So my first fencing class is today.

[Radiophonicus]

I'm pretty jazzed up about it too. I enrolled about a month ago and have been waiting all this time looking at the nice gear I've bought just waiting to use it. Any ideas of what to expect on the first day?

[Julie]

You can expect to learn how to do a proper salute, on guard, how to hold the weapon, advance, retreat, and lunge. That should be plenty, but maybe they'll throw in cross-forward and cross-back.

Later tonight, you can expect sore thighs.

[Epee_Pox]

You are probably going to learn the en garde position, advancing, retreating, lunging and recovering back. You'll probably get an intro speech from the instructor, do some stretching and warmups, then learn the stance and footwork. You'll do some footwork drills, to make sure you get the idea. If there is time left, you might learn how to hold the weapon, though that might wait till the next lesson.

[fencerontheline]

I agree with epeepox. The way one of my clubs teaches begginers is taht we begin the first 3 group classes with no bladework, making sure the footwork and en guarde are strong and maintain good form. real bladework usually begins with class 3. FOam sabers are used in the interim.

[RebelFencer]

Don't get discouraged if you don't get to touch a weapon for awhile...your footwork is the most important thing in fencing. Bladework and having a smart hand are second..but if you have excellent footwork you will be very tough to beat.

[suregrip]

Gosh, I remember when my coach drilled our classes for months without letting us touch a blade. The reason, he said, was because he felt that our feet should be developed first, then the bladework.

[Radiophonicus]

Yeah, I'm pretty patient. I'm not worried about touching a weapon yet. I'm really ready to practice footwork and the like. I really want proper form. I've also been doing leg and calf exercises for the last month everyday, so I hope the soreness will be minimal but I'll endure it either way. Thanks for the heads up you guys.

[telkanuru]

Originally Posted by suregrip

Gosh, I remember when my coach drilled our classes for months without letting us touch a blade. The reason, he said, was because he felt that our feet should be developed first, then the bladework.

This is because whenever you do score a touche, you did it with your feet first then your hands . This gives me a funny picture of someone dropkicking someone and then stabbing them, but I'm weird like that. A fast hand means next to nothing if you can't move. Plus, bad habits are learned early and take forever to be corrected later (boy, do I know that one :wince

[Zilverzmurfen]

Hey, welcome to fencing!
How's yer thighs..?

[gro0003]

My first day tomorrow aswell

[Radiophonicus]

Well the class was pretty much what I thought it would be. We went over history (most of which I already knew by doing some homework) and ended up with the En Garde position, how to hold the foil, advance and retreat. I can't wait for my next one now. The only soreness I had was actually in my shoulder, but that went away pretty fast. My legs are in good shape from years of skateboarding.