Newbie Blues

[PeacockRose Goddess]

*sigh*I hate being new!! eh! any way little me just started fencing, get my first class in about hm.. 2 weeks(or so), after i recover from one of many operations eh. If any of you kind harted, chus could give me a few tips on do's and dont's, What i'm in for, what should i know, and other things like that,
I'd be eternaly greatful!
thanks alot!
kawii-chibi-pikaku!

[MikeHarm]

Well, there are three weapons, the foil, epee, and sabre. You will probably start out on the foil. Most new folks get an overview of the game of fencing, what a strip is, what the weapons are, how to hold it, what right of way is etc. There is a fencing FAQ on this site that could give you some of that info, I'd recommend giving it a look.

After your overview you'll probably do some basic stretching and warmup exercises, then be taught how to stand on guard, advance retreat, basic parries of 4 and 6 and to lunge, maybe some disengages.

You'll most likely practice that by yourself at first and sometimes with the instructor one and one, or do line drills (where the instructor stands in front of the class moving back and forth, and you do footwork and technique in coordination with what he's doing) with the instructor, or some practice drills with another fencer.

Theres some examples of drills elsewhere on the site, but for the most part it will be stuff like they do some attack you do a parry of some sort, and then do your riposte. Then both of ya go back to guard. Then you repeat, switching sides so you both get to practice whatever the technique is.

After you get some fundamentals down, you'll probably be bouting. Some places try to throw you into the mix right away which I think is a bad idea if you have just started and haven't gotten the fundamentals, and you'll also learn to help with judging (helping to determine wether someone landed touches on or off target) and helping to direct bouts with your fellow fencers.

And there you'll be, a fencer.

You won't have to worry about equipment at first usually, they'll tend to have gear for new fencers at any club thats been around a while.

Good luck. Hope that helps.

[Sabresque]

My tips: Have fun no matter what, fencing is a cool sport . Don't get too down on yourself if you make mistakes (you'll eventually learn from them). Last but not least, remember the infamous words of antonio banderes in The Mask of Zorro "Pointy end goes into the other man.".

[MikeHarm]

He's right, fencing is a difficult sport and it takes a couple years to get the basics down good. Don't worry about how you're doing in relationship to the others you'll do well in the long run if it gets in your blood and you work at it.

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

1. Listen.
2. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
3. Practice at home.
4. Have fun.

[lochinvar]

355 said it all.

[Bebop and Rocksteady]

Don't buy from Santelli <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Seriously, though. Be an independent thinker, but don't be ashamed to take advice either.

<small>[ 08-11-2002, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: Bebop and Rocksteady ]</small>

[Iwant2bafencer]

yea what 355 said, and don't be like someone I know (me) and not fence for a month and a half and expect to still be just as good as you were. It wont work. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

------------------
Carpe Diem
Ad Asha

[counter riposte]

Agreed with 355.

Enjoy yourself.

[epeefencer74]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by counter riposte:
<strong>Agreed with 355.

Enjoy yourself.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Agreed. In all that you do you must enjoy yourself, otherwise you'd never be at your best. When I started fencing I had to do nothing but footwork drills for a year. No weapons. My 1st year students still have to do that. The rational behind this is that footwork is the vehicle that will carry you to and from your opponent, without it you simply would not excel regardless of how good your handskills are. So I hope you won't be put off when your coach makes you do a lot of footwork. It could be worse, you could be one of my students .

[PeacockRose Goddess]

OH! You Chu's are jsut wonderful! I really want to thank yea all for the support! Few all most there, just a little longer... hm now just how am i go'in to get the money? Stupid after school jobs!ever enough money to get what you need/want!!
Eh well Chu's I hope to hear from you sum more!
thanks a ton!
Kawii-chibi-pikaku

[Psi Shadowdark]

don;t feel bad, iv been fencing for about 2 months now, and practice 3-4 times a week, pulled my hamstring a little along the way.
these guys here are all really nice, and full of info to absorb =)

[Thaddeus]

like they have said just stay with it and have fun one thing that will get you by in a begening class is to be agresive. usaly every one in a begening class is a little shy/afraid to do anything, so if you just go all out you will usaly get the point....note you will also probably get sevral off targets at the same time <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> but just have fun and come back, we always like fresh meat

[Catlady]

Yeah, the money thing makes me nuts too. I'm not as broke as I like to make everyone believe, but I'm fundamentally at least a 3rd or 4th generation "tightwad". Couple that with the fact that I'm in school and paying more tuition than I'd like and currently don't have a steady, full time job, and I'm really not comfortable with how much money I have to spend. Just remember you don't have to get everything at once. What you really need is a weapon. You've got to have two working, emphasis on working, weapons for formal competition, but if you're just doing informal bouting you can get away with only having one. It's bad when it breaks, but even then, you can sometimes borrow from friends/clubmates. The other thing you really need is a glove. I don't know if you could get away with it in comps. but a garden glove works quite well and they tend to hold up better. You'll want to get your own jacket and chest protector if you're female, as well as a mask. As for shoes, you can get away with a good court shoe if you have to. You just want to make sure it gives your foot good support. Though, considering what athletic shoes cost anyway, you can usually find fencing shoes that aren't much more expensive than regular athletic shoes. Of course if you fence electric you've got to get a body cord and a lame too. It's a good idea to eventually have more than one body cord too, since they can be tempermental beasts sometimes, but you can get by for a while with only one, though not in competition. I'd recommend getting a beginner's kit from one of the suppliers. I didn't do this, but I've heard from other people who have. It tends to be less expensive than buying everything separately, even if you shop around for the best deals on everything, and for the most part the equipment holds up pretty well. If you were going to World cups tommorrow you'd probably want something better, but for someone who's just getting into the sport and needs to get a set of basic equipment the beginner's kits are great. They often come with a french grip on the weapon, but usually you can request a different type of grip if you'd like for just a little bit more.
As for what you'll need eventually, including the basics that you'll have all ready acquired,: a mask, a jacket, a glove, knickers--some local comps you can do in sweats, but for the biggies, you need the real thing--, at least two working weapons--some people have more than others, I'd recommend at least 3, that way if one breaks suddenly, you still have 2 others--, knee high socks, multiple body cords, chest protector--for females, even if you're young and there's nothing there to protect as of yet, you still need one--, a plastron/half jacket--get one as soon as you can since it's for your own protection, but you can bout without one though in competitions you have to have one-- and shoes. I'm not certain if formal competitions are picky about whether you wear actual fencing shoes or not, but most people say that they like fencing shoes better. I do have a friend who has unusual feet, and she discovered that she's more comfortable in New Balance shoes though.
As for suppliers, the generally accepted wisdom around here, as well as at my club, is Blue Gauntlet and Fencing Post both have good, inexpensive equipment and are easy to work with. I know BG has a begginner's kit and I think "the post" does too. You might want to try Purplefencer's company too, I haven't bought from him, but from what I can tell from my interactions here, he knows his stuff. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of his company.

Generally, the advice you've gotten so far is great, keep at it, work hard, have fun, and don't get discouraged if you don't get it immediately. There have been people in my club to whom fencing has come easily, but for whatever reason they haven't kept it up. Other's who really had to work at it have stuck around, and now they could probably beat the people who were initially better.

I'm closing up my novel now, but I have on more question. I though I saw in your information that you're from Utah. So am I. I'm curious, where do you fence? If you don't feel comfortable answering, that's fine. You can send me a PM if you want. I'm glad that at least Utah/So. Idaho has another female fencer. There aren't enough of us.