I guess 12 actually. I was 12 and 1/2 when I first took up the sport. Its amazing how far I've come in that short a time, though it feels like it has taken forever.
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"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. And from this side only! The flight of a half-man, half-bird. Dinosaurs nuzzling their young in pastures where strip malls should be. Cookies on dowels. All those moment, lost in time. Gone, like eggs off a hooker's stomach. Time to die" -Phil Ken Sebben
Seriously, if you weren't in college, fencing was pretty hard to find in Texas back before everyone and their cousin had a web site. Fencing in the yellow pages ran more to picket, chain-link and (as we say down here) bob-wahr varieties.
Happily for me, the local club ran notices in the local suburban weekly in my area and I finally looked at the right issue. I showed up for the next class session (Mergs was my instructor). He taught me that fencing was fun. I met my wife there and I've never looked back.
I am still more a recreational fencer than anything else, but I'd miss it terribly if I had to give up those 2-3 nights per week.
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"Sabre is Theatre. Foil is Art. Epee is Truth." - attributed to Al Peters
13 when I started, although my only real training has come in the past year and a half. Makes me feel lousy for all the wasted opportunities...I should be a lot better for fencing for six years.
I took my first class when I was in my 20's. I played with it off and on (more off than on) all of my life, but it was not until I was well into the "veteran" age group that I started getting really serious about it.
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One test is worth a thousand opinions. I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was. - Toby Keith Living life without taking the occasional risk is like lemon-pepper chicken without the lemon-peper. It's just chicken.
Started post-college, post-grad school, at around age 25 or so. Was not offered in high school or earlier in my area, and was not offered in college even as a club sport. And when I finally started fencing, it was through an evening program with the local parks and recreation group, which led me to finding a local club, and etc.
Started when I was at Uni, about 20 I think. Needed some sport to keep me sane and to be involved in a social group outside my faculty. Of all the sports I tried that first year it's the only one I seriously pursued, mostly at the varsity and invitational levels. When I left school I sort of let it slide as work and other interests took over.
Chronic injuries at the time helped in the decision. It's good to be back.
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