Returning to the Start

I intend to return to Norfolk for the weekend. Whilst I am there, I may feel a need to transfer a titbit of wisdom to the youngest of the new fencers. I hope that this will be a ladder week, as these are where the competetive spirit truly shines out of the younger ones. They show just exactly how they fence, rather than routinely putting on a good show for their coach in the in-between weeks.

And the true colours of a fencer are always brought out by a touch of competition. Even the most mild-mannered people throw away hint of timidity. Which is exactly what I hope to return to. A group of little ones putting all their effort into besting each other on piste.

Younglings are the best fencers, in many respects, because they are doing exactly what they have been told to do (in general). Their en guarde position blinds them to their feet, and their arm straightens every time they make for the attack. Of course, these are rough observations, but they hold true. An experienced younger fencer will have a difficult time fencing a beginner because they have slipped into their own routine, which inevitably differs from the starting points given to them by the coaches. Even after seven years I can remember shuffling vaguely in seemingly odd positions that now come so naturally to me (if slightly personalised to accommodate my laziness and Epée styles), and I want to observe this curve through the eyes of an onlooker, to see if this crop of younglings make similar mistakes...

Why am I saying this? Partly to warn NAF of my unexpected arrrival this weekend. Sorry people, but I wouldn't miss it for blood nor money. Also, it is partly to express what maturity I suddenly feel thinking about how much I have changed, and about what it will feel like going back to watch beginners start their journey on the path of the fencer.

I hope to be pleasantly surprised, and may (Andy-willing) try to fence a handful of them. Don't worry, I intend not to hurt them- simply to teach them a thing or two...

Maybe in influencing them at such an early stage in their fencing I would curse them into my own habits... That would be entirely unfair given that they should develop their own styles, not feed off a mixture of their coaches' respective stances and mannerisms.

Perhaps watching will suffice after all.