FencingBuddies Podcast

Episode 8: The Lefty Advantage: Why Left-Handers Excel in Fencing ?

6 min • Handedness

AI hosts Alex and Sarah dig into findings from the paper “Prevalence of left-handers and their role in antagonistic sports: beyond mere counts towards a more in-depth distributional analysis of ranking data.”

We explore two key theories: are right-handers just less prepared for lefty opponents, or do left-handers have built-in neurological advantages that sharpen timing, distance, and precision?

Episode 7: Bounce or Step ?

6 min • Footwork

AI hosts Alex and Sarah dig into findings from the paper “Bounce or Step: The Evolutionary Leap in Elite Épée Fencing Footwork and Its Impact on Performance.”

New research on two very different footwork styles in épée: the classic heel-to-toe step and the lighter, spring-loaded bounce.

Episode 6: Psychological Safety in Sport: How Coaches Shape Growth and Confidence

8 min • Coach Behavior, Psychological Safety

AI hosts Alex and Sarah dive into the paper “Investigating the Impact of Coach Behaviours and Coach-Athlete Relationships on Psychological Safety” by Ender Şenel and colleagues.

They unpack how supportive versus controlling coaching styles can make or break an athlete’s sense of psychological safety - the freedom to take risks, ask questions, and grow without fear.

Episode 5: Injury Patterns in Fencing Athletes – What the Data Reveals

8 min • Injury, Prevention

AI hosts Sarah and Alex explore the study “Injury Patterns in Fencing Athletes – A Retrospective Review” by Dr. Emily R. Cross and colleagues, sharing what the research means for fencers, parents, and coaches.

Episode 4: Debriefing in Fencing: Turning Losses into Lessons

6 min • Debriefing, Video Review, Competition

AI hosts Alex and Sarah break down the paper “The role of debriefing in enhancing learning and development in professional boxing” by Yasmin Kojman, Kelvin Beeching, Miguel-Angel Gomez, Nimai Parmar & Scott B. Nicholls (2022).

Whether you’re a parent, coach, or fencer, this episode shows how the right debrief can make you not just a better fencer, but a more resilient competitor.

Episode 3: How Training Journals Build Elite Athletes

6 min • Video Feedback, Training, Competition

AI hosts Alex and Sarah break down the paper “Training Journals and the Development of an Elite Sports Identity” by Pål Augestad.

Originally focused on cross-country skiers, its lessons apply directly to fencing: how logging reflections—not just drills—turns athletes into their own analysts, builds ownership, and transforms discipline into pleasure.

Episode 2: Frame by Frame: Building Better Fencers with Video Feedback

6 min • Video Feedback, Training, Competition

Our AI hosts Alex and Sarah break down the article "Current Application of Video Feedback in Sports Teaching and Training" by Siwei Liu from School of Physical Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.

Discover how watching yourself fence, frame by frame, can sharpen technique, build tactical awareness, and even prevent injuries. Whether you're a beginner or chasing medals, this episode shows why video feedback is one of the most powerful tools in a fencer's journey.

Episode 1: How to Set Goals that Actually Work for Fencers

7 min • Goals, Training, Competition

AI hosts Alex and Sarah digest the paper "The performance and psychological effects of goal setting in sport: A systematic review and meta-analysis" by Williamson, Swann, et al. to teach you about goal setting the right way to achieve results.