Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

D'Artagnan1673 · 08-04-2002, 07:38 AM

You want since, not sense. Sense is something that you loose over time, or develope it.

The Crazy Wacker · 08-04-2002, 04:46 PM

yupyup thanks

I cannot spell

John Nguyen · 08-05-2002, 08:24 AM

Is it just me, or does anyone else enjoy the bruises one gets from fencing? I use them as excellent conversation pieces.

But Im new to this discussion board, so I'll explain my roots. I've always wanted to fence since I was in Middle School, but couldn't because I was too busy studying or had Choir rehearsals almost everyday. And the equipment cost a ****load. As soon as I got to college, two things happened, 1) I got a credit card 2) they had a fencing club.

putting two and two together, I made three, and decided to join. I didn't decide to buy equipment until after I decided i loved the sport, and I have been fencing for about a year. Im going to my first USFA tournament in Sept in Annandale, VA (near DC) and I can't wait.

Does anyone have any preference on equipment? I currently dont have any FIE stuff, but I don't think they require it in the VA USFA tournaments...someone please verify?

Thanks,

John

D'Artagnan1673 · 08-05-2002, 09:21 AM

Hi John,

BTW, welcome to the board!!!

Here we go:

FIE rated equipment is only required at class A international tournaments, something that few people make it to. However, it is still recommened, especially as an epeeist, that you purchase FIE gear. Its stronger, more comfortable and form fitting, and its puncture rate is something that you will very much appreciate if someone breaks a blade and keeps coming at you. Jackets and knickers have to meet an 800 newton pucnture rate to get the seal. Masks have to use stainless steel mesh and have a 1600 newton bib. Also, as Neevel, an expert in technique and armory says, the FIE mask must go through much more extensive testing to make sure they will hold up. View the Safety issue thead to read his info.

FIE blades are made out of maraging steel and have an increase in durability up to five times non-FIE blades. Also, they are made to break in a flat, rather than jagged, edge to help avoid puncture.

The FIE standards started getting like this after an incident at the Rome Olympics in 1982 when a Russian fencer named Smirnov lost his life after a broken blade pierced his mask and went through his eye.

As far as what is the best brand of equipment, pulling a search with keyboards concerning equipment will bring a lot of good information to you. Here's my take on gear.

Uhlmann and Allstar are some of the finest uniforms and masks you can buy. They fit great and are comfortable. The only difference between the two is the color of their lable and that Allstar is made for leaner people and Uhlmann for more rounded. There is also Negrini, PBT, Soudet and Prieur. All of these are great. In fact, many people prefer some of these to the Uhlmann/Allstar line. This line is mainly popular, imo, because most American fencing vendors carry them and not the others. I myself have Uhlmann FIE knickers, plastron, jacket and mask. I have the Adidas Assymetrical 2000 shoes and I were a Santelli 3 weapon leather glove. My preference in blades is Blaise Fere', a French company that sells under the name of Triplette, Uhlmann, Allstar and sometimes Negrini.

If you love fencing, then buy the best stuff. It won't win a tournament for you, but it will give the best run for your money.

Please note that I have only been fencing 2 1/2 years and am E2002 rated epeeist. There are plenty of people on this board that have fenced longer than me and are more knowledgable than me.

John Nguyen · 08-05-2002, 03:50 PM

Thats cool, im going to my first tournament in September (VA-USFA). Im mainly a lefthanded Foilist. But I tried Epee and didn't like it too well. However, just for kicks, I tried it right handed, and found I was better and pretty decent. Sure, footwork tended to be a bit off, because of training left handed, but eventually, I got the hang of it. So I think im going to stick with Foil left, and Epee Right.

I know it sounds wierd, but I was raised with the common misconception that all lefthanders were really a legion of devil worshipers, and my parents "corrected" that habit. So instead of writing well with my left, instead I learned to write horribly with both

I currently throw and have a little more strength with my right hand, but my left hand has ALOT more dexterity, which I can assume gives me better point control, as opposed to my right. But I love to fence, and i've been trying to field out alot of the companies and thier quality, and so far Im working with Trip brand equipment, mainly off references from fellow club members. But I think I'll upgrade per your diagnosis when I decide to get new stuff.

achilleus · 08-05-2002, 06:35 PM

I started fencing because I loved the 3 Musketeers, Zorro, and just about any book or movie that involved a sword.

I quickly realized that, like much in life, fencing wasn't like in the books and movies. This was a huge disappointment for me. But only for a short while, because I realized that not only did I really enjoy hitting people, but I was pretty good at it! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

As to why I still fence, well, that's easy. I still love hitting people, and I don't think I'll ever tire of it.

