new to fencing

[Lotus Flower]

I am a 17-yr-old girl in the North Dallas (plano) area of Texas, interested
in taking up fencing. What sort of equipment is best to get started with
(also where could it be purchased)? What style is the best to pick up first,
if any? What sort of exercise/stretching should I take up to prepare-- and
any other advice for beginners anyone can share!

Thanks in advance

peace is the word
bunny

[Andrew John]

Have you tried http://www.usfencing.org/ under "New to Fencing" ?
It covers most of your questions. Here is my take on the answers in addition:

Lotus Flower wrote:

> I am a 17-yr-old girl in the North Dallas (plano) area of Texas, interested
> in taking up fencing. What sort of equipment is best to get started with?

None. A beginners course will generally supply all equipment.
A full uniform and equipment is a big investment until you know that this is "your" sport.

> (also where could it be purchased)?

Lots of places online, but not so many store fronts.
Try <Internet Links><Equipment Vendors> on the USFA site, above.
Allstar, Uhlmann, Leon Paul, Soudet are all places I've bought from in the past, and google
will turn up links for them.

What style is the best to pick up first, if any?

NO please don't ask that ! Religous wars are such ugly things.
Old school was, you learned foil, then either stayed with it, or went on to
your weapon of choice. Nowadays you can generally start with whatever weapon appeals,
although not all clubs have all three:

Disorganised, crazy, party people = Sabre
Fussy, picky control freaks = Foil
Lazy, untidy, athletes = Epee

( I hope that was insulting enough to each weapon )

> What sort of exercise/stretching should I take up to prepare?

If you aren't currently very active, then any sort of aerobic conditioning
- cycling, running, aerobics would help.

Fencing is such a weird, unbalanced sport that you will use unacustomed muscles,
regardless of how fit you are. Given age and gender are on your side, stretching
will not be as critically important as for some. Any decent class will start with
specific stretching and warmup excersises anyway.

> any other advice for beginners anyone can share!
>

Don't do it. It's incredibly addictive.

> Thanks in advance
>
> peace is the word
> bunny
>

Happy Fencing
AJ

[Sinister]

Dear Lotus...
If you are a beginner your first step it to find someone who will teach you
how to fence. Almost all of your questions will be answered in doing that.

Take Andrew Jake said about equipment, at least until you fall in love with
the sport. A big no no is to buy up a sword and uniform, and mask and socks
and shoes and grip and so on... before you even know the rules of fencing.

Take what Andrew Jake said about the three different weapons and thow it in
a river. Epee for Lazy people! Pfui! Epee is for refined and precise
people. People who will spend time on strategy and psychology during a
match.

Anyway, don't be afraid to jump right in and see if you like the water.


-Sinister

[Colin B.]

Lotus Flower <lotusflower1922@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I am a 17-yr-old girl in the North Dallas (plano) area of Texas, interested
> in taking up fencing. What sort of equipment is best to get started with
> (also where could it be purchased)? What style is the best to pick up first,
> if any? What sort of exercise/stretching should I take up to prepare-- and
> any other advice for beginners anyone can share!

First of all, don't worry about equipment. In fact, don't worry about
anything at this point, other than finding a club. Once you've found and
joined a local fencing club, you'll find that they'll have ALL the
information you need to start with, as well as all of the equipment for
beginners. General stretching and exercise will never hurt, but fencing
is such a lopsided activity that there's not much you can do specifically
for it, other than to fence more.

Traditionally you'd start with foil, and most clubs seem to stick to that.
Once you've fenced for a while, you might have a better idea of what
weapon you want to fence with, and how seriously you've fallen in love
with the sport. At that point, you can start thinking about equipment.
When that moment comes, you'll probably find that equipment comes in the
mail.

Good luck, and welcome!

Colin

[BubbaD]

We ALL know that :

Sabre is Theater
Foil is Art
Epee is TRUTH

"Sinister" <sinister@kih.net> wrote in message
news:4Lnyc.23069$Yd3.21469@newsread3.news.atl.eart hlink.net...
> Dear Lotus...
> If you are a beginner your first step it to find someone who will teach
you
> how to fence. Almost all of your questions will be answered in doing
that.
>
> Take Andrew Jake said about equipment, at least until you fall in love
with
> the sport. A big no no is to buy up a sword and uniform, and mask and
socks
> and shoes and grip and so on... before you even know the rules of fencing.
>
> Take what Andrew Jake said about the three different weapons and thow it
in
> a river. Epee for Lazy people! Pfui! Epee is for refined and precise
> people. People who will spend time on strategy and psychology during a
> match.
>
> Anyway, don't be afraid to jump right in and see if you like the water.
>
>
> -Sinister
>
>

[Andrew John]

Or the old saw:

Foilists talk about their technique.
Epeeists talk about their equipment.
Sabreurs talk about themselves.

BubbaD wrote:

> We ALL know that :
>
> Sabre is Theater
> Foil is Art
> Epee is TRUTH
>
> "Sinister" <sinister@kih.net> wrote in message
> news:4Lnyc.23069$Yd3.21469@newsread3.news.atl.eart hlink.net...
>

[Lotus Flower]

Groove. I've started looking around town for some fencing spots-- thanks to
everyone for the info, you're a great bunch!

peace is the word
bunny


"Colin B." <cbigam@somewhereelse.nucleus.com> wrote in message
news:40cb3ace_1@news....
> Lotus Flower <lotusflower1922@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > I am a 17-yr-old girl in the North Dallas (plano) area of Texas,
interested
> > in taking up fencing. What sort of equipment is best to get started with
> > (also where could it be purchased)? What style is the best to pick up
first,
> > if any? What sort of exercise/stretching should I take up to prepare--
and
> > any other advice for beginners anyone can share!
>
> First of all, don't worry about equipment. In fact, don't worry about
> anything at this point, other than finding a club. Once you've found and
> joined a local fencing club, you'll find that they'll have ALL the
> information you need to start with, as well as all of the equipment for
> beginners. General stretching and exercise will never hurt, but fencing
> is such a lopsided activity that there's not much you can do specifically
> for it, other than to fence more.
>
> Traditionally you'd start with foil, and most clubs seem to stick to that.
> Once you've fenced for a while, you might have a better idea of what
> weapon you want to fence with, and how seriously you've fallen in love
> with the sport. At that point, you can start thinking about equipment.
> When that moment comes, you'll probably find that equipment comes in the
> mail.
>
> Good luck, and welcome!
>
> Colin