Corwin Duncan on Why You Fence Great in Practice but Struggle in Competition
Mon Feb 02 2026
Guest: Corwin Duncan is a mental performance coach, former national champion and world team member, and a longtime fencing coach and referee. He works with fencers of all levels to build concrete, in-the-moment skills for managing pressure, emotions, and focus — on and off the strip.
What we cover:
Why tournaments feel different than practice: familiarity, “safety,” routine disruption, and expectations
How spirals start (and how to interrupt them before they snowball)
The “5-second reset” breathing technique you can use between actions
Using time wisely on strip (shoe tie, blade straighten, creating a moment to think)
A parent’s role: supporting without adding pressure, and managing your own stress
“Losing to weaker fencers”: how expectations can lower intensity — and what to do instead
Reframing a bad result so it doesn’t define you
When it’s time to consider a mental performance coach (including “I’m not enjoying fencing anymore”)
Building a mental warm-up and why routines should be consistent, not rigid
Why Corwin cares about skills that transfer beyond fencing (the “doctor’s shot” story)
Links mentioned:
SharperMind Training: https://sharpermindtraining.com/
--
First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing
Host: Bryan Wendell
Cover art: Manna Creations
Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn
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Guest: Corwin Duncan is a mental performance coach, former national champion and world team member, and a longtime fencing coach and referee. He works with fencers of all levels to build concrete, in-the-moment skills for managing pressure, emotions, and focus — on and off the strip. What we cover: Why tournaments feel different than practice: familiarity, “safety,” routine disruption, and expectations How spirals start (and how to interrupt them before they snowball) The “5-second reset” breathing technique you can use between actions Using time wisely on strip (shoe tie, blade straighten, creating a moment to think) A parent’s role: supporting without adding pressure, and managing your own stress “Losing to weaker fencers”: how expectations can lower intensity — and what to do instead Reframing a bad result so it doesn’t define you When it’s time to consider a mental performance coach (including “I’m not enjoying fencing anymore”) Building a mental warm-up and why routines should be consistent, not rigid Why Corwin cares about skills that transfer beyond fencing (the “doctor’s shot” story) Links mentioned: SharperMind Training: https://sharpermindtraining.com/ -- First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing Host: Bryan Wendell Cover art: Manna Creations Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn