| Judging from the inquiries I've received about it | | | | equine mentors. You'll re-define "balance" and have |
| recently, "cross-training" seems the hot topic at | | | | a better understanding of the importance of |
| the moment. | | | | remaining "centered." You'll develop your |
| All kinds of athletes are praising the virtues of | | | | sensitivity, enhance the lightness of your hand, |
| engaging in some activity other than their | | | | increase your self-confidence. |
| specialty in order to complement or enhance their | | | | I have found so much of horsemanship to be |
| principle sport. Usually, the cross-training activity | | | | directly applicable to the sword (and, to be fair, |
| has some specific transfer value, that is, it | | | | sometimes vice versa) that it's like rediscovering |
| develops the same muscles or uses the same or | | | | the basic principles new and fresh all over again. |
| similar movements as the cross-trainer's principle | | | | Plus you get to spend time with some of the |
| sport. | | | | most beautiful beings on the planet. |
| This is nothing new. Conditioning programs of all | | | | If you don't do anything else, do this one. |
| kinds are based on this idea. That's why boxers | | | | Music Learn to play a musical instrument. |
| do roadwork and athletes of all kinds lift weights. | | | | Learn it well enough that you can read music and |
| First, cross-training is irrelevant to the beginner. | | | | play what's written. And learn it well enough that |
| Beginners should concentrate on fencing itself. But | | | | you can get together with other musicians to |
| advanced fencers who are training at a higher | | | | play. |
| level and are making greater demands on | | | | This will be a great deal of fun, which is reason |
| themselves in terms of training volume, duration, | | | | enough to do it. |
| frequency and intensity, may find it useful. | | | | But you will also enhance your ability to focus |
| In order to be beneficial for fencing, the | | | | your concentration, to feel rhythm and tempo, to |
| supplementary activity should do one or more of | | | | understand what other people are expressing, to |
| several things: it should improve the foundational | | | | read their emotions. All of which comes quite in |
| elements of fencing: balance, line, focus and | | | | handy in a fencing match. |
| distance it should enhance the appropriate energy | | | | Dance Dancing is fencing without bloodshed. It is |
| system, matching the metabolic demands of | | | | about connectedness and intimate communication, |
| fencing it should develop your muscular strength | | | | feeling not thinking. |
| and endurance it should enhance your | | | | The main difference between dancing and fighting |
| fencing-specific skills -- or at least, it should not | | | | is that when you dance with someone you are |
| contravene them It should provide you with a | | | | trying to communicate truthfully and when you |
| "change of pace" from your regular routine in | | | | fight you are quite often lying. |
| order to avoid over-training and stagnation. | | | | But whether you tell the truth or a lie, saying it |
| High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) If you want | | | | clearly in movement is fundamental to swordplay. |
| something that transfers precisely to fencing, | | | | Magic Much of magic is based on misdirection. |
| that's easy: fence! Fencing is a skill-based activity | | | | So is combat. Direct your opponent's attention to |
| and nothing will make you as skillful at fencing as | | | | one line then hit in another. Presto. |
| fencing itself. But I'll share with you a little training | | | | Boxing Boxing is fencing with both hands and a |
| and conditioning secret of mine: interval training. | | | | few more band-aids. Until you've worked out as |
| This is for advanced fencers only. Here's how it | | | | hard as a boxer works out, you have no idea |
| works: First, warm up thoroughly. | | | | what a tough workout is. |
| Then, set a timer for a specific period -- let's say | | | | Boxing will hone your fighting spirit to a razor's |
| 30 seconds. I use an interval timer so that I can | | | | edge and teach you more than you ever though |
| set it to sound a signal at specified periods. 30 | | | | you'd know about committment. You will also |
| second intervals and a 3 or 4 minute round. Then | | | | learn about cherishing your opponent and a lesson |
| a 30-60 second rest period. | | | | or two about the transient nature of victory. |
| Do 30 seconds of, for example, advances, slow, | | | | Sailing The sword is based on the same natural |
| precise and easy. | | | | principles as sailing. It's awe-inspiring to see them |
| The next 30 seconds do advances hard and fast | | | | at work on a grand scale, a little fencing match |
| as you can -- still as perfectly as possible; don't | | | | between you and the wind. Your boat is your foil, |
| through skill out the window -- but keep pushing | | | | the water the president du combat. Sailing will |
| the envelope of speed/intensity. | | | | teach you that the shortest distance between |
| You can do various kinds of footwork this way, | | | | two points is not always a straight line. |
| first slow and easy, then hard and fast. You will | | | | Weight lifting No doubt about it, stronger is better. |
| be improving your conditioning while improving | | | | The stronger you are, the easier it is to do |
| your skill at the same time by using fencing | | | | everything. As an extra added benefit you will |
| actions instead of, say, going out for a jog. | | | | improve your health, too. |
| Jogging, by the way, is almost worthless to a | | | | Weight-training also provides you with a great |
| fencer. | | | | boon to your spirit because you have measurable |
| It doesn't match the metabolic demands of a | | | | and undeniable proof of your progress. |
| fencing bout, it doesn't simulate fencing | | | | Be sure you get some expert guidance planning |
| movements and it pounds your ankles, knees and | | | | your program though. Gyms are full of guys with |
| lower back into trash. | | | | all their brains in their biceps just waiting to hand |
| If you must run, run intervals. At least you'll build | | | | out worthless advice to the novice -- especially if |
| your anaerobic capacity and that's what you need | | | | the novice is a woman. |
| in fencing. 30 seconds easy jog/30 sprint and | | | | Give of yourself Work in a soup kitchen. Plant |
| repeat 3-15 times. | | | | some trees. Adopt a stray. Teach someone how |
| You can do bladework intervals, too. | | | | to read. Visit someone who's alone. |
| I alternate handwork alone with handwork and | | | | Protect someone in danger. Comfort someone in |
| footwork combined. For example: 30 seconds, | | | | pain. |
| straight-thrust followed by 30 seconds straight | | | | Remember that strength means nothing unless |
| thrust-lunge-recover. 30 seconds parry | | | | you use it to help those who are not strong. |
| 6te-straight riposte a pied firme, 30 seconds | | | | The soul of the sword is benevolence. |
| riposte by lunge. | | | | Stand up for truth, justice and mercy. |
| Depending on how I feel I might rest every | | | | Be sure those muscles get plenty of exercise. |
| second, third or fourth interval. | | | | Rest Be sure to schedule in some time off. |
| I've done a tremendous variety of actions this | | | | I mean really off. Time to do nothing in particular. |
| way and it's become one of my favorite practice | | | | Sit in the sun and watch the breeze blow. Stretch |
| routines. | | | | out and read a book. Watch an old 3-hanky |
| HIIT is VERY demanding and if you do it too | | | | movie. |
| often you'll probably over-train -- and that's the | | | | Listen. Love. Laugh. |
| worst thing you can do. | | | | Even if these things didn't improve your fencing |
| Use it as a spice not as a staple. | | | | one whit, they would still be well worth doing in |
| Okay, how about some real cross-training | | | | and of themselves, so you have absolutely |
| activities. Here are my recommendations. | | | | nothing to lose and everything to gain. The worst |
| It may not be what you expected. | | | | that can happen is that you will inadvertently |
| Horsemanship. | | | | become a more well-rounded and interesting |
| My top choice. | | | | person and enjoy life more while doing it. |
| You will learn an incredible amount from your | | | | |