A club member

[Dudethatguy]

We had our first lesson tonight. It was great. But, there was one kid, about 11...12ish....*gr*

Our lessons start at 7 oclock, and our instructor was very good about starting on time. But, since it was our first lesson, he was nice and waited a few more minutes for people to show up. Five minutes pass, it seemed that who ever wasnt there, wasnt going to be coming. So we begin. We go maybe...10, 15 minutes, and then this mother and her child come walking in. The mother is wearing a Tykwondo shirt, and her kid is dressed somewhat the same. The kid walks up and just blurts out "We didnt know where to go!". I dont know if I am just quick to judge, but right there, I already didnt like this person. The kid's mom stood and watched for maybe five minutes then left. This was before we actually picked up our foils. When we did, this kid started swinging it around like it was some kind of lightsaber...again, made a bad impression on me.
To make a long story short, there was this kid. (I say kid because I honestly could not tell whether it was a he or a she) The kid was very distracting, and immature.

Has anyone ever had an expierence like this? If you did, how'd you deal with it? I'd like to know. I'm not alone...right?

[Araznal]

Whatever you do, do NOT talk to him/her. You'll just get a huge headache.

There have been around 10 people I've met fencing that I just wanted to belt across the room, but I didn't. You'll get over it. How do I know? Well, because fencing requires many skills associated with maturity and if the kid doesn't have any, the sport will lose it's allure and he'll wander to something else. Either that, or he'll get really good and always act like a smart-***. Just hope for the former there, ok?

[CvilleFencer]

As said, he will either go away very quickly or buckle down and actually get into fencing. Chances are much greater he will just go away. I usually have one of these in each of our beginners classes. On all but one occasion they have went away, usually within four weeks. The one exception is turning into one of our better young fencers. Kinda odd that. So just ignore him, and maybe take bets on how long he lasts.

If he gets to be to big of a headache speak to the coach/instructor about him. Chances are that if he has to chose between a dedicated fencer and a knucklehead, the offending kid will get the boot as they are even less fun to try and teach than the are to have as a fellow student in your class, or at least they are for me. Which is why every one of our beginners classes are week to week. I don't want you as a member of the club until I decide I can stand to be in the same room with you...

[JackOfHearts]

I'm kinda surprised that many of you get to handle a foil on your first day. The coaches at school tend to focus on foot work, distance drills, and timing the first three to four weeks before they let the students touch a foil. It's different in the friday night fencing club, a beginner can just grab a weapon, pull aside an advanced or intermediate student and ask for instruction.

[emxtrix]

Should have challenged the kid to a bout

[RITFencing]

Should have challenged the kid to a bout

Nah, then you're just encouraging him to be a d***. Honestly, the coach should watch out for behavior like that (and I'm sure warning flags were being raised in his head.) As was stated before, fencing requires maturity. Fencing sans maturity can be very dangerous, ESPECIALLY with beginners.

[scarlet_woman156k]

Where's the instructor in all of this? I think that's the person who should be managing the situation.

[RITFencing]

100% Complete agreement here. As I said earlier, fencing (I shouldn't even call it fencing) like that can be dangerous to people around him.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Look, the kid doesnt know his *** from his elbow. But he is a kid. Its often these arrogant/egotistical types that will train so that their skill matches their ego. Give everyone a chance. A good coach can cultivate a winner from all sorts of people.

[RITFencing]

Look, the kid doesnt know his *** from his elbow. But he is a kid. Its often these arrogant/egotistical types that will train so that their skill matches their ego. Give everyone a chance. A good coach can cultivate a winner from all sorts of people.

I don't think anyone is saying that the kid should be written off or kicked out, but the coach should be there to make sure that he's working hard and mantaining a good attitude. Both of those are crucial to creating a good fencer, even if a good personality sadly is not.

[emxtrix]

Look, the kid doesnt know his *** from his elbow.

Lol best quote ever. Can I put this in my signature?

[broncofencer]

We had our first lesson tonight. It was great. But, there was one kid, about 11...12ish....*gr*

Our lessons start at 7 oclock, and our instructor was very good about starting on time. But, since it was our first lesson, he was nice and waited a few more minutes for people to show up. Five minutes pass, it seemed that who ever wasnt there, wasnt going to be coming. So we begin. We go maybe...10, 15 minutes, and then this mother and her child come walking in. The mother is wearing a Tykwondo shirt, and her kid is dressed somewhat the same. The kid walks up and just blurts out "We didnt know where to go!". I dont know if I am just quick to judge, but right there, I already didnt like this person. The kid's mom stood and watched for maybe five minutes then left. This was before we actually picked up our foils. When we did, this kid started swinging it around like it was some kind of lightsaber...again, made a bad impression on me.
To make a long story short, there was this kid. (I say kid because I honestly could not tell whether it was a he or a she) The kid was very distracting, and immature.

