When you first start fencing, the natural inclination is to grip your weapon very tightly and try to powerfully force it through your opponent's defenses.
And you wind up losing. A lot.
The right way to fence is by holding your weapon lightly and loosely. This gives you the ability to change direction rapidly, to move faster, and out-maneuver your opponent. Trying to force things makes you rigid; being flexible and holding a loose grasp lets you change direction and rapidly grab opportunities.
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