I'm interested in learning fencing...

[Martinis at 8]

Greetings. I am interested in learning fencing.

Specifically, if there are any immersion programs that last several weeks in order to introduce one to the fundamentals. I am willing to travel to any Anglophone, Lusophone, or Hispanophone countries for an immersion type course.

Cheers,

M8

[RoninX]

Wow... thats quite a commitment.

However, athletic endeavors do not require immersion in the same way that the learning of languages (for example) do.

To begin with your body may not be able to handle the new muscles being used immediately for excessive durations. However, there are fencing camps in the US throughout the summer. Additionally most metropolitan areas have clubs that are open all day, running classes of one kind or another.

A "two-a-day" approach with beginning class early and then working out, followed by a private lesson and some bouting (once you are ready for it) would allow you to greatly accellerate your learning curve. Though clearly it requires a substantial time and money commitment I assumed this wasn't an issue given your desire for immersion training.

Info on where you are, how old, fitness level and previous athletic experience might also help generate some worthwhile responses.

[Martinis at 8]

Originally Posted by RoninX

Wow... thats quite a commitment.

However, athletic endeavors do not require immersion in the same way that the learning of languages (for example) do.

To begin with your body may not be able to handle the new muscles being used immediately for excessive durations. However, there are fencing camps in the US throughout the summer. Additionally most metropolitan areas have clubs that are open all day, running classes of one kind or another.

A "two-a-day" approach with beginning class early and then working out, followed by a private lesson and some bouting (once you are ready for it) would allow you to greatly accellerate your learning curve. Though clearly it requires a substantial time and money commitment I assumed this wasn't an issue given your desire for immersion training.

Info on where you are, how old, fitness level and previous athletic experience might also help generate some worthwhile responses.

Thank you for the reply. I understand your caveats. However, an immersion program is what I am looking for due to my current lifestyle.

Yes, I am older, 48-yrs. old. However, I am still athletic, even at this age. For prior athletic experience, in general, I have participated in a spectrum of sports, probably because I am older. In specifics, I boxed for several years (when I was in the military), and also have a 1st Dan in Kuk Sool Won (KSW), which is a Korean martial art. I competed in KSW till just a few years ago. While I am not active in any specific sport at the moment, I do maintain a regular regime of fitness via cardio and weight training. Right now the only limitation I might have physically is my right rotator cuff, and a slight case of plantar fascitis on my left foot. I am working these now, and should be fully repaired by the end of the year. January is my target date to start this training.

You are of course correct on muscle specificity and me being able to handle the new load on sport specific use, however, I believe I can prep for this to a certain degree with targeted weight training and plyometrics. I’ll just have to research this somewhat.

My residence is Houston. However, I travel a lot with my 1-man business. As an example, I am currently in the country of Angola where I will be till the end of the month. The week after I get back to Houston I will displace to the States of LA, MS, CA, then back to Angola, etc. The work takes me to several regions around the world like Southeast Asia, Latin America, etc. When I am not working, well…I am “unemployed,” hence I have the time for immersion type activities. With KSW I was able to visit several dojangs around the world, and I would expect to be able to do the same should I find fencing to my liking. I have become adept at keeping in shape and dieting correctly while I am on travel, and have been doing so for about 12 years. In sartorial speak, my "drop" is currently 6, and I expect it to be at a minimum of 8 by my target date.

After the immersion I will decide if fencing is to my liking and hence whether I will continue. If I decide it’s not for me, I will just consider it another learning block in the journey of life, and then move along to another learning block.

Hopefully this will generate some more responses, and thank you again for the reply.

Cheers,

M8

[Zilverzmurfen]

For fencing federations worldwide my best tip would be to have a look at the FIE website. Choose country or continent from the drop-down menu. Some of them have website, and most of them have an e-mail address to be contacted through.

For clubs within the USA you could have a look at http://www.usfencing.org.
The server seems to be down at the moment, but there should be a clublist there somewhere.


Additionally, if you ever end up in Sweden then drop me a PM and I'll point you in the right direction.

[Martinis at 8]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

For fencing federations worldwide my best tip would be to have a look at the FIE website. Choose country or continent from the drop-down menu. Some of them have website, and most of them have an e-mail address to be contacted through.

For clubs within the USA you could have a look at http://www.usfencing.org.
The server seems to be down at the moment, but there should be a clublist there somewhere.


Additionally, if you ever end up in Sweden then drop me a PM and I'll point you in the right direction.

Zilverzmurfen,

Thank you for the links. Very useful.

I have been to Sweden before. Long time ago. Goteborg to be exact.

It's a very nice city, and I enjoyed the maritime museum. I picked up a DL car at the factory and ferried it across to Denmark before shipping it to the US. The car was a curse. It lasted too long and I could never really break it, so I finally gave it away after 20 years and over 300,000miles. I hear they don't make them like that anymore.

Cheers,

M8

[RITFencing]

M8, this suggestion might be quite what you're looking for, but the "Become A Fencing Instructor" program run by the USFA's Coaches College every summer at the Olympic Training Center is a weeklong program designed for people with no fencing experience who want to bring fencing into a gym class or similiar environment. It's not as focussed on you learning to fence as it is to teach, but it's total immersion. When I did Epee 1 at Coaches COllege I would wake up, go to breakfast and either study or talk about fencing, have a 4 hour training session, talk or study over lunch, then sometimes a group discussion, then 3 or 4 hours of training, talk or study over dinner, then red cross classes,, then study until I go to sleep. They've changed the schedule up to allow a bit more free time, and it might be hard to get into (as it will be held within the next few weeks) but if you're interested in the longshot here is the URL: http://bachus.uncg.edu/~tebault/coach/

Plus, the food and facilities at the OTC are excellent. You will start feeling better, and you will likely get in even better shape; having meals designed for athletes plus 7 hours a day of exercise when you're a mile+ above sea level will do that.

[Martinis at 8]

RITFencing,

Thank you for the info. The program you describe sounds very apropo. The link seems to be down right now, so I will try it again later.

Cheers,

M8

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by RITFencing

...having meals designed for athletes...

Now there's certainly something that the canteen people in Szombathely could learn from...

[RITFencing]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

Now there's certainly something that the canteen people in Szombathely could learn from...

From what I hear, that's certainly true. The food at the OTC, though... it's amazing. Not only is it delicious, it's so healthy you actually start feeling really good after a few days. I know it sounds like a commercial, but... it's true.

M8, never a problem. Unfortunately, it might be tough to get into right now. If that link stays broken, it might be the wrong one; there should be something for it on the USFA's website, or you could just google it.

[Martinis at 8]

What are some good introductory texts?

M8

[WordRider]

Goodday! Welcome to the forum.

espiritusaberTerrance