Fencing
Fencing is the activity of fighting with swords. The most common version of fencing today, also called olympic fencing or competitive fencing, is divided into three weapon categories: foil, sabre, and épee. Classical fencing uses the same three weapons, but approaches fencing as a martial art.
Competitive fencing is one of five sports which has been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games, the other four being Athletics, Cycling, Swimming, and Gymnastics.
Fencing requires a large amount of mental toughness. Many facets come into play during bouts that can either push the athlete to higher levels of performance or pull their performance down. Typical areas of treatment include fear, trouble dealing with pressure, and confidence deficits. When fear (of embarrassment, making mistakes, of success) enters the gym, other factors such as self-doubt and confidence become important factors to assess. There are many techniques to help fencers overcome fear and/or develop their confidence, as well as the other mental blocks that might be interfering with their performance.
Common psychological obstacles that can occur:
-
Anxiety (physical and mental)
-
Uneven performance between practice and meets
-
Difficulty overcoming mistakes
-
Confidence
-
Fear
-
Trouble handling pressure
-
Problems with pre-performance routines
-
Problems with self-talk
-
Attention and focus deficits
-
Optimal performance training
If you believe you or your child may be battling with mental obstacles that could be affecting their overall athletic performance, please call MVP Mentality today. Dr. Hennessy can help athletes of any age and level to optimize their performance on and off the field with cutting edge tactics.
With a unique therapy plan designed on a per-patient basis, she knows that the right therapy makes all the difference. Call today at 954-317-0551 or email her at DrLaurenHennessy@gmail.com.
For more information regarding mental blocks in Fencing, check out the links below:
How Detrimental is Anxiety in Sports?