Where to start?

[LittleLea]

Hello all...

New here... and dearly hoping to finally embark on my journey into fencing.

For several years I've tried various activities to keep myself in shape while doing something Im genuinely into at the same time, and for the most part, yoga has been where I've settled, mainly because of friends who attended the same class. Recently I've moved from Orlando Florida to the Space Coast, where yoga groups are sparse, and have decided maybe I should just finally go for that little itch in the back of my mind and take up some sort of sword play.. before I'm too old to begin. I know yoga to fencing is a huge change, but for my entire life I've been intrigued by swords, and found it all so beautiful, even accumulating a small collection of swords and foils. Ive just perpetually put learning anything more than their history and anatomy on hold....

So now I have several questions...

Anyone know of any active groups in the Brevard area that accepts beginners at the age of 28? I've tried emailing a few, with no responses.. =(

Is 28 too old to start?

Height... I am SHORT... 4 ft 11 inches to be exact.. will this cause problems for me?

Any advice on ways to get my juices flowing before I can actually find a group in the area?

Any advice is very much welcome. =)

Regards,

~"LittleLea"

[RITFencing]

Hi! Welcome to the forum and fencing. The is no such thing as too old, to short, or too anything to start. One of the girls at my club is 5'0, and I've fenced with people who have started in their late 40s and early 50s.

As far as getting your juices flowing, it sounds like they already are. You seem to already have a good mindset for it, very excited and eager. If none of the groups around there are emailing you back, I would try showing up and asking them. Some people are terrible about email, myself included.

I was going to put up a list of clubs in florida, but www.usfencing.org is down. I would look on there yourself when it comes back up; they have a list of clubs all around the nation.

Hope this helps, and happy fencing!

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Originally Posted by LittleLea

Hello all...

New here... and dearly hoping to finally embark on my journey into fencing.

For several years I've tried various activities to keep myself in shape while doing something Im genuinely into at the same time, and for the most part, yoga has been where I've settled, mainly because of friends who attended the same class. Recently I've moved from Orlando Florida to the Space Coast, where yoga groups are sparse, and have decided maybe I should just finally go for that little itch in the back of my mind and take up some sort of sword play.. before I'm too old to begin. I know yoga to fencing is a huge change, but for my entire life I've been intrigued by swords, and found it all so beautiful, even accumulating a small collection of swords and foils. Ive just perpetually put learning anything more than their history and anatomy on hold....

So now I have several questions...

Anyone know of any active groups in the Brevard area that accepts beginners at the age of 28? I've tried emailing a few, with no responses.. =(

Is 28 too old to start?

Height... I am SHORT... 4 ft 11 inches to be exact.. will this cause problems for me?

Any advice on ways to get my juices flowing before I can actually find a group in the area?

Any advice is very much welcome. =)

Regards,

~"LittleLea"

you are probably too old and too short to make the olympics.

if your goals are not olympic level, you are NEVER too old, and NEVER too short.


You want to use usfencing.org (which seems down right now) to find a club near you, (call if they don't answer email, sometimes email addresses you find are out of date), and the club will probably have group classes, most clubs will even have group adult classes.



fencing is a big adjustment from anything else, so don't worry about that....

[KD5MDK]

Space Coast means Cape Canaveral, right? Because it could also mean Clear Lake, Texas to me.

[LittleLea]

Yes, Space Coast Florida... Canaveral/Cocoa/Melbourne area.

Thanks so much everyone for the advice... I'll wait for the site to come up.. but if its the same one I found the club I did email on, there was only one in my area, and no phone number or address.
Will keep trying though!

[chefencer]

I dare say somebody on this forum knows somebody around where you are - it's just a matter of time.

[Larrison]

Lea --

Check out also the local community colleges, and parks & recreation groups. I originally learned in a class taught through a local parks & recreation group. You might also ask is there's anything at Patrick AFB as well. Not all clubs are associated with the USFA -- the class I originally learned at wasn't one.

Hey, I got the local listing for FL to come up!
http://www.usfencing.org/do/clublist?state=FL

KNIGHT BLADES F.C.
Contact: CHERIE COOK
3 INDIAN HARBOUR CT
SATELLITE BEACH, FL 32937-3618
email: jcook12@cfl.rr.com
www.knightblades.com

As for being short -- one of the hardest fencers I ever fenced was about your size. He was a bit willowy, and had a very good on-guarde position. There was almost no target to aim for! It didn't help he was moderately fast and precise too -- so he didn't give me many openings...

