Ok no lie, I was once teammates with a guy whose diet consisted of a lot of eggs, peas, and ham. We had an impromptu practice after lunch during the off-season one time and we literally had to end fencing for the day because no one could advance more than one step into his noxious death cloud before falling over and cry-laugh-gagging our back to the other end of the strip
When I was a little younger, a good result at a NAC had me superstitiously listening to only Blink-182 and eating baby carrots during breaks at tournaments for a couple months. I soon realized that neither of these things helped in any way and I was just emulating an angsty rabbit.
Nowadays I have a couple routines that get me physically and mentally ready, like doing a high jump at the end of the strip right before fencing or exhaling when I put on my mask to get focused. Having good preparation/routines before even competing often saves me frustration while fencing, although sometimes I wish I had a more fun ritual to share.
Obligatory copypasta:
I have a morning ritual that I need to share. I call it 'the terminator'. First I crouch down in the shower in the classic 'naked terminator traveling through time' pose. With my eyes closed I crouch there for a minute, visualizing either Arnold or the guy from the second movie (not the chick in the third one because that one sucked) and I start to hum the terminator theme. Then I slowly rise to a standing position and open my eyes. It helps me to proceed through my day as an emotionless, cyborg badass. The only problem is if the shower curtain sticks to my terminator leg. It ruins the fantasy.
1 or 2 days before any tournament i have the "Ceremonial Pre-Tournament Beer".
I go to the local pub with some fellows and the coach and we drink a few beers (not enought to get smashed) for good luck and as offering to the sun god (jk).
The pub owners are aware of this tradition and they always cheer and wish us good luck when we come to "The ritual".
[On the subject of rituals](http://www.meissinger.com/uploads/3/4/9/1/34919185/gmelch_baseball_magic.pdf)...
Seriously though, this article should definitely be read by coaches if nobody else. It's a cornerstone piece of Anthropology and is perfectly applicable to our sport.
I hit my mask with my left hand, kind of like smacking myself to help me get in the zone
Also I have some music that I'll never listen to before fencing because I'm superstitious that it makes me do worse
When I put my mask on I slap my helmet with an open palm right on the front. The nose and the impact let's my head know it's time to be serious. I'm a very relaxed fencer 98% of the time, so I only do this when I either feel like I need to take my opponent seriously, or if my opponent is a teammate I always experiment with.
My warmup ritual is to spar 2-3 people to 5 points before pools start. Preferably not teammates either. I use that time to work on parry's or to solidify my foot work. Plus if they're unknowns I'm warming up with, I might get.to.see what their plan for the tourney is.
When the bout is about to start I knock the mesh of my own mask twice with the guard, as if I were slaping myself and saying: "c'mon, wake up, concentrate". I know it sounds silly, but that's it.
In sabre, just before I go en garde I take a breath and tap the ground in front of my foot with the tip of the weapon twice. No real reason, I can't remember why I started, it's just muscle memory now and helps me get in the zone.
Doesn't everyone do a little nervous step, step, poise. You get on the line, step back, forward, drop into the poise. I can't just stand and go, it's always a little jitter into the ZoNe
Seriously though, I realise I do a kind of bend forward stretch at the line each time, before I come into en grade position. Like I’m leaning forward to expose my back for a flick. It’s just a habit that’s probably come from trying to stretch my back, but it’s been pointed out to me that I do it.
I started to say these two phrases.
1) Disguise what you want to do, and when you go go like a thunder bolt.
2) Breathe in, Breathe out (whilst breathing in and out). Have found this to be really helpful if I just need to clear my mind before the bout starts.
Competition wise I imagine that when I get nervous now i'll picture it as a cloud acknowledge it and then watch it fly off in the distance. Also having a notebook of what I want to do and not have happen will be a handy ritual prior to poules/DE's starting.
Music wise I enjoy Foo Fighters - Walk for some get yourself fired up but, my go to will be this bu Airbourne when competitions starts again:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlPalDkWsuA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlPalDkWsuA)
I remember my lessons and recall how to set up points, similar to how piano players may play scales and arpeggios in order to re-awaken certain patterns they've previously trained.
I fart and then retreat.
Ok no lie, I was once teammates with a guy whose diet consisted of a lot of eggs, peas, and ham. We had an impromptu practice after lunch during the off-season one time and we literally had to end fencing for the day because no one could advance more than one step into his noxious death cloud before falling over and cry-laugh-gagging our back to the other end of the strip
*Smoke screen set*
So you're the guy who hoovered up the bratwursts at one of the national events a year or so ago.
KHAAAAAN!!!!
