Flick Off

Name: Jacob Guo

Grade: Senior

Height: 6’0”

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Black

Date of Birth: 8/19/2005

When and how did you start fencing? How long have you been on the Cobras, Stuyvesant’s fencing team?

It’s a funny story. Basically, I was in eighth grade, and my sister went to fencing because my dad wanted her to. So, I went to her practice one day, and I decided to join in. And I thought it was really cool. You know, I got to hit people, and so I’ve been fencing ever since. I joined the team my freshman year, and now I’m the captain.

What inspired you to join the fencing team here at Stuyvesant?

I would say that I heard about them before. Especially going to Stuyvesant, I wanted to do something prestigious. So I was like, fencing? Stuyvesant? What a combo! And so yeah, that’s why I joined.

Do you participate on an outside team? If so, how does your experience on the Stuyvesant team differ?

I used to go to a club. I went from eighth grade until 11th, and then I stopped because it was too expensive. And it’s different. There, I’m subordinate to my coach, and I’m just another member. I’m not special. At Stuyvesant, I have to lead everyone, I have to control, and I have to teach. It’s not something I regularly do at the club level, because here it’s really hard for a coach to teach the sport.

Do you fence foil or epee, and what skills/strengths are involved in the discipline?

I do foil. I think foil is a lot more graceful in some aspects, and it takes more mental power, because there’s something called “right of way,” where there’s priority if you hit. It’s not just whoever hits first or if they both hit. There’s rules, so parries or attacks, counter-attacks, and things like that. I just think it takes a lot more mental aptitude than epee. And I’d say we’re a lot quicker on our feet. [There’s] a lot more footwork for foilists too.

Do you have a most memorable/proud moment with the Cobras?

That would definitely be last playoffs, on our run. For foil, we were in the semis, and it was 44-44, and last point is 45. Time ran out, so we went into overtime. If I didn’t get the point in one minute, if no one touched, and time ran out, the other guy would have gotten the point. And then I got that last point off of a random lunge. I was like, “Damn, what am I doing?” and everyone just swarmed me. Then, we went to finals, and I kind of got my stuff rocked. I got bullied, but we won overall champions, so I’m happy with that.

How has being a captain changed your outlook on fencing? What lessons have you learned from this that you can apply to life?

I think as a captain of a team, especially fencing, you learn a lot more about patience and teaching people in general, because during things like tryouts and no-cuts, I was the one leading and teaching, along with my co-captain. And it’s hard to teach newbies, because they really don’t understand. You have to demonstrate, you have to help, you have to actively watch when they’re doing drills. In life, you have to be observant and careful if you want to be a mentor to people.

Do you have any plans to continue fencing in the future or in college?

I would say at most, I go D2 or D3 (in college), not D1. That’s too hard. Probably, I would be a walk-on and try-out, not recruited. Either that or intramural or club.

Do you have any prematch superstitions or rituals?

We do our own short warmup, and then we cheer. It is an old tradition. It goes like, “Clear eyes, full heart x two. One, two, three... Stuy,” and we are off!

What are your individual goals for this season? What are the team’s goals for the rest of the season?

I want to win championships again and improve as a fencer, even though it might be my last time fencing. Also, I might want to figure out a way to leave the team in stable hands after [co-captain] Gabriel [Huang] and I are gone. For the team, I want them to learn from each other and kind of get more team spirit. It’s been lacking lately, and as the playoffs approach, I want the team to get more fired up. I think as the season comes to an end, we just want to have some fun and enjoy ourselves.

What are the best and worst parts of fencing?

The worst parts of fencing are the mental battles we have. You go into bouts knowing how the opponent fences, and you try your best to exploit their weaknesses, but it’s never as simple as that. When you lose a point you know you could have gotten, especially if it’s been the same way consecutively, it really gets in your head. You start giving up and getting mad, and it’s hard to control that. I’d say the best part of fencing is when you can finally take the mask off after the last point and just breathe. It’s nice to get fresh air.

What does a typical practice look like?

A practice usually starts off with a school run. Maybe six to 10, 10 to one, one to 10, if I’m feeling it, and then 10 to six with a sprint across the final floor. Or, we play 20 to 30 mins of gloveball, basically European handball, for fun. Then, we stretch and do footwork. Then, it’s conditioning or drills, depending on the day. Then, the rest of the time is actually fencing.

Is it hard to get into the sport of fencing for beginners?

Yes, it’s a bit unfriendly for beginners. It’s both expensive and harder to pick up than most sports. Beginners can’t really watch some professional bouts to understand what’s going on, and it might be too complicated or fast for normal people to watch. Also, there’s this opinion that fencing isn’t a real sport, which I find dumb. I hear people say, “Why are the beekeepers fighting?” and it’s funny, but it sucks too. Also, there’s not that much of a fencing culture, unlike other sports.

Funniest Teammate: Aidan Nakajima-Wu

Favorite Professional Fencer: Gerek Meinhardt or Nick Itkin

Fencing on Full or Light Stomach: Light stomach but lots of water

Favorite Sports Drink: Yellow Gatorade

Favorite Post-Match Snack: Mangoes and anything with potatoes

Hobbies: Going on walks, playing video games, and reading

If You Could Play One Other Sport: Volleyball or hockey

Motto to Live By: “Get your money up, not your funny up.”

Fun Fact: I did ballet in middle school.