foreign fencers

[govsecrets]

does anyone ever get foreign fencers visiting their clubs and fencing? what countries have the come from? how often do they visit and what are you're general impressions of foreign fencers? there was a british fencer at my club tonight, which prompted this question. instead of saying "ready, fence" he said "ready, play" which i thought was cool and of course different.

[Chafunkta]

We had a guy from France come into our club for about 2 months or so. His passion amazed me. He was constantly yelling and took every bout in practice as if it were the world's championship bout.

He also never trusted the scoring box, saying constantly "no, i hit, i hit!" only to have his weapon test fine. And I swear the guy had no idea what right of way is (unless it was in his favor).

Overall he wasn't that bad of a guy. It was just the intensity that got to me... the guy never let loose!

[Purple Fencer]

Usually the ones I encounter are attending local colleges...like Yann Stalens (Belgium) at USC or Cedric Anen (Luxemborg) from CalTech.

Yann's nice enough, except when he's pissed at his fencing...then you kinda want to give him a little room.

Cedric is probably one of the nicest fencers I've ever met...he'll beat you like a red-headed step child and still not be stuck up about it

[OROD]

The best fencers in the world come to my club when they hear I fence there. But I'm still humble... I'm always happy to sign stuff for them or tell them a story or two. I dont have a swelled head, I'm just happy to give them something to go home and tell their friends about. That's just the kind of guy I am.


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[Ramrod]

We recently had the Canadian Junior Women's Pentathlon team in town for a couple of weeks.

They were very polite and pretty good fencers.

[fencerbill]

We have had fencers from Germany, Great Britain, Canada and Japan come to our Veterans Challenge (Columbus day weekend next October) as well as other fencers representing Poland.

The Boston Fencing Club has had exchange weeks with Junior fencers from a club in Denmark for the last several years.

[seak]

Several Member of the Puerto Rican national team will be at Cherry Blossom. They came last year as well, and everyone really enjoyed having them there.

[RoninX]

The best fencers in the world come to my club when they hear I fence there. But I'm still humble... I'm always happy to sign stuff for them or tell them a story or two. I dont have a swelled head, I'm just happy to give them something to go home and tell their friends about. That's just the kind of guy I am.


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Sorry to burst your bubble but they really are just there to stare at your giant arm. You're a living, unevenly-walking, freak show. Its good to hear that you enjoyed the attention though.

[HDG]

Down here we're chock-a-block with foreign fencers -- overwhelmingly from Latin America. Go figure.

[epeeisky]

We had a French guy who angered most of the club, but he was a decent fencer and have me someone to practice against. He was hear for a couple of months then went back to France. He is supposedly coming back soon.

Last year we had some very good epee fencers from the UK. One of them earned their "C" at the CCO.

[jdoiv]

we had a Belgian epee fencer that would come by and routinely kick our butts. We also had a fencer from South Africa that would come and fence mostly foil. He was a load of fun and very good. He was on their national team (of course back then, he said there were not very many fencers in South Africa). Though he would tell us how he would get killed at the international tournaments he would go to.

Had a either Chineese or Tiwanese kid show up at the club in California I would go to several years ago. He had been to junior worlds events and earned his A within a couple of weeks of arriving in the states.

One of the beautiful things about fencing is how it transcends national boundries and languages. Fencers love to fence and are usually very friendly about meeting and fencing new people.

[Mr Epee]

I love it when people get blown away by crap fencers from other countries.

Fencer 1: Whoa, did you fence that guy from Germany?

Fencer 2: Yeah man, he's awesome - totally blew me away....

Mr Epee: Hahahahahaha!

Not every european country produces great fencers, and not every fencer from Italy, German, France, Hungary, Poland, or Russia is competent.

We are all just fencers.

[OROD]

Sorry to burst your bubble but they really are just there to stare at your giant arm. You're a living, unevenly-walking, freak show. Its good to hear that you enjoyed the attention though.

Hmmm, no, that doesnt sound right. I mean, my huge arm IS something to behold. But my fame does stretch to the furthest reaches of the world, for various reasons... which I wont go into here, due to my humility.


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[glowstix]

I love it when people get blown away by crap fencers from other countries.

yeah, but some of them are not crap fencers though. we've all heard stories of them going from U to A at tournaments.

[fencerbill]

Last year we had some very good epee fencers from the UK. One of them earned their "C" at the CCO.

Have they joined the USFA? If not, he did not earn a "C". When the foreign fencers earn the equivalent of a USFA classification at our Veterans tournament we give them a card. It says their finish is the equivalent of earning a USFA classification and they should show it when they fence again in USFA tournaments to be seeded properly.

We went over this years ago with Carla Richards. You cannot consider the foreign fencers to have classifications when considering classifications earned by US fencers. Even if you watched them previously finish where a US fencer would have earned a classification. It can only be used for seeding subsequent tournaments.

We do not require Canadians to have USFA membership or FIE licenses to fence in NACs or local tournaments. So fencers from other countries should only have to demonstrate current membership in their home fencing federation.

[epeeisky]

No, he earned his "C." They come to the states every once in awhile because their parents moved here for work, or something like that. He may of joined that day, because being a USFA member was a requiremnt to fence in the tournament.

[govsecrets]

fencers from mexico frequently attend local tournaments where i live and one of them recently won the open foil and earned his C its kind of odd though because they don't really speak english, only their coach does.

[KD5MDK]

Have they joined the USFA? If not, he did not earn a "C". When the foreign fencers earn the equivalent of a USFA classification at our Veterans tournament we give them a card. It says their finish is the equivalent of earning a USFA classification and they should show it when they fence again in USFA tournaments to be seeded properly.

We went over this years ago with Carla Richards. You cannot consider the foreign fencers to have classifications when considering classifications earned by US fencers. Even if you watched them previously finish where a US fencer would have earned a classification. It can only be used for seeding subsequent tournaments.

We do not require Canadians to have USFA membership or FIE licenses to fence in NACs or local tournaments. So fencers from other countries should only have to demonstrate current membership in their home fencing federation.

My understanding is that there is a special receprocity agreement between the USFA and the CFF that allows members to fence in each others tournaments. For other countries, I believe a USFA membership or FIE license are required. (FWIW, the FIE license is cheaper.) However, please do not take postings on a message board by me on this subject to be the basis for any policy.

[veeco]

Currently, pretty much whereever I go, I am the foreign guy...

And I have seen and heard the same things as Mr. Epee mentionned, except in my case, it is warranted. I will kick everyone's ass :-).

Anyway, it is true, not every European country produces great fencers. Some countries focus only on one weapon and the others are crap.

But in general I would say that a strong recreational fencer from France could make the top 32 in a NAC, while the converse is not true in general. A strong recreational fencer from the US will never make the top 32 in French circuit.

[Durando]

A strong recreational fencer from the US will never make the top 32 in French circuit.

Do tell. Jeeeezus!