To defeat an opponent, a fencer must use mind and body together—anticipating attacks, observing the opponent, making contact with the blade, combining strategy with technique. This is the inner game of the sport, which takes years of patience and hard work to reach, but for many it is the most enticing aspect of fencing. Nick Evangelista explains how a fencer can take his or her skills to the next level through self-discipline, continuous learning, and practice.