Catlady · 08-05-2002, 07:29 PM

Our club's fliers say in part " Fencing, the sport you've always wanted to try", and that's pretty much my story. I've always been interested in swords and I can't really trace it to a specific incident. I joke about having watched the Princess Bride once too often, or maybe it being related to a Tom and Jerry cartoon where I believe Jerry and his nephew were the "two mouse-keteers" that I saw when I was pretty young, but like I said I can't remember a point in my life when fencing didn't seem interesting to me.
The first time I heard of fencing in my area was about 1992. The stipulation however was that you had to have your own equipment. I had no idea where in SLC one would go to purchase fencing equipment, though I was pretty sure--and it turns out correct-- that the nearest sporting goods store probably wouldn't be much help. I should have followed my hunch and just showed up at the class. This group evolved into the club I fence with now and I'm sure they would have told me where to get equipment, and/or possibly been willing to loan me some for a while, but I didn't go. I thought perhaps there would be a fencing class at university, but it turned out that the last university in the area to have an officially sanctioned fencing team/class--BYU <yuck, hock spit>-- had dropped it about a year before. My alma mater the University of Utah, had dropped it earlier than that. As a side note, the U., BYU and Utah State all have student fencing clubs now, but at the time the U.'s club at least wasn't in existance. I remained frustrated but interested until after my graduation from University. Right before that time I became aware of SDE in Orem via a newspaper article, but I'm in Salt Lake, it's not a super long drive, but it is about half an hour--more if you're contending with heavy traffic, and I couldn't justify committing that much time to a recreational activity, when I had other things that needed my attention--such as finishing university, and finding a job. In the summer of 1998, I received a course catalogue from the community education division at the U., on the cover of this catalogue was a person in fencing gear--Zhon Johansen, for those who know him, who was to be my first coach-- and I was ecstatic that I was finally going to get to fence. I sent my registration into the university for the first six week session. I figured after that I'd figure out if I wanted to take more. I was pretty much hooked from the beginning, although I should note that I wasn't very good--and I'm still not. I'd rather hoped after a life filled to that point with embarrassment related to sports that maybe I was about to find my niche, but no matter.

So nearing four years later I'm still at it. I wonder, considering my ineptitude why I keep it up, but I don't think I'd could seriously quit. First off, it's about the only form of exercise that I've managed to stick to--admittedly how much exercise it ends up being varies depending on a few factors such as who's there what weapon they're fencing, and how energetic I'm feeling, among others. It's my social life too. I must admit, and I'm sure that everyone on here would agree, that fencers are a higher class of people than average in all areas--intelligence, looks, etc.

. Seriously, I met a lot of nice people and it doesn't hurt to have someone fun to be with while you're getting that exercise. Fencing gives me an outlet for aggression and a chance to practice some discipline. When other people said fencing is life, I didn't believe them, but I do now. I keep finding various paralells between what gets you through a bout and what gets you through life. Being a writer I find interesting paralells between writing, and communication and fencing too.

[ 08-05-2002, 10:33 PM: Message edited by: Catlady ]

counter riposte · 08-07-2002, 02:09 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by John Nguyen:
Is it just me, or does anyone else enjoy the bruises one gets from fencing? <hr /></blockquote>I think it's just you. I'm a masochist.

[ 08-07-2002, 05:09 PM: Message edited by: counter riposte ]

John Nguyen · 08-07-2002, 07:43 PM

haha, I thought as much.

epeefencer74 · 08-12-2002, 10:18 PM

I started fencing as an extra-curricular activity. Basically the secondary school I was attending then had a requirement that all students take up a sport, they had fencing so I joined. Partly because it was a great way to start a conversation, especially with girls and partly because I have always wanted to be zorro. That was 15 years ago. I've stuck with it because I have yet to find a sport that gives the same kind of combination of haveing one to one competition, challenging the mind, is of a martial nature and at the same time wouldn't break your arm doing it, (bruises and scrapes not included). There is always something new to learn and try out, there is always someone else to beat.
Incidently the school where I started fencing is the same school that I'm coaching in now.

shyHeidi · 08-12-2002, 11:23 PM

Hm... I started fencing because archery really sucked. The next semester I decided to take fencing instead. Call me horribly ignorant, but I didn't know what it was. I didn't know we'd actually get weapons and stuff, for all I knew we'd be sitting there listening to long speeches about the history of the sword and hitting each other with nerf swords. ...so when I found out what it was it was a rather nice surprise.

Why I stick with it: My mom takes a bunch of medication for depression and stuff, and it's supposed to be hereditary... You know Daria from MTV? I'm kinda like her when I'm not fencing. My ex boyfriend did a good job of cheering me up but I figured that wouldn't last, and fencing is the only other thing I've ever found that makes me really happy. (I think I like it more than everybody else there, I smile alot more, and I never smile... it's weird.) And for the record, since many people have given the fact that they're good at it as one of the reasons they stick with it, I suck horribly at it, and that's not gonna stop me, so HA!