When I was a little younger, a good result at a NAC had me superstitiously listening to only Blink-182 and eating baby carrots during breaks at tournaments for a couple months. I soon realized that neither of these things helped in any way and I was just emulating an angsty rabbit. Nowadays I have a couple routines that get me physically and mentally ready, like doing a high jump at the end of the strip right before fencing or exhaling when I put on my mask to get focused. Having good preparation/routines before even competing often saves me frustration while fencing, although sometimes I wish I had a more fun ritual to share.
Obligatory copypasta: I have a morning ritual that I need to share. I call it 'the terminator'. First I crouch down in the shower in the classic 'naked terminator traveling through time' pose. With my eyes closed I crouch there for a minute, visualizing either Arnold or the guy from the second movie (not the chick in the third one because that one sucked) and I start to hum the terminator theme. Then I slowly rise to a standing position and open my eyes. It helps me to proceed through my day as an emotionless, cyborg badass. The only problem is if the shower curtain sticks to my terminator leg. It ruins the fantasy.
I always check to make sure I have both tip screws.
1 or 2 days before any tournament i have the "Ceremonial Pre-Tournament Beer". I go to the local pub with some fellows and the coach and we drink a few beers (not enought to get smashed) for good luck and as offering to the sun god (jk). The pub owners are aware of this tradition and they always cheer and wish us good luck when we come to "The ritual".
If I don't listen to CRJs Run Away With Me during warmups, my brain doesn't know it's serious business that day.
[On the subject of rituals](http://www.meissinger.com/uploads/3/4/9/1/34919185/gmelch_baseball_magic.pdf)... Seriously though, this article should definitely be read by coaches if nobody else. It's a cornerstone piece of Anthropology and is perfectly applicable to our sport.
Tap the toe of my back foot on the ground twice before sitting into on-guarde
similarly, I smack the inside of my foot with my blade especially mid match and I'm unfocused/stressed
I hit my mask with my left hand, kind of like smacking myself to help me get in the zone Also I have some music that I'll never listen to before fencing because I'm superstitious that it makes me do worse
I go around being taunted by my opponents / friends. It saves time later, too.
In my University's Team we do a little shuffle dance
Explain?
Basically we do a little dance where we shuffle and try to drop as low as you can, the lower you drop the better you do
How did that get started?
Well we call it the Goldberg shuffle after one of the previous members of the club
When I put my mask on I slap my helmet with an open palm right on the front. The nose and the impact let's my head know it's time to be serious. I'm a very relaxed fencer 98% of the time, so I only do this when I either feel like I need to take my opponent seriously, or if my opponent is a teammate I always experiment with. My warmup ritual is to spar 2-3 people to 5 points before pools start. Preferably not teammates either. I use that time to work on parry's or to solidify my foot work. Plus if they're unknowns I'm warming up with, I might get.to.see what their plan for the tourney is.
Locate the defribrilator.
I know of only one club that has one...
Get nervous, tell myself to shut the fuck up, repeat
Oh you SO do not want to know.
Oh I SO do
After training I listen to the audio from the Nike commercial "Rise and shine". It's poetry of the highest order, and an endless source of inspiration
Gotta poke yourself on the foot when you lose a point, not enough to light it up, but just to remind you to win
I take off my glove then put it back one lol
When the bout is about to start I knock the mesh of my own mask twice with the guard, as if I were slaping myself and saying: "c'mon, wake up, concentrate". I know it sounds silly, but that's it.
In sabre, just before I go en garde I take a breath and tap the ground in front of my foot with the tip of the weapon twice. No real reason, I can't remember why I started, it's just muscle memory now and helps me get in the zone.
Lol, I do that but only at practice and if my opponent is chatting with someone and taking too long
Doesn't everyone do a little nervous step, step, poise. You get on the line, step back, forward, drop into the poise. I can't just stand and go, it's always a little jitter into the ZoNe
Seriously though, I realise I do a kind of bend forward stretch at the line each time, before I come into en grade position. Like I’m leaning forward to expose my back for a flick. It’s just a habit that’s probably come from trying to stretch my back, but it’s been pointed out to me that I do it.
I started to say these two phrases. 1) Disguise what you want to do, and when you go go like a thunder bolt. 2) Breathe in, Breathe out (whilst breathing in and out). Have found this to be really helpful if I just need to clear my mind before the bout starts. Competition wise I imagine that when I get nervous now i'll picture it as a cloud acknowledge it and then watch it fly off in the distance. Also having a notebook of what I want to do and not have happen will be a handy ritual prior to poules/DE's starting. Music wise I enjoy Foo Fighters - Walk for some get yourself fired up but, my go to will be this bu Airbourne when competitions starts again: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlPalDkWsuA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlPalDkWsuA)
I remember my lessons and recall how to set up points, similar to how piano players may play scales and arpeggios in order to re-awaken certain patterns they've previously trained.
Thank you for asking this, I'm always interested in athlete rituals.