Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

troygaljair · 02-11-2005, 10:07 AM

Hello, All!! I'm obviously new here, so bear with me and feel free to correct me as you see fit (at least for a while)
As for a little bio, I started fencing when I was 11 at the town YMCA. I learned a fair amount (of course, you can only learn from the beginning, I guess, If that makes any sense) my first year, but then the instructor didn't really have time to teach the 'advanced' students (advanced to him ment that we had been there before) There were often 45-60 kids in the class, so there was no time for personal developement with an instructor. Basically, the next two years, My dad (who started the same time as me) and I just wacked and battered our way through the hour of 'fencing'. Rather embarrassing, once you look back at it.
Anyhow, my dad, about another half dozen fencers, and I wanted to get better, and we definately weren't getting so there. Therefore, we stopped going to the Y, and formed our own club in 2002, the Pocono Fencing Club. (Which, by the way is a registered USFA club, if you care) We hired our own instructor, and he taught us for about six months, until we realized that nearly all the members of the club could beat him. I can't say we improved noticeably in those six months. Then, we hired an Senegalese fencer (who had fenced for two years in france and had fenced in the African Nationals)
to be our coach. Over the last year and a half, all the members of the club have improved very dramatically. Ibrahima (our coach/instructor) stresses drills, drills, drills, then when we are done with them, we incorporate what we learned into everyday fencing.
Since Ibrahima began teaching our club, membership in the club has gone from six to twelve, and most members have begun fencing electrically.
I, personally have fenced in about ten USFA sanctioned tournaments, placing anywhere from 21 of 24 (first tournament) to 4 of 15 latest tournament. I have won only one medal (bronze, foil) and have not (as yet) recieved any ratings.
Well, that is more than enough bio, I guess, so I hope you guys enjoy my stay, because I'm sure I will!!! TJE.

daveappr · 02-11-2005, 01:39 PM

Welcome to the board. If you're at any Harrisburg Division competitions maybe we'll cross paths, especially if you cross over to the dark world of epee.

Zilverzmurfen · 02-11-2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveappr

...the dark world of epee.

Err...that'd be the light world of épée!

Anyway, welcome to the forum Troygail...tryofjsh...tryogaljir... *phew* Welcome!

BrianH · 02-12-2005, 01:16 AM

Yes, welcome to the forum. I am impressed by the drive to start your own club, and hope you are able to continue to fence and enjoy it.

Best wishes. And do consider epee.

HillBilly · 02-12-2005, 01:18 AM

welcome, brave sir, to the deepest darkest depths of fencing 101. Here you will learn of the darkest secrets of many of our members... proceed with caution! If thee answer one qwestionne wronge, thee shalt submit to the pit of destruction! NOW:

"What is your name?"

"What is your quest?"

"What....... is your favorite color?"

troygaljair · 02-16-2005, 09:53 AM

Thanks for the welcome! Since so many of you asked, I do fence epee, but my primary weapon is foil. Right now in our club we are doing epee drills, and on sunday, I participated in a epee competition (electric, but I twisted my knee in the first round of DE and had to withdraw.

The most frustrating part about that was that I was ahead 13-4

) Oh, well.

As for HillBillys three questions, I shalt do mine best.

1. My name is my own. Actually, its Nate. Just my last name is my own. Well, actually, they are both mine, but you can only know one. Or something. I'll let you know when I figure it out.

2. My quest is.....two words, one starting with M and the second with q . Seriously, I suppose that thee wert referring to fencing, so I wilt try to please thy inquisitiveness.
My quest began on a dark and stormy night, I was trudging down a long muddy road under shadowy trees..... Never mind.
I actually would like to be able to teach fencing and generate more victims for you more experience people. Or just get more people interested in the greatest sport to ever exist. (besides bowling, of course. Just kidding. I hate bowling. It ranks up there with golf. No offense, of course if you like it.)

3. My favorite color is....Black. And grey. and blue, and red, yellow, green, orange, fuschia, gold, bronze, brown.... but most of all silver. Why? Because that's the color of duct tape...no, really, it's the color of fencing blades. (and guards, usually) Actually, I just like it.

