04-20-2006, 03:23 PM
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#1 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2
| Late Start
Hey, This is my first time posting on any fencing forum actually. I've just gotten curious about this sport. I'm thinking of giving it a go actually. The thing is I'm 20. Somehow that feels a little late in the game to be jumping into this. I'm interested in it for the chance to be active and be involved in something outside of college marathon study sessions. I don't exactly have dreams of grandure, but its something I'd like to do for me. Is it advisable to start so late? I bow to greater experience.  | 
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04-20-2006, 03:24 PM
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#2 | | Fencing Coach
Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Amarillo, Texas
Posts: 1,307
| Where do you live? Maybe there is a club near you. | |
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04-20-2006, 03:27 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area
Posts: 4,693
| I've fenced with people who started in their 40s and 50s and have been at least moderately succesful. At 20, there will be people who have the jump on you, but especially at a local and regional level of competition it will more or less be a non issue. So long as you're not dead set on becoming the national champion, you should be fine (although stranger things have happened.)
Welcome to the forum and the sport; I hope you have lots of fun.
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"If I were ever to challenge you to a duel, your best bet would be battle axes in a very dark basement." Misquoted from The Prisoner
"Technical excellence is the antecedant of tactical creativity." - Nat Goodhartz
But those things which belong neither to God nor to Caeser, feeleth free to writeth them off, for yea, they are deductable.
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04-20-2006, 03:29 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indiana
Posts: 881
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by Ericka1 Hey, This is my first time posting on any fencing forum actually. I've just gotten curious about this sport. I'm thinking of giving it a go actually. The thing is I'm 20. Somehow that feels a little late in the game to be jumping into this. | I started at 52.
It's not a little late in the game to be jumping into this unless you were hoping to compete in the Olympics. | |
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04-20-2006, 03:31 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,563
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by Ericka1 Hey, This is my first time posting on any fencing forum actually. I've just gotten curious about this sport. I'm thinking of giving it a go actually. The thing is I'm 20. Somehow that feels a little late in the game to be jumping into this. I'm interested in it for the chance to be active and be involved in something outside of college marathon study sessions. I don't exactly have dreams of grandure, but its something I'd like to do for me. Is it advisable to start so late? I bow to greater experience. |
Better to start now than later. Train hard at a good club and you could be very good in several years.
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"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. And from this side only! The flight of a half-man, half-bird. Dinosaurs nuzzling their young in pastures where strip malls should be. Cookies on dowels. All those moment, lost in time. Gone, like eggs off a hooker's stomach. Time to die" -Phil Ken Sebben
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04-20-2006, 03:44 PM
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#6 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2
| Encouraging
Thanks. Thats very encouraging to hear. Believe me...the olympics are the furthest thing from my mind. I'm in Arizona. I'll have to do some research on where I can get started in this. | |
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04-20-2006, 03:46 PM
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#7 | | Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 10,235
| Arizona State has a team. I can't say they're excellent, having never met them, but I do know they took at least one 1st place team title at Collegiate Nationals this year.
I've met people in their 60s who are world competitive (in Veterans, of course) who didn't start till their 30s or 40s. | |
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04-20-2006, 04:10 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,563
| Try http://www.azfencing.com/
One of the better female epee fencers in nation, Rebecca Moss, fences there.
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"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. And from this side only! The flight of a half-man, half-bird. Dinosaurs nuzzling their young in pastures where strip malls should be. Cookies on dowels. All those moment, lost in time. Gone, like eggs off a hooker's stomach. Time to die" -Phil Ken Sebben
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04-20-2006, 04:25 PM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Posts: 1,207
| If you're at the U of A then the only game in town is Arizona Fencing Academy. If you're at ASU you have a few choices, and I understand they just started a new salle in Flagstaff if you're at NAU. Good luck!
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Fail until you succeed!
Ka-riposte back atcha Purple!
Disgruntled Employee of the Month.
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04-20-2006, 04:34 PM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas
Posts: 103
| The great thing about fencing is that it's never to late to start and you can keep going as long as your body (especially your knees) holds out. I started fencing when I was 30 and am at a point now where I can hold my own with the "youngun's". Give it try! You never know where fencing will take you. I, for one, got a whole new body shape, a great new group of friends, and a boyfriend out of it.
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“Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal: my strength lies solely in my tenacity.” . Louis Pasteur | |
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04-20-2006, 05:37 PM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 376
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Originally Posted by sabregrrrl The great thing about fencing is that it's never to late to start and you can keep going as long as your body (especially your knees) holds out. I started fencing when I was 30 and am at a point now where I can hold my own with the "youngun's". Give it try! You never know where fencing will take you. I, for one, got a whole new body shape, a great new group of friends, and a boyfriend out of it. | I can't quite hang with the young'uns yet, but I'm working on it! Paul has faith in me And I got a boyfriend out of it, too - go fencing!
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Sabre chicks are cutting edge  | |
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04-20-2006, 07:18 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: my fencing club
Posts: 880
| go for it!!
my friend and i started a year ago, and her dad who isn't exactly young started then too. now her mom and little sister are starting. anyone can do it!!
im trying to get my dad who's a senior starting, and he said only if my mom does. so two more old people starting if i'm lucky.
definitly start fencing. it's loads of fun.
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Fencing: Violence is a way of life!!
The Easter bunny is unstoppable!!
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04-20-2006, 09:47 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Reno, NV. Home of the Silver Blades
Posts: 119
| I'm 31, a fulltime student, and I run two dance clubs through the college. I took up fencing less than 6 months ago and I'm competing. It's definately not too late to start at 20. Welcome to the fun.
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Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
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04-20-2006, 10:01 PM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 360
| I had a coach who started around that age and became a very, very good fencer. Don't let yourself be limited by something like your age, especially since you're only 20! | |
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04-20-2006, 10:16 PM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 506
| [quote=Ericka1]The thing is I'm 20.... Somehow that feels a little late in the game to be jumping into this.... I don't exactly have dreams of grandure, but its something I'd like to do for me. Is it advisable to start so late? QUOTE]
Sure! I started at 18 (in college), barely fenced for years, then finally started for real at 25. If you apply your mind and your body to it for a few years you can go a long way! Having good coaches/opponents helps for sure, and the Olympics would be a real stretch but are at least technically possible, which is more than can be said for pretty much any other sport you pick up so late =) Go for it! | |
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04-20-2006, 10:39 PM
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#16 | | Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 10,235
| Come to think of it, I believe I started around 20. Not counted by aborted and unhappy experiment with foil at 13 or so. | |
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04-21-2006, 01:39 PM
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#17 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005 Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 1,007
| I started at 30. Starting at 20? It's too late for you to be a child prodigy, but aside from that, you shouldn't have any problem. | |
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04-21-2006, 01:49 PM
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#18 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South Carolina über Alles
Posts: 2,608
| I started at 18. Train hard, go to as many competitions as possible, get a good coach, and you'll be fine.
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04-21-2006, 02:07 PM
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#19 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 134
| I agree with everyone. I started at 20 in college (instruction wasn't terrific, but it was fun), life ensued (marriage, kids, job), then started fencing again about 5 years ago. I'll be 50 next week, and give the kids on my club's team a run for their money (in foil). Training to compete next season, God willing.
20 years old? Spring Chicken. If I had had the opportunity, I'd be reeeally good by now.
Go for it! | |
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