There are those days when you look at your children and are stunned by what they are becoming. I haven’t seen Adam and Stephen fence for about a month. Tonight they had an exhibition, in which their coach asked them to demonstrate the different types of fencing. Stephen did sabre and Adam did foil. I was so impressed with how good they are getting.
Stephen was fencing with a high-schooler who has a “B” ranking (this is an excellent rating a teen), and he was holding his own. After the exhibition, Stephen was disappointed with his performance. He’s such a perfectionist—very competitive. I wonder where he gets it?
The best part of fencing for me is that I don’t know anything about the sport. It allows me to be a laid back dad who doesn’t offer much advice. Honestly, I don’t know what I could say except, “You looked great!” If Stephen was still in baseball, I’m sure there would have been a long discussion on what he could have done to improve. I think in this case, my ignorance is bliss.
Posted by Frank Yamada at November 14, 2004 04:05 AMHEY! Joseph has just started taking fencing! I ask him every week if he says "Curses, FOILED again" whenever he is touched by the opponents weapon!
And that, my friends, wraps up my entire knowledge of fencing.
I agree, Frank, it's nice to just watch and have no clue how to advise - makes it easier for me AND for Joe!
Engarde!
This does not surprise me, because my enduring mental image of Adam is of him, age 4 or so, standing next to the fire dept. standpipe outside your building at CRW, just whaling the tar out of it with a stick. Of course, that would be more like saber than foil, if I remember right...
Posted by: Matt at November 17, 2004 05:55 PM