But, as with anything else in fencing, they got better as I practiced. Now I imagine that I sound like a mighty lioness as I proclaim my belief in having earned a touch. I like it. Yelling does three things for me: it boosts my confidence, it helps me win the mental game on strip, and it helps with the theatrical aspect of the game. There are theatrics in fencing—especially sabre—and your yell can help you have the body language that you need to carry you to success.
There is a point, however, when yelling goes too far. Indiscriminate use of it—such as shrieking after every touch in the hopes that the referee will magically award you the touch every time—can be detrimental on strip.
Unless you are the person with the really high-pitched yell. There are those who say that a long yell is a sign of passion and that the theatrics involved are necessary to maintain mental focus and to perform at the highest level. I disagree. If you read the whole post you will see most of the reasons fencers yell.
Happens at every level of competition, from local tournament to Olympic matches. Yelling makes fencing quite unique comparing with other sports. When I went to a fencing tournament first time, I was very amused and sometime touched by the emotions coming from the sweaty and intensive battle field.
These all make the tournament more real and more interesting to watch. Especially my daughter, she barely shows her emotion loudly. Maybe it is a personality thing. Of course yell it in a proper way is important. To yell after a match or after a point is judged is considered disrespectful and seems somewhat self-celebratory.
I dont really feel comfortable with that aspect of the sport. Humility seems so much cooler. Hi James, thanks for your opinion! Every sport has its own conventions, that are not always applicable to other sports. As a parent sitting at a tournament right now the whole practice is appalling and embarrassing. When I started fencing, I never saw the purpose of yelling. I always thought it was unsportsmanlike and something that only annoying teenage boys did.
Being a hyper-aggressive person myself, I soon learned that yelling is an amazing way to release tension during a bout. It really helps me to keep myself determined and focused. Just today I won a bout against a fencer I never thought I could beat, and I definitely yelled in celebration! Of course, I also agree that yelling can go too far. Not only did he proceed to fleche at me twice, ending the bout, he actually pulled off his mask and screamed directly at me with the last touch!
My general rule is no more than two syllables, and no words. We need to realize that fencing is, at heart, an intense, high-paced combat sport. At least let us shout a little. Plus, I call BS on most of the rationale for incessant yelling. He seems able to perform at an elite level without acting like a twit. I feel it cheapens the sport, and makes the fencers who scream look like a bunch of toddlers. People are so uptight…. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Sign me up for the blog updates! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Want to stay on top of all things fencing? Wozniak says she screams when she wins a point as it punctuates it. It helps her to bask in the moment. Meanwhile, a post on the Academy of Fencing Masters Blog lists seven reasons why fencers yell before, during or after a bout. However, they also make it clear that fencers should yell only when appropriate.
Connect with us. Why do Olympic fencers scream? To intimidate, to release, to signal, to celebrate Bruno Cooke July 26,
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