New in fencing : I have a problem..

[madsky]

I love fencing. I have always hated sports but I've only been fencing for two sessions and I've completely fallen in love with the sport.

I do have a problem though. I'm the only beginner. They're all part of the varsity for our university. Also, they are sports scholars, so they're good and use fencing in order to enter/stay in the university. On the other hand, I'm doing it for fun since I am already accepted in the university. The closest to a beginner is this girl who learns fast even if it has only been three weeks since she started. Most of the other students in my fencing class have been fencing for at least 6 months. So that means the coach/team captain only pays attention to me when the scholars are free fencing, or whenever he sees me sitting down on the bench doing nothing. It makes it hard for me to learn since no one is there to check my progress.

It's only been two sessions but all i know for now is the advance, retreat and the lunge (which was only demonstrated to me in passing, so i didn't get it that well)..

I love fencing and i am determined to be good at it, but this problem really frustrates me.

[VELISARIOS]

First off all be cool. Here in Greece we did footwork ONLY for months and then we took sword. So dont worry. My coach said that he did only footwork for one year and then he took sword and you learnd lugne in two sessions! Keep working.

[dbell1]

that is why alot of people end up quiting fencing. they don't realize that fencing IS footwork. at least to begin with. my club does footwork for 3 months before we begin bladework. just be patient, and it'll all come with time. also, don't be afraid to jump in (if it's allowed) and free fence some older fencers. as a rule, we usually like to spread our craft to anyone who wants to learn.
just be patient, work hard at the skills at hand, and it'll all come with time
(just remember how you feel now, when you're advanced and there's some new kid in class)

[kalivor]

Originally Posted by madsky

It's only been two sessions but all i know for now is the advance, retreat and the lunge

This sounds normal. Don't worry about it -- by the fall, you'll be part of the "been fencing for at least 6 months" club as well!

[madsky]

Alright, thank you. I thought i was falling behind because no one would pay attention to me. Haha I'm a painfully shy kid so im worried that this will impede my progress. I just hope that my coach doesnt think i suck

[silsbeel]

If you keep going I imagine that you'll find folks willing to work with you; in the meantime you should already have plenty of things to practice.

Good luck

[ThatReallyHurt]

Welcome to the sport!!! No one wants to be told this, but footwork is very important. Keep at it - you'll be happier because of it!

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by madsky

I do have a problem though. I'm the only beginner.

Hey, welcome to the sport!

Listen, if you're the only beginner that means you will have a lot of more experienced fencer to train against. I'm sure this will help you advance rather quickly, so good for you!

Your first months may be a minor hell of bruises and humilitation, but just hang in there, as you develop your skills it will get better. Have fun!

[Pauli]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

Hey, welcome to the sport!

Listen, if you're the only beginner that means you will have a lot of more experienced fencer to train against. I'm sure this will help you advance rather quickly, so good for you!

Your first months may be a minor hell of bruises and humilitation, but just hang in there, as you develop your skills it will get better. Have fun!

Madsky, I have been fencing for 5 months now and let me tell you that the "hell of bruises" (sounds like an understatement to me, it's worse than hell) will probably not be limited to the first months only.
Hehehehe, you should see my leg right now.
But no worries, it doesn't hurt, this shouldn't scare you off....either.
Enjoy!
Pauli

[Cipher]

This truly is a great sport, but it can be slow to pick up in the beginning. The best advice I can give you is to get a decent book or two that can show you some of the basics, especially proper footwork form. You really don't need to worry about the blade so much yet. Once you know the proper way to do your footwork, then practice it every day. Even if you can only fit in a couple dozen advance-lunges, make sure that you do some footwork every day. Footwork is the basis upon which all fencing is built and luckily it is one of the few things in fencing that you can practice by yourself. You just have to make sure that you get individual instruction to ensure that you don't pick up any bad habits. If the coach is too busy, ask one of the more advanced fencers if they can spare 15 minutes after class to make sure you're doing things right and give you a few pointers.

Good luck, and stick with it. This is one of the best sports there is.

[dbell1]

Originally Posted by Pauli

let me tell you that the "hell of bruises" (sounds like an understatement to me, it's worse than hell) will probably not be limited to the first months only.

what, you fence epee? it's not a hell of bruises if you learn the parry before the riposte!
also, you've only done 2 sessions and already they've got you lunging?
damn, that's quick!

