Question: on a scale of 1-10 how good are you in fencing?

Giuseppe Cotugno answered on 16 Nov 2017:

It is very difficult to put a number to myself! If I would have to go with Italian school grading I would probably give me a 7.5 (where 10 and 1 is given only on exceptional circumstances).

I’ve been a good student and I improved a lot my technique since I started. I am also able to detect mistakes when I make them, which not everyone is able to do (this is how some fencers are able to turn a losing 5-10 match to a winning 15-13 one, 15 is the points you need to win). What I am terrible at, is to keep my mind and emotion under control when I fence. The best Epee fencer is an emotionless fighter: doesn’t get angry if loses a few points for a stupid mistake, doesn’t feel overconfident if he is winning 13 to 2, doesn’t get depressed if the score is now 13 to 12 because he was too confident, doesn’t get scared or start to move frantically if the opponent is waving the blade in his face to scare him. He just aims to “kill” when needed at the right time. I was totally unable to keep emotions under control inside me and this is how many people were taking me over. If I would ever fix that I would give me an 8, but for a 9 I need to prove myself that I did all correctly by reaching a good place in a competition!