In one of the Star Wars films (not the real three, one of the subsequent ones), Obi-Wan is fighting with his light saber, and suddenly a door descends, blocking him off from the action. He drops to one knee, perhaps praying, perhaps crystalizing his purposes. When the door rises again, he leaps back into the fray.
My years of training and teaching swordwork were peculiarly formative. Not fencing. Although we trained to miss, we were the real thing in the context of negation, rather than an easygoing sport based on the ancient discipline.
It has stood me well in these times -- I salute my teachers.