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Acta Periodica Duellatorum, Conference Proceedings
121
Figure 4 - Auswinden from left against right.
© Thomas Arthur Naylor, used with permission
III.3.
Mental Fitness
This third pillar of our reconstruction efforts is by essence of a more esoteric nature and
less
easy
to
judge,
but
is
nevertheless
crucial
to
the
correct
application
and
reconstruction of technique. Apart from the general martial sport skills of mental
endurance, pain resistance and calmness under pressure, the crucial prerequisite in the
correct
application
of
any
technique
is
correct
decision
making
and
“tool
use”
appropriate to the specific technique. The subject of developing mental fitness for
HEMA fencers is a relatively new one and rarely directly touched upon, with some
notable exceptions, such as Göteborg Historiska Fäktskola, who run a training session
on overcoming fear responses.
8
8
Giovanni Amatuccio, a historian and practitioner in another art, archery, has looked at one of a
competitor’s banes, that is “choking” in competition, and what historical Arab and Eastern
manuals had to say about that: idem, Target Panic. Similarly, with respect to jousting, Dom Duarte,
pp. 119-123.