What age did you start fencing?

[swordsoar]

Last year at 47 years.

[rmyounis]

And I SUCKED

[sabregrrrl]

I started when I was 30--almost 31. I was always interested in it, but couldn't find a place to take a lesson until college. Now that I live near a big city, there are many more opportunities to fence. I don't regret having to wait until now; yes, the physical side is easier when you're younger, but being older (and hopefully somewhat wiser) has its advantages too. My coach told me at the beginning that "Older and sneakier always beats out younger and faster."

[oso97]

I started fencing my first sememster in college. Had quite a bit of fun with it too during that time. In addition, it really helped me find myself and give me a focus during some rough patches along the way. Then along the way, I got into first refereeing, and then coaching. Recently, I've opened up my own club.

Oh, and I believe the exact quote is "Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill."

[sabregrrrl]

Oops! Guess I'd better quote correctly if I'm going to quote someone! Thanks! Anyway the "real way" of saying it is so much better...

[Mars]

I was eight years old when I started fencing. But didn't really get into it until about three years ago at 16. No one wanted to coach me and I mostly learned by watching and practising footwork in a mirror and by following all the drills the others were doing. Then I started doing epee and really fell into the addiction. woot fencing. best addiction there is.

[Pointy]

I started when I was 30--almost 31. I was always interested in it, but couldn't find a place to take a lesson until college. Now that I live near a big city, there are many more opportunities to fence. I don't regret having to wait until now; yes, the physical side is easier when you're younger, but being older (and hopefully somewhat wiser) has its advantages too. My coach told me at the beginning that "Older and sneakier always beats out younger and faster."

I agree. I started when I was in my early 30s. And yes. I sucked. I still suck but at least I'm progressing (at least I think I am).

The physical side IS easier when you're younger. It's sometimes disheartening when you go on piste and you realize that the young whippersnapper across from you is less than HALF your age. And they're usually so darned bouncy! It took a while but I realized NOT to keep up with them when it came to running up and down the darned piste .....

Darned youngsters. They'll be the death of me!

[epeeisky]

I started a yar ago when I was 16.

[Araznal]

I'm sure it's been done before in this thread, but the poll is flawed, and here's why:
1999- I attended Buck's Rock Camp at the tender age of 12 (BAD choice) and noticed that there was fencing. I attended classes for the month I was there learning from a guy who didn't know the difference between a sabre and a foil.
2000-2002- I continue attending this camp, which is the only source of fencing in my life (another BAD choice, but decent coaching after the guy who didn't know anything left). In my last year, someone from Metropolis comes to the camp and kicks everybody's *** (including mine ). He was really bad, now that I think about it. I started to think about getting my own gear and fence at a club
2002-Present- Got stuff, joined Fencers Club, got a great coach, and started competing.

So do I say that I started when I was 12 (which I don't say, as I wasn't doing anything serious) or do I say that I started fencing at 15 (which I also don't say, because I had enough prior experience to start at a higher level)?

[jokerjoe12]

I started at the age of 12

[jokerjoe12]

but i stoped and am starting again

[lindajdunn]

Should be simple enough...

When did you start fencing?

Vote by your age group!

52; barely a year ago.

Why so late in life? Because I never had the opportunity before. I'd wanted to learn fencing for as long as I can remember, but couldnt' find anything in mid-central Indiana until last year. Wish I could have started sooner. Trying to make up for lost time now.

[Ordway]

17, in my second semester of freshman year at college.

Fenced as an undergraduate, took two years off when I did my MA, then got back into it when I went back to my alma mater to do my Ph.D. I only really started getting serious, competitively speaking, about 5 years ago when I went to Nationals for the first time and got inspired. ("I just want to go once, to see what it's like" -- famous last words )

[Mr Epee]

Has an F.Net poll ever topped 300?

This one is at 297

[Orangeaholic]

This poll is FLAWED! What about the people who started before y-10? For example Y-8?!!!


FLAWED!

[InweCiryatan]

One....more....vote to top 300.

[pixie]

I think I started when I was 12 or mabey 11, I'm not quite sure. It was at a somewhat large kids/teens dry foil class. seems like ages ago, and of course I wish I had started sooner ( that way I might be better by now ).

[bmcfencer]

I started when I was 17, senior year of high school, and am now in college and desperately trying to continue. Fencing is the best addiction, I agree. Though my knees might not. Bloody tendonitis. Sometimes being a bouncy younger fencer isn't so great.

Wish I'd started earlier, too. I only got into this by chance, and not only is fencing the best sport ever, fencers are the best people ever. Wouldn't have survived the end of high school without the University of Tennessee fencing club.

[lfortier]

for me, barely 14;it took me two years to convince my parents to let me take lessons. This winter I'll be going into my 3rd year fencing around my 17th birthday. yeah, wish I started at an earlier age, but now that I think of it, I probably would've quit long ago if I did- I hardly had the discipline and patience to stick with something unless I was already good at it.

[CheekyCanuck]

sigh. i started actual lessons at the ripe old age of 20. that would be a month ago? haha. anyway my coach (which happens to be the national team coach) said i'm too old for foil. said i should change to epee. sobz!

Ha! I'm older than you, and I do love trouncing girls half my age.
They're so full of energy.
I know I'll get slack for saying this, but he doesn't sound like a very good coach.

(By-the-way, I am a foilist and much older than you. )