tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131050289688672677.post6492982511389311647..comments2023-03-26T13:08:01.879-07:00Comments on Black Birds and Blades: Competition Headspace for Fencing and A&S Doug Kozlowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18251936926520377705noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131050289688672677.post-42072898613785378352018-12-17T11:28:20.403-08:002018-12-17T11:28:20.403-08:00Matt, Thank you so much. I love your analysis and...Matt, Thank you so much. I love your analysis and agree. I hope to do a follow up post in a month or so with more of a focus on A&S headspace. In A&S I have quoted a saying from Mixed Martial Arts where they tell fighters to never let the decision go to the judges because you never know how things will go. Well, the hard part is that almost all A&S competitions rest in the judges hands and as a result there is a different type of stress before and after competitions.<br />It was also interesting to read a response by another friend of mine who competes with thrown weapons where his enemy is the target, how that differs from having someone across from you, and how getting into his headspace is also different. <br />Thank you for the insight and feedback.Doug Kozlowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18251936926520377705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8131050289688672677.post-10778430988795234922018-12-15T00:07:10.840-08:002018-12-15T00:07:10.840-08:00Interesting. I always have trouble with "tou...Interesting. I always have trouble with "tournament head". But, I would offer one more factor, which also may explain some of the difference between a fencing tournament and A&S competition. It's part of what you were getting at in the format section.<br />A fencing tournament involves direct competition against an adversary. A&S is a solo competition, like high jump or shootings. Your result is unaffected by the other competitors. You score what you score. Fencing, like tennis or team sports, has a direct adversary. So, how you do is not just up to you - your result is a result of how your skill interacts with the adversary's. That difference is what makes "tournament head" more difficult for me, I think.MPiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853660413408455432noreply@blogger.com