[rmyounis]

It's probably for the best. When I first started, I learned all kinds of advanced moves quickly by imitating experienced fencers, but because I was fundamentally a beginner and lacked an understanding of the basics, I couldn't make any of the moves work for me. Honestly, good footwork is all you need to win at early levels, anyways, and it still the most important thing at any level.

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by madsky

I love fencing. I have always hated sports but I've only been fencing for two sessions and I've completely fallen in love with the sport.

I do have a problem though. I'm the only beginner. They're all part of the varsity for our university. Also, they are sports scholars, so they're good and use fencing in order to enter/stay in the university. On the other hand, I'm doing it for fun since I am already accepted in the university. The closest to a beginner is this girl who learns fast even if it has only been three weeks since she started. Most of the other students in my fencing class have been fencing for at least 6 months. So that means the coach/team captain only pays attention to me when the scholars are free fencing, or whenever he sees me sitting down on the bench doing nothing. It makes it hard for me to learn since no one is there to check my progress.

It's only been two sessions but all i know for now is the advance, retreat and the lunge (which was only demonstrated to me in passing, so i didn't get it that well)..

I love fencing and i am determined to be good at it, but this problem really frustrates me.

One option is to get one of the good fencers to help you. If you can somehow find one of them, and somehow get him to give you tips occaisionally on form and stuff, it will help you greatly. Also, learn by watching. Many of the moves you will use will not be taught to you by your coach, you will either imitate someone else doing them, or make them up yourself. And whenever you get a chance, fence someone, even if they're better, and try to get your coach to at least finish teaching you the basics.

[pammie003]

I was in the same situation when I started, only even after fencers improved, the coach didn't pay attention to them unless a) they fenced sabre or b) they were a medal threat. Kind of hard to get to that level with no coaching though.

I did pretty much what people here have suggested, but you might also try observing at some tournaments and trying out what you see, and reading as much as possible. A lot of what I know, I learned off of this site. Sometimes judges, other coaches and better fencers also lend a hand during the down-times at tournaments. I had quite a few mini lessons that way.

That said, after awhile I did have to switch clubs to get better, as the haphazard approach is not the best way to get better.

[arkady_tsep]

Definitely welcome to the sport. I didn't stumble across fencing until my junior year in college. About half of the club (4 of 8) were outside enjoying the sun and fencing when I happened to walk by and asked to give it a go on a whim. We didn't even have a coach. The fencing club had been defunked for several years and was just starting to be revived by the few of us that made up it's members. We started teaching ourselves by reading books and getting drills off of websites like these. Later on a found an actual club and started taking lessons.

The best advice I can give you is stick with it. The first few months are gonna be nothing but the basics, but they're really important so that you don't start off with bad habits or bad form. Since I started out self taught, I already have bad habits that my teachers are slowly breaking me of.

So don't worry if for the start all it seems like they do is teach you some small footwork or really basic blade work. Until you have those skills down to where it's nothing more than muscle memory, you'll be doing them over and over again. Even after three years of fencing I still start out each fencing practice with the basics and I'm certain that's probably the case with most people here. It's the foundation that everything else in fencing is built upon.

You might also want to look into the possiblity of getting private lessons. In some places it might cost you a pretty penny. I'm lucky in that the club that I joined is non-profit and the coach only charges $15 bucks for 30 mins of instruction.

[LUDICROUS]

If I could only enjoy footwork exercises .....

[Pauli]

Originally Posted by dbell1

what, you fence epee? it's not a hell of bruises if you learn the parry before the riposte!
also, you've only done 2 sessions and already they've got you lunging?
damn, that's quick!

now see, you've got me here! Yes, I need to parry better than I do. Absolutely, I agree. It's what I feel, it's what I'm being told, but really, I'm getting better at it.
What precisely do you mean by "you've only done 2 sessions"?
Of course I lunge, I flêche too.....but I don't scream
Cheers

[CheekyCanuck]

Our club only does two months of footwork, but I think it's well worth it.

You'll get your chance. Listen and learn for now. Fence anyone, anytime, especially tournaments.

Remember, more than anything, have FUN! I haven't received a yellow card
yet for laughing during a bout. Then again I do lose a lot of points that way.