The quickest skills development you've seen

[Bugaboo]

I'm looking for examples (names unnecessary) of adults who picked up fencing with little prior athletic experience. Using USFA rankings as some vague gauge of development, how quickly did they improve?

Any anectdotes appreciated.


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[arcon]

[ 10-19-2001: Message edited by: arcon ]

[Craig]

Ron Miller at UNC Chapel Hill does a good job of taking rather athletic people who have never fenced and making them into good fencers.

Because we were in NC, there weren't a lot of ratings to go around, so the top fencers had C's. We didn't get to many out of state tourneys in those days.

Craig

[Catal]

That article (or one like it) for Ray Sexton III is here:
http://fenceintexas.tripod.com/9910news.html

He was the third the person I fenced at my very first epee tournament in 1997. I didn't know he was so highly ranked in the world arena. He's with the University of Texas Fencing Club; they can get you more info if not a contact for him. Small world.

[veeco]

Robert Leroux started fencing when he was 20 years old, in 1987, was a member of the French national team for the first time in 1991, and went to the Olympics in 1992 to get a bronze medal.

That's pretty fast development i'd say :-).

[space_cadet]

As a Wonder Twin, I was able to pick up fencing skills every quickly. Using my ability to transform into the shape of a corn chip was extremely useful.

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Cadet à Space

[Moonitic]

My dear little sister in law to be, Erin, never took a lesson before saying, "Hey! I want to be in this competition." She's a natural! She doesn't get much practice, or many lessons, now...but she's one butt kicking girl!

Needless to say, little bro Josh is very proud of his fiancee! And he seems to be a natural at it too. Makes ya' just want to scream sometimes...

[Peach]

I started fencing in my 40s with only years of VERY SLOW distance running behind me - though in high school I played a few sports. The asthma tended to interfere.

I've been pretty successful. Took a while, thought, and I don't think I would have done as well if I'd started in foil or epee - the competition is harder.

[Bugaboo]

re Peach's "pretty successful" and "took a while": I'm interested in the time curve, especially among fencers older than 30.
Youthful exuberance and a lack of career responsibilities tend to increase one's fencing energy. Kids can do ANYTHING; I want to hear about adults.



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[Peach]

"pretty successful" is nationally ranked in WS, with a B'00--and "took a while" is several years. I guess I've been fencing for 6 or 7 years now. The first couple of years I was fairly dreadful, but luckily so was women's sabre at that point.

There's another woman in WS who does even better than I and she is in her 40's--somebody tried to cheer me up at the Boston WC by telling me even if I went out in the bottom of the 64 I was the best veteran there and I had to disabuse him of that notion <sigh>. I think she started around the same time I did.

[Gajuith]

I know Ray. He is really active here in Texas. He is about the only big fencer that Texas has to speak of as far as I know. Real nice guy always ready to offer advice to us novice fencers he bumps into.

[Catal]

Check out SWT, Gajuith. John Moreau, the fencing instructor there, is a two time Olympian as well as a five national champion in team epee. He still competes and does very well; I believe he just entered his 50's.
When I was at the '97 Bobcat Open, several well known fencers such as Gerard Poujardieu and Risto Hurme were present. Hurme won the individual bronze (epee) in '80, I believe. He was well into his late 40's, early 50's, when I fenced him, but was still able cause me a painful foot and neck injury.
Bugaboo, Poujardieu is an old dude, 50+, and not particularly fit (anymore), but he does well, all things considered. Hurme's wife, is also similarly aged and not at all fit, and she also does well. I don't know how long they took to get where they are, but if you do a search for Poujardieu, you'll be sure to find a contact and you can ask him.

[Gajuith]

Oh yeah, forgot about Pouj. I don' believe i have heard of the other guy though. But then again I have not been to a tourny futher south than Austin. Baylor policy requires that we rent vans to go to competitions as opposed to using our own cars. And we have little money. We do hope to he more active this next season though.

[Gajuith]

Catal---what salle are you with?

[Catal]

I can't say what salle I'm from. I made some accusations about an anonymous club. If I'm wrong about my charges, I don't want to hurt that club's membership- if I'm right, I don't want to be alienated.
In any event, I used to fence at SWT (far, far away from said anonymous club). If you get a chance to fence Moreau or Risto, savor it. It's not often you get to meet people of that caliber. It's a shame about not being able to use your own cars. Risto competes alot at UT, so you might get lucky and be pooled with him.

[Gajuith]

We would have been able to attend almos every event in texas had we been able to use your travel budget just for the entry fees and not renting vans.

[ledgerto]

I'm so happy to hear that us "old folks" can cut it. I'm 46 and started lessons in January. I'm not rated yet, but am beginning to rack up points on the younger ones. I'm thinking of competing in June at our club's open. Any suggestions?

Oh, yeah, I forgot...I have never really been athletic except in Jr. High (girls basketball and softball)
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Old dogs CAN learn new tricks!

[This message has been edited by ledgerto (edited 04-04-2001).]

[This message has been edited by ledgerto (edited 04-04-2001).]

[Peach]

Any suggestions? Yes, kick some butt! Also, from my own experience, don't try to be young and fast. Be old and evil instead. That's what works for me. It also cuts way down on my injury rate <grin>.

Originally posted by ledgerto:
I'm so happy to here that us "old folks" can cut it. I'm 46 and started lessons in January. I'm not rated yet, but am beginning to rack up points on the younger ones. I'm thinking of competing in June at our club's open. Any suggestions?

[ledgerto]

Thanx Peach..How long have you been doing this?

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Old dogs CAN learn new tricks!

[Peach]

I started when I was 43 and I'll be 50 in August, and I'm still getting better at it. I don't think I have ever taken as much regular satisfaction in anything as in my fencing accomplishments. It is SO satisfying (and so weird, when I really think about it) to be a competitive athlete at my age.