TJE.

VELISARIOS · 02-16-2005, 10:30 AM

Hello Troygaljair and nice to meet you. Wellcome to the club. I wish you victories!!!

wildmoppet · 02-16-2005, 07:50 PM

Welcome to the club. I'm not even going to try to spell your name...sorry, but welcome anyway!

HillBilly · 02-16-2005, 10:17 PM

wow. You are like the exact opposite of SAarah... you give out a LOT of information..!

troygaljair · 02-17-2005, 09:46 AM

Why does it matter what I tell you? Is it like you're going to blackmail me with my first name and favorite color? I don't really care who knows that. It's the social security and bank account numbers I hesitate at....but maybe I'm just paranoid.

TJE.

Zara_athlen · 02-17-2005, 08:16 PM

the fencing aliance is a good club. I think I met a guy named Usher from there at a tourney in CT.

mrbiggs · 02-17-2005, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troygaljair

Hello, All!! I'm obviously new here, so bear with me and feel free to correct me as you see fit (at least for a while)
As for a little bio, I started fencing when I was 11 at the town YMCA. I learned a fair amount (of course, you can only learn from the beginning, I guess, If that makes any sense) my first year, but then the instructor didn't really have time to teach the 'advanced' students (advanced to him ment that we had been there before) There were often 45-60 kids in the class, so there was no time for personal developement with an instructor. Basically, the next two years, My dad (who started the same time as me) and I just wacked and battered our way through the hour of 'fencing'. Rather embarrassing, once you look back at it.
Anyhow, my dad, about another half dozen fencers, and I wanted to get better, and we definately weren't getting so there. Therefore, we stopped going to the Y, and formed our own club in 2002, the Pocono Fencing Club. (Which, by the way is a registered USFA club, if you care) We hired our own instructor, and he taught us for about six months, until we realized that nearly all the members of the club could beat him. I can't say we improved noticeably in those six months. Then, we hired an Senegalese fencer (who had fenced for two years in france and had fenced in the African Nationals)
to be our coach. Over the last year and a half, all the members of the club have improved very dramatically. Ibrahima (our coach/instructor) stresses drills, drills, drills, then when we are done with them, we incorporate what we learned into everyday fencing.
Since Ibrahima began teaching our club, membership in the club has gone from six to twelve, and most members have begun fencing electrically.
I, personally have fenced in about ten USFA sanctioned tournaments, placing anywhere from 21 of 24 (first tournament) to 4 of 15 latest tournament. I have won only one medal (bronze, foil) and have not (as yet) recieved any ratings.
Well, that is more than enough bio, I guess, so I hope you guys enjoy my stay, because I'm sure I will!!! TJE.

WOW!!! Way to create fencing where there was none. (Or almost none.) Rep point for spreading our sport!

Maeve_Mari · 02-18-2005, 10:10 AM

Haj!

I'm not Swedish, but I went to Ikea yesterday.

Zilverzmurfen · 02-18-2005, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maeve_Mari

Haj!

I'm not Swedish, but I went to Ikea yesterday.

Cool. And by the way Mari: Haj means "Shark"...

(If you wanted to say "Hello" then it's Hej.)

troygaljair · 02-18-2005, 10:48 AM

Once again, thank you all for the great greeting. (even if I don't understand some of them) Haj (or Hej, whatever) to you too. TJE.

Maeve_Mari · 02-18-2005, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

Cool. And by the way Mari: Haj means "Shark"...

(If you wanted to say "Hello" then it's Hej.)

Ummmm. Of course I wanted to greet our new member with a rousing call of "SHARK!" It's a popular call here in the States - usually done at the swimming pool which then inspires the entire population on one side of the pool to dive in and swim as fast as they can to the other side! Whew. What a great way to introduce yourself and make new friends. I could have called out Marco Polo, but I don't know how to say that in Swedish!

PS: thanks for the correction!