Being short isn't necessarily bad --

[LittleLea]

Thanks so much everyone =)

Moments ago I got into the site and phoned the numbers listed for The Knights Blades, (they are also who I emailed, from a different, possibly older defunct website?).. no answers, but I left messages. From the looks of things theyre not taking beginners again until August, and that is assuming the message on their site is up to date. Bummer... but I'm patient... guess I can read and try to get an understanding of things until then. =)

I can also hope someone local does stumble onto this thread, as chefencer has suggested!

Fingers crossed.

Larisson: I do try to use my height as an advantage in everyday life... hopefully I can carry this "little" skill over to fencing as well! ;-)

[keropie]

For the sake of argument, Ni Lon Le (probably misspelled) made the US Olympic team @ 4'11" or so. Though she was a bit younger.

[LittleLea]

Originally Posted by keropie

For the sake of argument, Ni Lon Le (probably misspelled) made the US Olympic team @ 4'11" or so. Though she was a bit younger.

hehe well.. I dont have any high expectations of becoming an olympian... just want to make sure I wont be at a severe disadvantage. =)

[KD5MDK]

Try the Central Florida Divison website:
http://www.centralflfencing.com/

[GorillaSmile]

I started at the age of 31. I'm 5'7" and routinely get beaten by a gal who is 4'10". The best part of epee is that your opponent's wrist is only a blade length away.

[Pointy]

I started at 33 and have gotten my butt kicked by a 5'0" 12 year old. For some reason, when I lunge and expect his target area to be where I attack, my point goes over his SHOULDER! It was quite frustrating.

(Yes, I need more practice. I know. So does the 12 year old.)

[HDG]

Knight's Blades (formerly Salle Bankuti) is a nice club with good coaching and some good fencers. I don't know which of the sites you are closer to, but I am familiar with the group that fences at BCC, and you should feel free to stop in for a visit and talk to the coach, Jim Lane.

Even though the Indian Beach class isn't taking new students until August, you can probably enroll for the BCC class -- I don't believe you need to be degree-seeking to take that sort of class. Definitely visit either of the two -- it's a friendly group.

[LittleLea]

I actually got an email from Jim Lane this morning with some extremely helpful information.

Although it has been years since I've been on a college campus, I've decided to head out to BCC tomorrow to sign up for the class they offer that starts on the 27th. I also think I will drop by the Park the Knights Club practices at to observe. =)

Has anyone experienced fencing offered by a college? Is it full of college age students or can I hope to find a few people in my age range? Baad.. bad experiences in college classes where it just becomes a meat market.. Id found alot of kids dont take classes for the class.. but for who is in the class! I'm hoping not to find myself in that kind of environment! ;-)

Pretty exciting stuff regardless!

Wish me luck! =D

[rac]

Well, hopefully you are on your way. Welcome to Central Florida fencing ma'am!

RAC

[HDG]

Originally Posted by LittleLea

Has anyone experienced fencing offered by a college? Is it full of college age students or can I hope to find a few people in my age range? Baad.. bad experiences in college classes where it just becomes a meat market.. Id found alot of kids dont take classes for the class.. but for who is in the class! I'm hoping not to find myself in that kind of environment!

This isn't "college" college; it's a not for credit class at a community college, so there will be CC students there as well as grown-ups and kids from the community. Additionally, it's a real fencing club. So, even this session is full of a bunch of horny undergrads, you've still got a committed coach and a core of returning competitive fencers. Enjoy and if you ever travel to S. Florida you're welcome to visit our club (Miami FC) anytime.

[Beowulfman6]

Originally Posted by LittleLea

Hello all...

Anyone know of any active groups in the Brevard area that accepts beginners at the age of 28? I've tried emailing a few, with no responses.. =(

The Brevard College Fencing Club in Brevard, NC is open to anyone and welcomes everyone, but I'm assuming you are speaking of a Brevard in Florida.

28 is not too old, and no one is too short. Welcome to the sport and have fun with it!

[gh02t]

38 isnt too old to start. My coach loves to teach older beginners, he says they "have a mind for it." In my experience, older people tend to pick up the strategic elements better but have a little more trouble learning the techniques.

[slowgraffiti515]

*28 is definatley not too old to start
*shortness can be an advantage (smaller target area!)
*just keep yourself in good shape with activities outside of fencing to stay in awesome condition

good luck!