IE Business School Presentation

Show us an activity you enjoy doing. Tell us how you think it contributes to your personal and professional development

Meares, A. (2012). 2012 Australian Fencing Circuit Open Championships<http://www.canberratimes.com.au/photogallery/act-news/2012-australian-fencing-circuit-open-championships-20121206-2azcf.html?selectedImage=1>

Emiliano Joel Batilando

Many describe fencing as “a game of physical chess” where the fencer must master

his nerves, carefully read the strengths and weaknesses of his opponent; engage in

thoughtful, precise, fearless action; and always finish with the respectful salutes and

handshakes – no matter the outcome.

-Ellen Hasset, Notre Dame University, 2011


Why I Chose Fencing as my Sport

Brock, S. (2010). The Art of Fencing.<https://www.behance.net/gallery/The-Art-of-Fencing-Portfolio-2009-2010/718552>

Fencing is a sport of etiquette and tradition. It demands strength and endurance, and at the same time, resourcefulness and intuition.

Fencing instills discipline and perseverance. It rewards practice and careful thought and punishes rash actions.

It is a sport that teaches a person integrity, humility and respect, values entrenched in the culture of the sport.

Stephen Kaufer, CEO of Trip Advisor, said: “In fencing, you have to think three moves ahead. It turned out to be good training for corporate life…”

As a freshman student preparing for my business degree, fencing has certainly taught me virtues and skills critical to my formation for the future.


• Fencing requires physical and mental agility.

• Continuously changing tactics is an effective way to overwhelm your opponent.

• Intuition: Recognizing your opponent’s strategy will become instinctive.

A Game of Physical Chess


• There is constant tension that a small error can lead to your loss.

• The feeling of joy when the strategy you’ve been building up succeeds.

• Knowing only you are responsible for the outcome of the match.



• Your style in each match needs to be unique and given your best lest your opponent makes a comeback.

• Focus is key: A nine-point lead can disappear if you lose your concentration in the middle of a match.

• Remain calm at all times. “Panic is the death knell of a fencer’s bout.” – Stephen Kaufer



• Life is a continuous struggle, full of challenges.

• Just as your opponent can make a comeback, so can you. Analyze what you have seen and learned and formulate a strategy for victory.

• There will be times when you will be vanquished. Getting up quickly and learning from it and moving forward are more important.

• Agility and flexibility are important to success.


Meares, A. (2012). 2012 Australian Circuit Open Championships<http://www.canberratimes.com.au/photogallery/act-news/2012-australian-fencing-circuit-open-championships-20121206-2azcf.html>Bizzi, A. (2014). El saludo en la esgrima es un gesto sustancial. <http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/multimedia/fotografia/bizzi-el-fotografo-de-la-fie-/dimitry-rigin/>


• Fencing teaches you to respect your opponents.

• It takes the best of chivalry and brings it to the modern era.

• Each bout begins with a salute and ends with a handshake.

• During practices, you trust that your opponent will tell you when your hit lands.

Values and Life Skills


• Fencing builds relationships between members, despite a solo sport.

• Fair-play and honesty promotes friendship and community.

• Members, through drills and bouts teach and help each other.

• Friendly rivalries develop as people compete and push each other forward.



• Fencing teaches you to think and act quickly.

• It rewards observation and quick thinking.• Each bout is a problem solving exercise –

what are your opponents weaknesses and how can you exploit them?

• Variety and creativity are important –consistency of your moves makes you predictable.


Nguyen, M.L. (2013). Jérémy Cadot (on the left) parries the flèche attack from Andrea Baldini during the final of the Challenge international de Paris. <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Final_Challenge_international_de_Paris_2013-01-26_193155.jpg>


• Fencing is a sport of quick & precise movements.

• Practicing & mastering the fundamentals will serve you better than a variety of quickly learned skills.

• Similarly, businesses that improve and focus on their core competencies and build from experience are more likely to prevail than those that quickly expand.

Strategic Thinking in Fencing and Business

4


• Like in business, rushing in without a plan is disastrous.

• Use each bout to observe your opponents and form a plan of action.

• It is important to recognize when an opening is an opportunity or a trap.


4


• Creative and unconventional thinking often produces good results in fencing.

• Fencing with beginners is difficult as you cannot predict what they will do.

• Businesses with unconventional and novel ideas can differentiate themselves from competitors.


4


I began fencing in my first year of university and immediately loved the sport.

I have quickly learned to appreciate, acquire and further reinforce my values such as discipline, hard work, perseverance and fair play.

It has been a source of physical atonement, important skills and strength of character that would prove invaluable in my university and future professional life.

Closing Thoughts

Education

IE Business School Presentation