Training is the foundation of every activity. As small children we played, and in playing we learned to work, and to interact with people. This is especially evident when you can sit and watch adult people acting childish and laugh, realizing that you were just acting childish! But seriously, our practice dictates our performance in fencing, sports, life, and in extreme situations. If you go through a set of motions 1000 times, whadya suppose you will do when the time comes to do it for real? Something different? No, you do what you train. We all do. There is a little acronym for this, developed by the Air Force and now used by all of the American Armed forces: the OODA loop. OODA stands for Observation, Orientation, Decision, Action. You see, You think, You decide, then Act. On the strip, Fencer A sees Fencer B begin to lunge. If A is untrained, he will stick his sword out hoping to get lucky. He tenses, and gets hit. This is because he had to work through the loop, and since he was under pressure, he devised the wrong response. Some people don't even do that. Some just stand there, stuck in the loop. They get hit as well. Now, lets say Fencer A is trained. Lunge comes he Observes it, then he retreats, parries and counters with a high line attack. It happens in an instant, he wins. What about those other letters, the second O and the D? They were both pre programed by training. He saw and acted, the decision had been made before he even began the match, the orientation, or the thinking that lead to the decision happened during his training as well, now the correct choice was ready almost instantly. That is the benefit of careful practice.

This process comes in three forms: Drills, Exercises, and Experience. Drills are short sets of motion for practicing elementary skills, teaching for perfecting techniques and form. Exercises are controlled events where the learner goes through the motions of an action or set of actions designed to perfect responses in a low stress environment. Both drills and exercises allow people to think through when and how they would apply. Experience comes from going at full speed in a bout. These can make or break the proper learning cycle. If the Drills and Exercises come out in the performance, then the actions will go from second nature, to first nature. If the student reverts to their natural mistakes, then more drills and exercises are needed to ensure proper form. Learning is a tedious process and the temptation to short cut is always present, few can resist it for long, so if you become distracted, know that it happens to the best of us, just keep trying.

Now for two sayings on this subject that you must never forget: "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect," and "An amateur does something until he gets it right, A pro does it until he can't get it wrong." Memorize them. Recite them as you train. Let them motivate you. Keep plugging away, you will succeed!

Erik Schlagel, December 8, 2009
  

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