My New Veteran Fencing Lifestyle
I fenced in a tournament at Ft. Bragg today. I have been wondering this whole time how I was going to be mentally on the day of, but as I wasn't feeling my usual anxiety I figured it would all take care of itself in the end. As it turns out it did, and the secret was to think like a Veteran Fencer. In fencing everyone over the age of 39 is considered a "vet" fencer, 20-39 being "Senior", and things under 20 getting a little confusing as each couple of years is a different classification with overlap in places between them.
When I say veteran fencing mindset, I certainly don't mean too many of the veteran fencers in my club. We've got two vet fencers in my club highly compeititve and not at all bothered by the fact that they didn't pick up a weapon until they already were veterans. We even have a senior who is training harder and harder each year so when she hits the veteran age group she will be a force to be reckoned with.
The veterans I am modeling after are those guys who fence as an excuse to get out of the house and maybe drink a beer with some college friends when the day is done. They have a super relaxed attitude and find the compeitive crowd an endless source of ammusement. I found myself not thinking of winning but scoring touches, and not scoring touches to win, but to screw the indicators of the guy across from me who might be very competitive minded. I went into DE's not with the mindset of winning the bout, but more of the attitude of making the kid across from me work for his every touch. Every drop of sweat was a victory for me. Every frown and grown when I score a touch was a success.
I came out of pools in 12th, I got a bye in the first round, I fenced the guy in fourth, I got eight good hits on him and where I started and ended up in 12th, he started 4th and ended up 6th. That's a victory too. I didn't get to take home a prize, but I got to hang out with some terrific and dear friends, I got to eat a nice meal in a cool brewpub downtown, where I tasted the best raspberry beer I have ever had, and I got to have a piece of candy from an actional confectioner (I think I still pefer Hershey's). I had a pleasant road trip, and I barely had to work up a sweat to do it. I'd call that a good day.
I hope the rest of the tournaments I go to will be as fun. But next time, I'm going to skip on the fancy chocolates, and have two beers instead.
