Growing as a Fencer

Like any martial art, learning the sword is more about the journey than the destination.  It sounds cliché, but is there really any Master out there who can honestly claim that they have learned everything there is to know about their craft?

Each time there is a breakthrough, there's a whole new set of challenges to meet; new angles of attack, manipulation of distance, methods of attack and defense, better conditioning, and so on. 

It's a quest for the perfect technique, as we celebrate brief moments of the pieces lining up, while the sword seems to hold all the secrets: "Just get the timing and angle right, human, you'll be amazed at what I can do!"   Sometimes it's an encouragement, sometimes it's a bit mocking, but it works all the same.