Here We Go Again – The Climb #274

Sunday 22^nd October 2017

For the second day in a row, I went sparring.
This time it was in Hawley, which whilst still a drive, didn’t require the additional train journey.
Again I was fencing Pim and Sasha. Again I was shouted at for doing things wrong. That said, I really feel I’ve levelled up over the past week. Of course, that will be put to the test next weekend when I fight in the next Wessex League match.
I’m at that stage where I’m running purely on nerves. All I can see is my flaws. All I feel is that I’m not good enough. I feel like I’ve used up my luck for the year, that I’m overdue a disappointment. I feel my second place position in the league and feel like I’m going to throw it all away.
I know I need to get my nerves under control but I’ve got a few days yet before I really need to worry. Better that I let them run rampant right now, so that they tire out before the actual competition.
I fekt I fenced well against Pim today. He just doesn’t seem to have found his stride yet, although both he and Sasha are training for Swordfish rather than Wessex. They have an extra week. But I found I could trick him consistently with a feint of tensing my shoulder. It worked every time. I was quite pleased with it.
With Sasha. My strategy seems to be to fight defensively, stepping backwards until an opportunity presents itself. I’m trying to fight more extended but I’m finding this is hurting my lower back. But I felt I did better against him that I did yesterday.
But then against Stephen I didn’t feel I did so well. I hate that fencing can be so dependent on your opponent. What someone might consider an easy win, is a defeat for someone else of equal level.
Of course, the real test will be tomorrow when I hopefully get chance to fight Matt. I feel I’ve improved since Wednesday and tomorrow will be my chance to test it.
Of course, given that it’ll be my 3^rd sparring session in as many days, I’m going to be a little disadvantaged. The sessions over the last week have been incredibly intense but I think having them, then a few days rest until the tournament might help me.
Of course, as Matt didn’t go to either today or Waterloo yesterday, I’m claiming the moral victory for Wessex, whatever the outcome.
In reality, I feel I’m doing everything in my power to give myself a fighting shot at winning. That doesn’t mean I will. There are just so many great fighters entering that I feel it could be anyone’s.
In many ways, Swordifish is easier. I know I stand no chance of winning that. In fact, I now want a group of death, because I want the experience of fighting the world’s best and seeing how I stack up.
I suspect I might feel differently next week when I’m gearing up, but for now all the nerves are centred around Wessex and the feeling I’m going to screw it all up.
If you want to follow more of my journey, then be sure to check me on my social channels. Likewise, if you’d like me to expand on any point mentioned above, please say so in the comments.