I Still Have Much to Learn
Last year as the HEMA season began to wind down, I created the Professor Fencer TikTok page. On that page I created two free online video courses where I teach the viewer the basics of Liechtenauer's longsword fighting system as the online persona "Professor Fencer". A huge part of creating these videos was the research put into accurately representing Liechtenauer's fighting system and teaching it in an engaging and authentic way. During these phases of research, I was constantly faced with aspects about the Art that I had misunderstood or overlooked. When the videos were completed and my role as a coach solidified, all I could think about was just how much about fencing I still have to learn.
It is true that you never truly stop being a student. What I want to pair with that saying is that everything can become your teacher if you allow it. Sometimes when I reflect upon a session with fencing trainees, I tend to find ways I can improve my own style after observing their fencing. Experience and arrogance tend to grow intertwined, and it is important for veterans of this sport to remain humble and open-minded to discovering their weaknesses both in the ring and in their understanding of the material.
The fun in fencing for me now is experimentation. I love to test myself against asymmetrical bouts or with a new partner. Each fencer's instincts are calibrated uniquely to reflect their journey- lessons learned at a pace and setting that could be vastly different from your own. When two experienced fencers meet, it can feel literally like an intersection of two long roads where neither fencer walks out of the interaction the same.
Have confidence in your knowledge of the Art, but do not let what you know stop you from learning what you could know. Even when you're working with someone who had never read single a page of a historical manual in their life you should be open to exploring their style with enthusiasm and an open mind. Test your knowledge constantly both in theory and in the ring and never be afraid to admit you're wrong if it leads you to the truth. Never hesitate to help a fellow fencer whilst continuing to carry yourself with the humble spirit of the novice.
