Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

ReverseLunge · 10-12-2005, 08:37 PM

A lot of senior citizens get into fencing after they retire because they don't know what to do with their time or perhaps it is something they always wanted to do but didn't have the time. Some of these old girls and guys really try hard with no good results. It is their fault for starting at such a late age.

Their is an old guy who fences at my club and he wants to get an D rating by the end of the season but the problem is he sucks big big time. But he tries so hard. Yesterday he came up to me and asked me if I thought he was improving. Well I didnt' know what to tell him since I didn't want to hurt his feelings. So I thought a subtle way to say it and perhaps if the situation happens to you then you can copy what I said. This is what I said: "George, I know you are trying as hard as you can but the problem is your brain is writing checks that you body can't cash."

He understood and walked away.

Black Jeebus · 10-12-2005, 08:41 PM

That has to be the first time I've heard you mentioning anything about not wanting to hurt someones feelings...

EDIT: I'd give you rep for thinking about the other guy, but I have to spread some around first

Fencergrl · 10-12-2005, 08:52 PM

Playing any sport is not only about becoming elite. The truth is very few of us will ever reach that level. Those that start a sport late in life are less likely to.

Many of the beginners (young and old) taking classes right now will move on to something else. So what??? The recreational fencers fill the clubs and buy equipment. This makes fencing affordable for the elite fencer.

Can you imagine how expensive fencing gear would be if only the elite fencers purchased it??? Or how many fencing clubs would exist if there were only the top fencers using them?

Fencing is good exercise and a sport someone old and young can enjoy. I don't think people should be discouraged from the sport.

ReverseLunge · 10-12-2005, 09:03 PM

Settle down.

Fencergrl · 10-12-2005, 09:06 PM

LOL... okay... just watch what you say about old people or I'll come over there and beat you with my cane!

ReverseLunge · 10-12-2005, 09:07 PM

I don't know if I have ever mentioned this but I am a black man...

And I actually don't mind beating beaten by white women.

ThatReallyHurt · 10-12-2005, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

I don't know if I have ever mentioned this but I am a black man...

And I actually don't mind beating beaten by white women.

Hah - check "her" back posts - FG is actually a 29 year old, 380 lb. male ex-truck driver of Mayan descent who is currently (tenuously) holding a job as a bouncer at one of the Tim Hortons near Stanley Park.

ReverseLunge · 10-12-2005, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatReallyHurt

Hah - check "her" back posts - FG is actually a 29 year old, 380 lb. male ex-truck driver of Mayan descent who is currently (tenuously) holding a job as a bouncer at one of the Tim Hortons near Stanley Park.

I don't care as long ash she takes her teeth out when she does it.

cornflower · 10-13-2005, 01:15 AM

YES. Now someone who actually says something positive about recreational fencers. I hear fencers say **** about recreational fencers, "omg if spend the money on fencing shizznit, then compete, dammit" Well, I say **** them! I can't afford to compete outside my city, but I sure as hell can afford to fence! So fence, I will!

Fencergrl · 10-13-2005, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatReallyHurt

Hah - check "her" back posts - FG is actually a 29 year old, 380 lb. male ex-truck driver of Mayan descent who is currently (tenuously) holding a job as a bouncer at one of the Tim Hortons near Stanley Park.

Shhh... TRH... you promised not to tell! How am I going to get guys to flirt with me?.... oh... I guess you didn't mention that I'm gay too.... ah.. never mind... go back to your thread.

parrythis · 10-13-2005, 10:54 AM

Bear in mind that not everybody's objectives are the same. There are casual/recreational/social fencers that fence just for the exercise, or the chance to socialize with friends, or sometimes just to get out of the house once in a while. On the other end of the spectrum, there are those that go to every tournament, train often, chase ratings, buy the best equipment, etc. I find I fall somewhere in the middle. I attend tournaments, but not every one. I train as hard as my schedule will permit, but I don't throw the rest of my life on the back burner in favor of fencing. I don't go to tournaments to win medals, or even to beat other fencers. I only go to measure my progress. My tournament/rating-hungry friends don't understand why I don't go to more. It is difficult to explain that my current level of involvement is meeting my objectives.

