despite poor coordination, managed to prick him and deceive him. Fencing is a small war, ”says Anna Anstal.
The ceremonies inherent in combat fencing did not go away from sports, so every fight and even training is an outlet for a city dweller, who is familiar with rudeness. The obligation to greet and shake hands at the end of each competition (“Outside of the battle we are friends”) instills the youngest athletes – as well as the ability to adequately accept defeat, not to jump for joy after victory and not to poke the enemy with urine.