Kodiak Kid · 08-13-2002, 05:50 PM

I too was enthralled with the romanticism of the swashbuckler movies, Tyrone Power, Basil Rathbone (who nearly always bit the big one, despite his skills)numerous Zorro incarnations etc. But what got me really wanting to pick up the blade was Frank Herbert's "DUNE". The knife fighting scenes in the book were compelling. Took a 9 week class at the community college and after that formed a club. Decided there needed to be more of us so I started teaching my buddies and eventually worked with the school system to hold regular classes. "Retired" for about ten years while still having plans of starting a new group "some day." Got brought out of retirement by an 11 year old who saw some fencing art work on my office wall and asked me show him how to do it. That was 3 years ago and our club is growing and competing at every tournament we can get to, including Jr. Olympics. We are going to the first tourny of the new season this weekend and I'm looking forward to participating and coaching 3 kids from our club. I keep doing it for the same reasons as most of you. I particularly enjoy the glow of enlightenment that comes over their cherubic little faces when they concieve, execute and touch with a move that outsmarts their opponent for the first time. And like Peach said, You get to hit people after a hard day of work, ... very satisfying, very stress relieving.

greenchick · 08-16-2002, 04:43 PM

When I was in college, I knew a bunch of fencers, and thought it looked really cool, and learned at least a little bit about how the sport worked, and decided, hey, I'd like to try that... and then pretty much forgot about for the next ten years.

Ten years later, I found myself in my early thirties, having one of those "it's time to get my life in order conversations" with myself that went something like:

Me: Man, there are so many things I wish I'd done when I had the chance.
Myself: Like, I dunno, try fencing?
Me: Yeah! Fencing! Why didn't I do that in college?
Myself: Well, why don't you stop whining and do it now?

Looked up the local club on the web. Found out I could go to my first lesson the next day. And got thoroughly, utterly hooked.

(Oh, and John? You're not the only one who finds the bruises kinda cool. But it's even cooler when I manage to not get them.)

3ngu4rd · 08-16-2002, 05:18 PM

Me? Thought it would be good cross training for another sport... turned out that fencing was soooooooooooooo much more than cross training.

edew · 08-16-2002, 05:22 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by shyHeidi:
Hm... I started fencing because archery really sucked. The next semester I decided to take fencing instead. Call me horribly ignorant, but I didn't know what it was. I didn't know we'd actually get weapons and stuff, for all I knew we'd be sitting there listening to long speeches about the history of the sword and hitting each other with nerf swords. ...so when I found out what it was it was a rather nice surprise.

Why I stick with it: My mom takes a bunch of medication for depression and stuff, and it's supposed to be hereditary... You know Daria from MTV? I'm kinda like her when I'm not fencing. My ex boyfriend did a good job of cheering me up but I figured that wouldn't last, and fencing is the only other thing I've ever found that makes me really happy. (I think I like it more than everybody else there, I smile alot more, and I never smile... it's weird.) And for the record, since many people have given the fact that they're good at it as one of the reasons they stick with it, I suck horribly at it, and that's not gonna stop me, so HA!

<hr /></blockquote>Should I expect to see you competing in our location competitions this year? Schedule is out for your perusal:

<a href="http://www.olagrande.net/users/edew/baycup/schedule.html" target="_blank">http://www.olagrande.net/users/edew/baycup/schedule.html</a>

SäbelFechter · 08-16-2002, 06:19 PM

Always thought fencing looked interesting, but never did anything about it until close to two years ago. I was looking for some new athletic activity that would help keep me in shape and decided to give it a try. I had also just finished reading a book about the history of duelling in Germany during the late 19th & early 20th century which influenced my decision. So I went onto the internet, found a club at a nearby university, and became a convert. During the fall and winter I usually find myself going to the salle every evening (Monday to Thursday) to train. All the social activities (including road trips to tournaments) are an added bonus. It can be an expensive pastime though - all the food and drinks you end up buying at the pub after practice sure add up. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

[ 08-16-2002, 09:28 PM: Message edited by: SäbelFechter ]

Shadow Fencer · 08-18-2002, 07:35 PM

Signed up for a fencing class in high school in 1973 and thought it was cool. Continued in college and fenced competively until 1978. Enjoyed the comaraderie and competition. Took a 22 year break and came back to the sport in 2000. After 3 months of practice, competed and was hooked on competition. Yeah, I had to ask my buddy what a DE was!!!! What ??? 15 points?? You're kidding??? Now I keep doing it because of the many reasons already listed by my fellow fencers. And it's still cool!!!

shyHeidi · 08-18-2002, 08:54 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by edew:
Should I expect to see you competing in our location competitions this year? Schedule is out for your perusal:

<a href="http://www.olagrande.net/users/edew/baycup/schedule.html" target="_blank">http://www.olagrande.net/users/edew/ba ycup/schedule.html</a><hr /></blockquote>Gaah, scary **** . Yeah, I imagine you'll see me getting my *** thoroughly kicked (ouch, *shudder*) but it should be fun. (God, I bet they're gonna make me wear knickers. Yuck!) But so far I'm not even in the USFA yet and I haven't dropped half my classes to make time for it yet and school starts tomorrow... Well anyway... Even before buying equipment all the money I'm gonna lose in scholarships is really quite horrendous, I think I will go hide now.