Hello from a returning beginner

[mrgreen4242]

Hi everyone -

Just wanted to drop a note here to say hello and that I am glad to be here! I fenced for about 2 years way back in 1998-99, and have sadly been out of it since. I was a decent competitor, for a beginner, back then, and LOVED to fence.

I'm coming back now mainly for some fun exercise. I'm in the mid-Michigan area, so a big hello to any of you Michigan State fencers! I can't wait to go back to my first lesson again, it's been long enough it will almost be all new to me!

Probably ought mention that I fenced all foil when I started, but this time around I would like to go through the beginners stuff for foil again, just to get some remedial practice with footwork and whatnot and then start in on learning sabre!

Anyways, glad to meet you all!

[VELISARIOS]

Wellcome........

[Inquartata]

Welcome a-board.

Might as well start with sabre if that's what you want to do. You can learn all the basic stuff you need and none that you don't that way...the "start with foil" philosophy is rooted in false assumptions, IMO.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Welcome back to the sport!


And I agree with Inq. Foil is in no way more 'basic' than any other weapon, go straight for sabre if that's what you really want to do! Good luck!

[mrgreen4242]

Thanks for the advice. It's not that I don't enjoy foil, just always thought sabre looked like so much fun. Other than the weapon, what equipment would I need for sabre beyond what I already have for dry foil? I assume the jacket and mask I have would be usable, but I figure a new glove would be needed?

Would you recommend getting an electric sabre and practicing with that? Seems like that unless you CAN'T dry fence with an electric sabre it would be both a money saver and also good to practice with your competitive weapon...

Anyways, the only thing stopping me from from taking a sabre course now is scheduling; the one place in town that I can find to take a beginning sabre course only offers it at 4pm on Mondays. For us working stiffs that doesn't work out all to well.

[Inquartata]

You don't need anything else for dry sabre. Even your current glove will probably work fine, although if it's unpadded, well, some people like a bit of padding. Also, a foil mask will get chewed up pretty fast by sabre cuts; a sabre mask or a dry three-weapon mask ( if they still make those ) is better.

The only difference between dry and electric sabres is the socket for the body cord and a bit of insulation for the pommel and tail of the knuckle guard. You can certainly fence dry with an electric weapon. Many of us do on occasion.

[mrgreen4242]

You don't need anything else for dry sabre. Even your current glove will probably work fine, although if it's unpadded, well, some people like a bit of padding. Also, a foil mask will get chewed up pretty fast by sabre cuts; a sabre mask or a dry three-weapon mask ( if they still make those ) is better.

The only difference between dry and electric sabres is the socket for the body cord and a bit of insulation for the pommel and tail of the knuckle guard. You can certainly fence dry with an electric weapon. Many of us do on occasion.

Good to know about the sabre... Seems like spending $35-40 for a dry sabre and then spending $50+ for an electric one would be a bit silly if you can just use the electric wired or unwired.

My mask is, I'm pretty sure (it has been 8 or so years since I bought it), a 3-weapon dry mask. Is there any way to tell? It's not marked on the mask anywhere; it was just a cheap dry "beginners" from, uh Tripplette (I think). The glove I have now is completely unpadded and even when people weren't aiming at it I took a lot of painful slaps through it. If they were actually trying to hit my hand... well, I'm pretty tough, I suppose, but that starts to hurt after awhile!

Thanks again for all the tips! I'm really starting to look forward to fencing again!

[Inquartata]

Sometimes the 3-weapon masks have a heavy leather piece over the top and sides. It's been years since I bought one, though, so they may be more streamlined these days...

I understand that it is actually more painful to be whacked with a foil than with a sabre---the latter are after all made to hit with the edge, foils aren't...and consequently have those sharpish corners. Still, a bit of help from a good glove will not go amiss.

Many of us with a lot of years fencing assemble our own sabres. All but two of mine started as dry sabres...I added sockets and insulated the guards and pommels with the advent of electric sabre. They are usually less expensive gotten in pieces and put together that way---and you can balance them to taste.

[JackOfHearts]

Got any part reccomendations? I already have a dry saber, but I've been considering assembling an electric one. Hopefully the club will have some decent electric equipment by next year, and we can do some electric saber.