Why do you fence?

[D'Artagnan1673]

What got you into fencing?

[Soldier]

Because there is no better stress reliever than stabbing people. Punching them square in the face comes close, but just doesn't quite measure up.

[hpfencing]

When I was at Tascosa High School as a student, Dr. Rick DeVoe had started a little fencing group where the students had to buy there own gear. I was excited about the program but never joined.

Shortly following I graduated school and my twin brother, Marcus, and I were not doing much together as we were both going seperate ways. So Marc dragged me to fencing, simply get us to do something together. I instantly became hooked and look at me now, one of my big goals is to do the same thing; "drag" people into the sport. I have found it is one of the things I enjoy most in the world; fencing. I am so glad my brother iinstisted that I try it out. Thanks Marc

[MXL]

Because it defies my school's tradition...that and it was a way to earn physical education credit...Then someone mentioned I had talent and I should go for the team...*shrug*

[RebelFencer]

Because Ole Miss doesn't have a wrestling team.

[esskreemr]

EGO skermie proinde EGO sum. Poor translation for I fence therefore I am.

[frenzl]

swords are cool why not learn how to actually use them; of course until i went to my first comp. then it was to see how to score points and flick what has happened to me!?

[Aeric]

Because there's no other student in my whole county who does it, and because there's no other student in a 40 mile radius who's as good as me.

Everyone in my school is all obsessed with team sports. Pfft. Team sports are mainly for people who have no skill and need to rely on others, (no offense to those who do play them). I've played competitive ice hockey, soccer, and volleyball before, and there's nothing worse than one inept teammate who blows the whole game. In fencing, you've only got yourself to blame. You are solely responsible for defeat, but you also get the complete glory of victory.

Sports that I hear about are all for brute strength, speed, or money. I got sick of that football/baseball/basketball pyramid real quick. Sure I enjoy watching a good football game once in a while, but I sacrificed the last two Superbowl Sundays to fence in a competition. I enjoyed it more.

Our school gives out varsity letters for the usual team sports. Being usual gets you nowhere fast these days. Guess what else we give out varsity letters for?

Chess
Band
Cheerleading
Color Guard

Not fencing.

...Sigh.

[Katman]

I honestly had no idea the club I was joining was sport fencing and not stage combat. I just wanted to learn how to fence like they do in the movies.

When I discovered I would actually be stabbing people well then hey, this is much much better. I'm much more satisified with sport fencing.

[Army Fencer]

"Why did I start fencing", or "Why do I fence?"

[Iwant2bafencer]

Because it interested me, because I can, and to be that much more different than everyone else.

[Jay83]

I started fencing because it was something I've always wanted to try but never really had a chance. Fencing isn't very big where I am.... so when I heard that someone was starting a club at my University, I had to join.

Watching all those episodes of Zorro as a kid probably helped too.

I continue to fence because it is simply a lot of fun.

[telkanuru]

Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt. Thus, since I have no desire to be an outlaw, I fence, not catapult. Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur.

But in all seriousness, I fence because I like swords. And x-country isn't a viable option when your school is in a city...

[Iwant2bafencer]

Yeah those old Zorro episodes do help don't they.

[Hurriranger]

dad was a epee fencer and became a coach later. then he quit and did other stuff. i goto one of a few schools who offer fencing and here i am

[Hamley]

Ive always have been interested anything dealing with war, evan from age 5 with have "mock battles" in my room with about 2 thousands army soilders(god that was so much fun). As I got older i got more interested in things tacticle of war. I would look at maps of battle feilds and think what i would do. Then a friend mentioned how he did fencing, a month later I was hooked. More and more i fence more and more i think why didnt i do it earlyer.


Noah

[acfencing]

I like spending all my money and pretending to kill people and pretending to get killed. It's child's play for adults.

[D'Artag-NOT]

(1) It's good exercise that's fun--at my time of life, I'm not gonna waste time on any form of exercise that isn't also fun.

(2) The romance and history.

(3) The "cool" factor. This is a biggie. When I mentioned in my Y2K Christmas letter that I'd taken up fencing, there was an overwhelming response of, "That's so cool!"

(4) I could take it up in middle age and still have a prayer of learning it.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Me and a buddie went in it together. I needed a hobby, and he did to. I was a depressed kid before I started fencing. He left after 5 classes. I became the best in my little teenagers class, I then started fencing at the city club, started epee and got myself a usfa certfied coach to teach me. I then started fencing with the colledge, so now I'm fencing three days a week. I started fencing in tournaments. I win the y-14 divisionals. I win several more tournaments. In epee, I have never been defeated by someone younger than me. That is my piddly claim to meager fame. This being my last year in the Y-14 circuit, It will probably be my best year of fencing yet. In 2005, I dont expect to qualify for nationals. My reach advantage will no longer be prominent, and that is the only reason I am where I am now. I'm just a long armed loser.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

because as a freshman, i had poor social skills, and as long as i didn't complain about pushups, the fencers didn't care : P

no, it's actually more along the lines of "ok. high school. i'm finally allowed to do all the clubs i wasn't allowed to join when i was in the (attached) middle school. priorities? fencing.... computer club... umm..... whatever..."