Why do you fence?

[pickzee]

I started fencing because of too many repeat views of The Princess Bride. Of course it wasn't until two years ago that my father decided that it would be better for me to take lessons that for me to take my sister's eye out with a twig.

[Soldier]

I started fencing because of too many repeat views of The Princess Bride.

Welcome aboard - you'll fit right in!

[MyraTrue]

My "why did I start fencing" story isn't that great.

Part of the country I grew up in has VERY little fencing. And pretty much it doesn't exist in that division (which I've later fenced in, and its true). Got to University here, was sitting in Ecology class, bored out of my mind and spotted callout info on the board for the fencing club. "learn to fence". Riiiight.... I always thought swords would be cool as a kid, still did, but... me? Unathletic me?

Wrote it on the top of the page in my notebook and went back to taking notes about population distributions and trying not to fall asleep. And a week later, was supposed to be studying ecology. Found the callout info, decided that fencing sounded more interesting that THIS stuff, and went to the callout. They fenced all three weapons and for some odd reason, I stayed.

Now I'm addicted, so I'll NEVER leave. Its MY job to write on black boards in classrooms to attract similar people.

[blue_falcon]

I got bored of going to work and doing nothing afterwards. I had considered fencing when I was in school a few years back but this guy I knew (who was a schmuck) tried it out and that's why I DIDN'T go for it then. Then, last year I was bored and was reading a Rex Stout mystery where fencing was involved and it piqued my curiousity again. So, I looked into it, visited two clubs (both of which I joined -- I subsequently dropped one of them), and was hooked.

I guess I got into fencing because I was ready for it -- the circumstances were right and I was ready for the (very little) commitment that it involved.

Why do I fence? Because it's great exercise, it's a great stress relief, and I kind of miss those trial by combat days! Things would be so much simpler if, for every dispute, each party hired a champion (i.e. lawyer) who physically battled the other's champion and whichever side's champion won won the dispute. And if this combat was to the death, well then, there'd be a lot less lawyers.

[D'Artag-NOT]

IThen, last year I was bored and was reading a Rex Stout mystery where fencing was involved and it piqued my curiousity again.

Yeah, I've read that too--it's called Over My Dead Body, I believe. It has a great quote from one character who says that he knows he's a rotten fencer, but he knows he needs the exercise and that fencing is "the only thing I love to do that makes me sweat" or something like that.

I kind of miss those trial by combat days! Things would be so much simpler if, for every dispute, each party hired a champion (i.e. lawyer) who physically battled the other's champion and whichever side's champion won won the dispute.

We do still have that--it's called "war"--but you have to be (s)elected to the Presidency to engage in it. *hastily jumps down from soapbox*

[Musketeer]

The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Court Jester
The Princess Bride
The Mask of Zorro