I don't know anyone!

[MattMac]

I don't know anyone here! I feel like such a stranger, and a newbie. Well, the newbie thing I can't help. I'm new. But how does everyone else know everyone? Meeting in person, or just posting a lot? Well, if anyone cares and wishes to follow, I'll start off. I would really like to get to know at least some of you because I just might be goin against you in a tourn. some day, and you all seem like really "cool" people.

-Matt
18 yr old
Old Dominion University Fencing
Fencing for 2 practices now
Foil only, so far
Home home: Midlothian Virginia
Current Home: Norfolk, VA

[Craig]

The fencing community is pretty small. Go to a few local and national tournaments and you'll start making connections and recognizing people.

Cheers,
Craig

[MattMac]

Thanks. I figured it was kinda small. I just hope I can start going to some of those competitions and stuff. Sounds like they can be a lot of fun.

[FoilFreak6276]

well I guess ill go second

Foilfreak
17 years old
female
And Yes I am a freak for foil
(and saber)
I enjoy fencing and fencing and fencing
and thats about it

[HilandDoug]

OK, you two, time to find the thread called "Post your pic" and see who we all are. Then post your own pic!

[Iwant2bafencer]

Both actually Matt. Some people live near each other. Some know each other from tourniments, and some (Like me so far)just know everyone by posting alot.

-----------------
Carpe Diem
About a month left before I start! (Fencing.)

[fence1848]

Matt,
You're in Norfolk? Make sure to go to the tournaments that are in your area, and you'll quickly learn the crowd. The Hampden-Sydney Open is in about two weeks (Sept 22,23) and that should be fairly close. That will likely be a smaller tournament, but it gives you a good opportunity to get to know the local fencers. The Willliam & Mary Open is Nov 3,4 and that is a larger tournament with more fencers from DC coming down. Finally, don't forget the Cavalier Novice at UVA. Everyone there will be new to fencing, so you're in the same boat as them. Hope to see you there!

[Haze]

Hi! I have had one individual lesson about 2 months ago and I went to practice this week (and am still in pain from overdoing it). I have been around fencing through friends for about 6 months. It would be cool if us newbies could share experiences and posts about how we are getting on (then I will know it is not just me!) Anyway I'm off the add the the "you know you're a newbie when..." topic.

- Haze

(19 yr old 2nd year Industrial Design student / good for nothing layabout)

[escrime chick]

Hey there... your topic sounded so pathetically lonely I just thought I should come say hi and try to make you feel better Don't worry we all feel like that when we start out, but you get to know people really quickly... fencing's a great sport for that; most everybody's friendly, and some of your best friends will probably be on the opposite side of the strip most of the time. (which can be interesting, but also a lot of fun)

[DamedEscrime]

Hay Matt, you're never alone when you fence.
Fencers are everywhere. They just look like other normal people.
I will say that most of us only know each other from posting, but I have had the privledge of meeting up with a few folks here. I make it a point that when I travel out of state to visit salles and fence a bit. So far I've hit New Hampshire, Michigan, and Texas. You truly do meet the nicest people that way.

Oh yeah, you're right we ARE really too.

[ 09-27-2001: Message edited by: DamedEscrime ]

[Shadow Fencer]

Hi Matt,
To echo my fellow fencers on this thread, you are not alone!

It's amazing how "tight knit" our community is! I'm hoping to develop another friendship this weekend at a tournament.

I'm a 40 something foil (learning epee) fencer and will be one of the younger fencers at a Veteran's tourney!

Keep on fencing!

[wddragon]

Hi Matt,
I been on this board for a only a week, still trying to figure out who's who, sometime it can be confusing, not fun, it
will be neat to mean somebody from the board in RL.
I'll probably the oldest guy there

[wddragon]

[quote]Originally posted by Shadow Fencer:
[QB].

I'm a 40 something foil (learning epee) fencer and will be one of the younger fencers at a Veteran's tourney!

Shadow Frncer, I'll be seeing you in the Verteran tourney in couple years

[Scaramouche]

Hey hey! I'm just as much a newbie as you, I just have no life and post way too much! You'll get to know everyone so quick you won't even realize it was happening. I hope I see you at a tourney someday! I'm a foilist too (foil rocks!) The thing I love most about the tournies is that the people have competed against each other a lot and they love going against each other, and they always try to help each other improve their technique and stuff. I think that's soooo cool. GEEZ I blabber a lot! OK here's me mimicking you

18 yrs old
College of Charleston Fencing Club
'bout two months fencing
Foil (epee too next semester)
Home home: Cincinnati, OH
Current Home: Charleston, SC

[MikeHarm]

Well as long as we're doing profiles.

30 years old, living in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Clubs trained at are Schoolcraft College Fencing club (3 years + 1 semester), Eastern Michigan University Fencing Club (On my 2nd year), One on One Fencing Club (started this year). My primary club now is EMU and Secondary is One on One.

This is my fifth year of fencing, foil remains the one I've done the most work with though I've dabbled in all three weapons. I love both fencing and competing.

Mike

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

Originally posted by DamedEscrime:
<STRONG>Hay Matt, you're never alone when you fence.
Fencers are everywhere. They just look like other normal people...[ 09-27-2001: Message edited by: DamedEscrime ]</STRONG>

Matt,
The bad news: you are extremely alone. Very, very, very alone. Fencers are rare and few. Fencers are freaks and absolutely abnormal.

The good news: there are salles, and fencing competitions to meet other freaks.

[Spanky]

Hi Matt

i'm 26 yrs old, been fencing for 'bout 8 yrs, on and off. started in south africa, moved onto israel. just joined a foil club, here in be'er sheva and i'm a physics ph.d. student here at the local uni.. still haven't met the wider community of fencers in this country...but am looking forward to it. i've found fencers to b a select but stinky bunch...u get used to it tho!
and i like it that way. fav weapon is sabre, but will fence anything, er, anyone...er.

[lochinvar]

355: For once, you and I agree.

Age 50; live in Ann Arbor, MI
Started fencing in '69.
Fenced through early 70's, left it, came back in the mid 80's, left again, came back again in '99.

My last primary fencing venue was at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. Had to quit again in 2000, am looking to start again--one hopes, this month.

I fence all three weapons, but none of them really well. Sabre is my favorite, but epee is my best (such as it is).

[Eileen]

"Fencers are everywhere. They just look like other normal people."

That's right we could be anywhere, anyone, anytime... we lurk in the shadows and just when you least expect it... en garde!

Seriously though I was on a trip to Boston and walking across the bridge back to my car when a man passed me with a strangely familiar shaped bag... I caught up to him "What weapon do you fence?"

Turns out he was new to fencing and was a sailor by profession. So truly even on a 3 day trip I managed to randomly meet up with a fencer.

[Haze]

When I went up to the pistes on thursday I was told that one of my lecturers had been by and wanted to fence with us - an epeeist apparently - I can only assume he heard me and a collegue discussing it or something. I have to go to training on monday to see which lecturer it is - if it is one I get on with then great, maybe he can teach me something, if it is one i get on with less then maybe my epeeist friends can hit him a little harder! Should be interesting either way - the perfect merge of my study and my social life