Has anyone ever had an expierence like this? If you did, how'd you deal with it? I'd like to know. I'm not alone...right?

#1 HE's 11 immaturity is part of the game at that age give him a little slack he came into the sport because of what he saw in the movies. it looks cool and fun thats why a lot of people start fencing.

#2 at 11 he does not have a lot of social skills that older people have so he may have been trying to excuse his absence and flubbed the socially appropriate way to do it.

#3 Remember some of the others may find you just as obnoxious for something you were doing. I would think you would be put out by them regecting you right away like you have done this kid.

Basiclly just cut the kid some slack and see what happens. The coach will staighten him out if he needs it.

[HollyM]

Has anyone ever had an expierence like this? If you did, how'd you deal with it? I'd like to know. I'm not alone...right?

I think that kid's three brothers are in MY class...

I realize that my classes are held in a community center, so anyone who wants to can just show up--which isn't all bad: let's get as many people interested in fencing as possible, right? Like I said before somewhere on the forum, I'm the oldest in my class--but I don't want to be everybody's mother. I'm there to learn to fence. I like the teenagers in the class [my own daughter included] because they see this as a sport, not a playground activity. But still...

The one I'm struggling with is about 12, and obviously wants to be Zorro. His favorite tactic when we're drilling is to sneak up behind me [does he have issues with his mother??] and jab me in the back or the rib cage. I called him on it once, and all I got was, "yeah, but I just like to stab you.." Sadly, he's just about the same height as I am, so we get paired up way too often.

What do do about it? I suppose I could find another club, but I really like my coaches, and who knows how long the three terrorists will be allowed to wield weapons. Our coaches do a good job of 'policing', but that really isn't [or shouldn't be] part of their job: they are there to teach us to become fencers. In the meantime, I guess I'll just keep reminding him what our code of conduct is, and entertain the fantasy of beating him senseless with his own mask :-D

[RITFencing]

I think that kid's three brothers are in MY class...

I realize that my classes are held in a community center, so anyone who wants to can just show up--which isn't all bad: let's get as many people interested in fencing as possible, right? Like I said before somewhere on the forum, I'm the oldest in my class--but I don't want to be everybody's mother. I'm there to learn to fence. I like the teenagers in the class [my own daughter included] because they see this as a sport, not a playground activity. But still...

The one I'm struggling with is about 12, and obviously wants to be Zorro. His favorite tactic when we're drilling is to sneak up behind me [does he have issues with his mother??] and jab me in the back or the rib cage. I called him on it once, and all I got was, "yeah, but I just like to stab you.." Sadly, he's just about the same height as I am, so we get paired up way too often.

What do do about it? I suppose I could find another club, but I really like my coaches, and who knows how long the three terrorists will be allowed to wield weapons. Our coaches do a good job of 'policing', but that really isn't [or shouldn't be] part of their job: they are there to teach us to become fencers. In the meantime, I guess I'll just keep reminding him what our code of conduct is, and entertain the fantasy of beating him senseless with his own mask :-D

I'd talk to your coach about it. You can't expect all young kids in fencing to take everything seriously and work as hard as older people, but by the same token, you have a right to expect not to be stabbed in the back.

[jeff]

HollyM, This is a situation where the coach needs to intervene in a decisive way. There can be no tolerance for somebody sneaking up on other students or club members and stabbing them with their weapon, in the back or otherwise. There's a serious safety issue here: you never hit somebody who isn't prepared to fence and properly attired and masked. What if you turn around? Unless this kid is admonished with a "do this again and you're kicked out" it's an accident waiting to happen. Besides, you are entitled to be able to attend your club and class without being harrassed, especially in such a dangerous way.

[ReverseLunge]

Has anyone ever had an expierence like this? If you did, how'd you deal with it? I'd like to know. I'm not alone...right?

Stop your biatching and whining.

[Fencergrl]

Dudethatguy... let me introduce you to Reverse Lunge... I'm sure he'll remind you of the kid at your club in a lot of ways...

RL... let the new people settle in before they have to deal with your "humour".

[Black Jeebus]

Dude,

Just as an example of people behaving a certain way, I was able to pretty accurately guess your age based on your posts and how you are responding to the ~11 year old. As others have said you sometimes just have to give other people a break, in particular kids need many, many breaks because they don't have all the skill sets that older kids or adults do. What actually bothers me more is when an adult behaves in the way described because they of course really should know better.