teaching fencing to middle schoolers

[cwilliams]

Has anyone ever tried to teach fencing to middle school students? Is there safe equipment to use in that kind of setting?

[Joe biebel]

I just started a middle school program and after I showed the gear I use from Leon Paul any resistance to weapons being brought into or used in a middle school vanished. Here is a link to the childrens equipment page http://www.leonpaulusa.com/fencing/a...ipment_31.html

I only use foils in my classes. They are a rectangular hollow blade that actually feels like a foil. I do not advise getting the ones that buzz. They are annoying and distracting. I do not know how the other weapons are to work with. I made numerous improvements (additional padding to the mask insides) to the gear, but I am sure that a sweatshirt is the only additional protection students would need beyond the chest pads and masks.

[pammie003]

I'm teaching fencing to grades 5-8 right now. I use regular equipment, but have tried to get small sizes that fit the children. I have many size 6 gloves, small masks, and tiny jackets. I also insist on sous-plastrons, and prefer heavier t-shirts or sweatshirts underneath.

I would love to have number 2 or 4 foils, but the budget doesn't stretch to that. They're using full-length ones.

As for teaching... it's all about repetition. And I try to break up the talking with action to cater to the shorter attention spans. A whole list of rules given at once, and you'll be lucky if they listen to the first three.