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  1. #1
    JCL
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    And there was another new fencer...

    Howdy all,

    I just started taking fencing lessons about 3 months ago and I'm really enjoying the sport. Granted, I'm an (comparatively) old **** for starting the sport at the ripe age of 33, but I'm still enjoying it immensely. My goal I suppose is to develop enough of the fundamental skills to feel confident enough to enter a competition at some point in the future and not thoroughly embarass myself. Anyway, there seems to be a lot of helpful people around here and I look forward to dealing with you folks in the future. Regards.

  2. #2
    Curmudgeon Emeritus Array Inquartata's Avatar
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    Welcome!

    Now you are supposed to tell us that you fence epee. All of the newcomers seem to fence epee lately. If nothing else it permits Zilverzmurfen to cheer...

  3. #3
    JCL
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    Ah, let me clarify then. No, I do not fence epee, nor am I in a hurry to pick it up. I'd rather develop my foil skills first and learn it's in's and out's before trying another weapon. Maybe in a year or two, I'd think.

    I would think that it would be considerably more difficult to go epee and then any other weapon as opposed to vice versa. Different people will think differently, of course.

    And thank you for the welcome.

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    Senior Member Array Peach's Avatar
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    Welcome! Have fun.

    I started at 43, and others have started even later . . . you're still a kid!
    "Arm yourself, Watson, there is an evil hand afoot ahead." -- Dennis Pierce, 2010 Bulwer-Lytton contest, detective fiction category runner-up.

  5. #5
    Posting Hound Array Zilverzmurfen's Avatar
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    Oh-uh, a foilist...

    Just joking - welcome to the sport and the forum!
    Fencing is my only PvP.

  6. #6
    Posting Hound Array Zilverzmurfen's Avatar
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    Oh-uh, a foilist...

    Just joking - welcome to the sport and the forum!
    Fencing is my only PvP.

  7. #7
    Din Älskling Array esskreemr's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JCL
    Ah, let me clarify then. No, I do not fence epee, nor am I in a hurry to pick it up. I'd rather develop my foil skills first and learn it's in's and out's before trying another weapon. Maybe in a year or two, I'd think.
    A fencer and intelligent!! You'll go far in this sport...
    "Since when does being a patriot in America mean shutting your mouth?"
    ---

    zz,zz,zz,zz,zz,zz!

  8. #8
    Just Joined Array silsbeel's Avatar
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    You call that old?

    Not even close! Plenty of years of fencing ahead of you! Welcome!
    The smaller you can make your motion with the foil, the quicker will your point arrive at your adversary's body.-C. Martelli

  9. #9
    Senior Member Array swordwench's Avatar
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    Welcome! As others have said above, you're not too old to start this (ahem, I was a few years older than that myself). But if I could offer any advice, stay far away from any opens at BFC for your first competition. Ooooooh, scary, very scary... And prepare yourself for an obsession that will continue to grow and suck up all your free time and money. And don't be embarrassed about the foil thing - most of us start there.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Array Coup de Grace's Avatar
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    Welcome JCL! As you see there are many that started this wonderful sport in adulthood. Fencing is more about heart than it is about age. I started last year at 40.8537 years of age. I wish I started at 33! Lucky you.

    You will get tons of great information from this site, requisite silliness and a very supportive group of fencers that want you to be successful.

    Enjoy foil, but when you mature jump aboard the Sabre train.
    Bloody, but unbowed.

  11. #11
    Senior Member Array ThatReallyHurt's Avatar
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    Welcome to the forum! Don't let anyone tell you different - fencing foil is great. Don't be afraid to pick up the others to try, though - they're fun too!
    Pound for pound, the amoeba is the most vicious animal on earth.

  12. #12
    Senior Member Array VELISARIOS's Avatar
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    Wellmet friend, hello and have fun. Dont worry about your age I am 33 to and I start to fence from 30.
    The purpose of tactic is to conquer the enemy with proper war movements and actions.

    -Tactics of Emperor Leon 6th the Wise

  13. #13
    Senior Member Array InweCiryatan's Avatar
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    Hello! Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately, I can't give any advice about your starting at an older age problem because I'm a young twerp myself but I know plenty of fencers who began fencing when they were older, but are now really good.
    *In heaven all the interesting people are missing.*
    ~Friedrich Nietzsche*

    *Logic! Why don't they teach logic at these schools?*
    ~The professor

  14. #14
    Senior Member Array CheekyCanuck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JCL
    Ah, let me clarify then. No, I do not fence epee, nor am I in a hurry to pick it up. I'd rather develop my foil skills first and learn it's in's and out's before trying another weapon. Maybe in a year or two, I'd think.

    I would think that it would be considerably more difficult to go epee and then any other weapon as opposed to vice versa. Different people will think differently, of course.

    And thank you for the welcome.

    With age come maturity and wisdom, which is no doubt why you have chosen foil.
    Don't worry about embarrassing yourself. Been their, done that, had a hell of a lot of fun and learned a lot doing it. Enjoy!
    Winning isn't everything, it just lets you fence longer.

    Minute help entrusting which it knows it gives. -- Translated by Google from a Vietnamese post.

  15. #15
    Posting Hound Array Fencergrl's Avatar
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    Like everyone else has already told you... ya ain't old. I started at age 40 and I kick the younger kids butts in competitions!

    I love saying to the teenagers who complain (they're the only ones who whine about being tired) that I'm three times their age, so buck-up!

  16. #16
    Curmudgeon Emeritus Array Inquartata's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CheekyCanuck
    With age come maturity and wisdom, which is no doubt why you have chosen foil.
    Explain me, then. ( As if anyone can. )

  17. #17
    Posting Hound Array Zilverzmurfen's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Inquartata
    Explain me, then. ( As if anyone can. )
    Pfft, you are inexplainable.

    But I love you anyway!
    Fencing is my only PvP.

  18. #18
    Senior Member Array CheekyCanuck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Inquartata
    Explain me, then. ( As if anyone can. )

    Ok.

    The foil being the weapon of training for the rapier, was designed with a focus on skill, forcing a fencer to use every bit of skill to hit her/his target.
    Since the foil is the training weapon, and the rapier is the actual weapon, I would have to say the epee is only a pail copy. A bastardized image of the aspects of both, representing the worst of each.
    The epee does not require the same use of all fencing maneuvers as the foil (no or few parries) and does not have the danger that would be present with a rapier. That's not to say that I condone violence, but epee'ists like to claim that the epee is the closest thing to an actual rapier duel, but without the threat of injury I would say it is the furthest thing from an actual duel.
    If two fencers faced each other with rapiers, I believe we would see a great deal of parrying, unless they're masochistic.

    Now that I've made so many new friends, I'll shut up.
    Winning isn't everything, it just lets you fence longer.

    Minute help entrusting which it knows it gives. -- Translated by Google from a Vietnamese post.

  19. #19
    Posting Hound Array Fencergrl's Avatar
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    I started at 40...

  20. #20
    Curmudgeon Emeritus Array Inquartata's Avatar
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    But how does that explain me?

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