Sometimes, people get involved in fencing with one set of objectives, but get blinded by the excitement. They get lost along the way and start chasing things that may not be feasible for them. This may be the case with the person that solicited your feedback.

One of the unique things about fencing is that participation is not constrained much by age. The oldest fencer we have in our salle is in her 60's. I recently fenced in a couple of Masters tournaments and found the level of talent there to be significant, with several of the fencers also fencing competitively in Open classes. With training, discipline, commitment, and maybe some good genetics, people in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s can give their opponents a good challenge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

Yesterday he came up to me and asked me if I thought he was improving.

This is important. Listen to the question carefully. The person did not ask if he was getting any good. He only asked if he was improving. That requires comparing his performance of weeks or maybe months ago to what it is now. Is it better? Then the answer is yes. If not, some constructive suggestions of things that could be tried would be in order. If the person is serious about getting better, they will welcome positive, constructive critiszm.

Fencergrl · 10-13-2005, 11:51 AM

You make some great points and expressed what I was trying to say much better than I did.

ReverseLunge · 10-13-2005, 02:43 PM

How do you improve when all you do is repeat the same actions and expect different results?

parrythis · 10-13-2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

How do you improve when all you do is repeat the same actions and expect different results?

Fair question. He cannot.

This would be your opportunity to show him how to do one or two things differently and hopefully, better.

If he gets it, great. Use positive reinforcement to help him lock the learning in. If he doesn't get it, it may or may not be due to his age. I've seen as many young people "not get it" as older folks. For some people, learning physical skills takes a LOT of repetition.

ReverseLunge · 10-13-2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrythis

Fair question. He cannot.

This would be your opportunity to show him how to do one or two things differently and hopefully, better.

If he gets it, great. Use positive reinforcement to help him lock the learning in. If he doesn't get it, it may or may not be due to his age. I've seen as many young people "not get it" as older folks. For some people, learning physical skills takes a LOT of repetition.

Can't teach an old dog new tricks. His brain is writing checks that his body can't cash.

What's next? You want me to teach Mohamed Ali to break dance?

RITFencing · 10-13-2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

Can't teach an old dog new tricks. His brain is writing checks that his body can't cash.

What's next? You want me to teach Mohamed Ali to break dance?

When coaching, you really need to mantain patience and a positive attitude with respect to your students. I fence with a 63 year old who stays competitive and is steadily improving.

If this guys is really out of shape, I would suggest that he exercise more. Even older people can still learn new things and compete decently, especially in epee.

ReverseLunge · 10-13-2005, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RITFencing

When coaching, you really need to mantain patience and a positive attitude with respect to your students. I fence with a 63 year old who stays competitive and is steadily improving.

If this guys is really out of shape, I would suggest that he exercise more. Even older people can still learn new things and compete decently, especially in epee.

I'm not a coach. I just go there to kick @ss. Old and young @ss. I don't have time to train the retards.

RITFencing · 10-13-2005, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

I'm not a coach. I just go there to kick @ss. Old and young @ss. I don't have time to train the retards.

Then why are you worrying about it? If he's getting better, tell him so. If not, tell him the reasons why, or tell him to talk to the coach about it. That's the person who should be dealing with this anyway.

ReverseLunge · 10-13-2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RITFencing

Then why are you worrying about it? If he's getting better, tell him so. If not, tell him the reasons why, or tell him to talk to the coach about it. That's the person who should be dealing with this anyway.

Did you not hear me? I already told him the reason why he sucks. His brain is writing checks that his body can't cash. This tread is about how to tell the old people what's up with them. This thread is not about training. You should make a thread on training old people who stated fencing at 65.

RITFencing · 10-13-2005, 03:48 PM

Temper, temper, my young friend. As far as how to tell old people, I'd treat them the same as any adult. Be polite and tell the truth in as constructive a manner as possilbe. Just because someone is old doesn't mean they're an invalid or have lost control of their emotions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

Did you not hear me? I already told him the reason why he sucks. His brain is writing checks that his body can't cash. This tread is about how to tell the old people what's up with them. This thread is not about training. You should make a thread on training old people who stated fencing at 65.