Is it better for an athlete to spend training time to build on his strengths, or to eliminate weaknesses?

Question

I'm a fencer (so I doubt I'll get sport-specific advice on Y!Answers) with great attacks and poor defense, and I can win bouts without defense. Should I spend my training time filling in the defensive hole in my game, or should I be making my attacks the best around?

To make an analogy to another sport, if a linebacker were the best pass rusher and run stopper, but a poor coverage guy, should he work on coverage or work on his strengths and let someone else worry about coverage?

You don't need to be a fencer to answer this question, please give me advice based on the sports and martial arts experience you have.

Great answers so far--I should be more specific--looks like martial artists know a lot about fencing--I guess the basic problem is the same whether using a weapon or stiking with your hands.

The way I get around a lack of defense is 1) Pressing my attacks often to prevent my opponents from attacking, with false attacks to get opponents on their heels, and good attacks when they give me the distance I need to be successful; and 2) When someone does attack, I move backward very quickly until I can parry (block) their attack. The problem with my defense is that I move so far away that I don't have an answer to their attack -- I have to set up and prepare for the next attack. My attempts to defend at a proper distance (that would allow me to answer their attack after the parry) have been frustrating. Guess I'll keep working, and thanks for the help.

Answer 1

From what you're saying, it isn't just parry & riposte, but movement that you are needing to work on. You should definately work on shoring up your defensive strategy. Any opponent will watch your other matches and spot this weakness and exploit it. You didn't say if you were an A, B, C, or D, or if you are foil, epee, or saber, but to be an A you will need a well rounded technique.

I would recommend that you work on two things, and both of them can be done at the same time.

1) Practice having the correct distance from your opponent. Moving with short but very quick steps so that you can get back in and attack without having to lunge all the time to make up the distance you lost. Moving just enough to give you room to defend but no more than necessary. Are you afraid of getting hit? Maybe your lack of confidence in your defence is why you move so far away. Try exercises without attacking or defending, with your opponent and you crossing blades. Feel as well as see your oponent's movement and strive to keep the same distance, keeping the swords crossed at the same point, no matter whether your opponent moves forward or back.

2) Practice only defending and counter-attacking, never initiating the attack. You already know you can attack well, so try the other end of the spectrum. Get someone to practice with you slowly at first, so you can keep the proper distance and become more proficient at your parry, and speed will come with proficiency. Maybe you will find that you are not parrying correctly, and that is why you have to move farther away in order to get firmly behind your sword.

I know that it can be competetive even between members of the same school, but someone, maybe even your instructor, should help you out here with this. Maybe there is someone there who is better at defense than attack and you two could help each other.

Answer 2

Here is some advice from a fellow martial artist. This answer applies to a fencer as well as a martial artist.

Having great attacks is wonderful. If you are quick enough to get in, do the job, and get back out fast enough before defense becomes an issue, that's great.

However chance favors the prepared mind, and assumption IS the mother of all....well you get the idea and may even know this quote :).

My answer to you is a saying, is that you are only as strong as you weakest muscle.

Take a weightlifter with a huge chest: his chest muscles may very well be capable of lifting 350 lbs+, however if his triceps and biceps or shoulders are weak, the end result will not even be close to his full potential and most likely end in injury.
To you I say the same thing.

You already know your strengths, but by failing to focus equally on training to eliminate your weaknesses, you lack balance and are opening yourself up for a world of hurt.

All it would take is one competitor who is not as strong in attacks as you, or as quick, BUT who is excellent in their defensive parries and counter attack combos...using your own power and speed against you....and you are toast :).

Mix in someone who is also very powerful and who can easily find and exploit your weaknesses by just watching or sparring you a few times, and you are really in for a hurting :). Examine your own style of sparring and ask yourself if you were a fighting yourself, how would you exploit your own weaknesses.

Take the concept I do when I weight train: when your energy is at its highest in the beginning of your training, focus on your weaknesses first for 60-70% of your workout. Then followup with repetition for your strengths that you do not need to work as much.

The end result? You will eventually eliminate your weaknesses, or turn them into strengths.

Answer 3

Seek to better your performance in both....

As good as your attacks are, there will always be room for improvement. If you can, improve your attacks for the fastest and most accurate deployment you can with the least amount of telegraphing.

However, you also need to work on the weakness of your defense. In the element of sports, future opponents/competitors will sooner or later analyze your style enough to see your weakness and use it against you.

I see you having trouble with two strategies (and forgive me for my ignorance of fencing - but this comes from a martial arts perspective). 1) An opponent might train to move from a quick defensive move against your attack to a fast counter-attack. 2) An opponent could try to attack you with constant/continuous pressure so you cannot effectively deploy an attack of your own until he/she finds an opening in your defenses.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I think this is a very good question and it may as well be in the martial arts category.

My belief is that you should try to enhance your defense as much as possible. I am a defensive fighter so of course I am going to answer this way.
My philosophy is this, you are obviously good at offense, training in defense will not take away from this offense. So, keep practicing all aspects of your art but put special attention on the stuff you know you are not good at.
I think it is possible to enhance all areas of your game in this manner.

Answer 5

work on your weaknesses to become more well rounded. Sounds like you've been facing opponents with less skill than yourself so you don't need much defense. There will come a time though when you're faced with someone that is on the same skill level in their attack and if your defence is sub par you'll be in trouble.

Answer 6

I would try to find some more training partners to spice things up. I would also spend 1/3 of my time training attacks (you don't want to lose this skill) and 2/3 time working on defense.

If you beat me because you are better and faster than me, I can get over that.

If you beat me, I tried to "stab" you and I could no mater how hard I tried... well that beats me mentally and is a lot harder to get over. You want to be well rounded. I hope that helps.

Answer 7

Work to shore up your weaknesses. At some level, you can win without defense, but if you want to improve & compete asgainst better fencers, you will need defense.

Answer 8

Yes you should work more on your defensive side, to become more rounded, the hardest thing to do is identify the weakness and train to fix it.

but you sound well on your way to doing so.

good luck in your training

Answer 9

You should definitely work on your weakness. If your opponent finds out you have one he will capitalize on it.