For veterans: Realistic aspirations?

[jajohn]

A question for those of you who are in the veteran classification: Is it realistic for an unrated veteran to aspire to a letter classification? In my early 50s I re-entered fencing after a 25-year hiatus. After two years of tourneys of all levels (unrated to open), I'm still unrated. There are no veteran competitions in our region; it's all competition against kids. Am I kidding myself? Is it best to just do fencing for the great exercise that it is?

[MyrddinsPrecint]

It is unrealistic for a vetran who has just gotten back into it who does not fence any vetran events ever to expect to get an A or something like that.


And depending on your own personal body restrictions, the fact that you're older might make it more difficult.


But getting an E or a D is often largely based on luck and where you live rather than absolute skill.


People who are unrated for years skip to their D, people who have stagnated at the E level suddenly find themselves with Cs........... people get ratings long before or long after they deserve them.


So it's not unrealistic (depending on a number of factors) for you to eventually, at some point, get a rating.


It's not a good goal, though.


Goals should be things you have control over. Being able to think tactically in bouts is a goal. Getting more comfortable with footwork, being more relaxed in competition, feeling the fencing, performing your best in all competitions............... Those are things under your control. But "I want to beat so-and-so" is a difficult goal, because even if you're getting better, they might be do, and they might be getting better faster. And even if you're getting better faster than everyone else in your general geographic region and skill level, that doesn't mean the tournament you go to will work out well, and that doesn't mean you'll have a reasonable shot at that ranking. Even if you fence well enough, you might knock out the person who need to finish high enough for you to get a ranking.


So by all means TRY. But make your goals something else.

[noodle]

to be frank, its unrealistic to expect yourself to make it to the olympics. its also unrealistic to expect yourself to get senior national points.

however, it is very realistic for you to become a good fencer and produce results. you just have to set goals and talk to your coach about attaining them, and how to get the most out of competing against kids.

[Redblade]

You can, however, live a good life and remain healthy enough to outlive all your fencing peers. "Veteran" means never saying die.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

At your age, it will take quite a bit of work, no offense.

Expect to practice often, spend time analyzing your flaws, doing cross training workouts, ect.

Same stuff that serious competitive fencers are doing. The difference is that if they don't do it, they'll still get good results. If you don't do it, you'll pretty much stay the same.

[erooMynohtnA]

Yes, it is a realistic goal.

Anyone can get an E. It just takes a little luck. Even Ds just need a little luck and a modicum of skill. Cs are a little harder to come by, because they require previously rated people to attend the tournament.

I know a veteran who came in after a 15 year hiatus, and he earned his C almost immediately and re-earned it several times that same year. He wasn't the fastest, but he was good.

[Fencergrl]

I agree with MP that it may be helpful to set different goals (not to say your existing ones are not realistic... I just don't know)... In either case, a ranking should be one of your goals /long-term goal.

I started fencing in my early 40's and have been doing it for several years. I have had the benefit of some great coaching.

In any given tournament, I am usually the oldest woman epeeist.... I fence kids most of the time. I haven't noticed a huge difference in development between I and some of the kids who started at the same time.

In practice, most can beat me... but I am fencing to work on a particular skill. In tournaments, this is not the case. Some beat me, some I beat, some bouts could go either way. Overall, I rank higher than they do when everything is said and done.

My goals are not about a particular ranking (mainly because we have a different system in Canada). My goals are about improving my personal bests such as standings in tournaments or my performance against certain opponents or fixing bad habits or developing particular techniques.

When I first started fencing, I was disappointed that Canada's ranking was not like the US... I was competitive and wanted a means to gauge my performance.

Three years later, I am grateful. It has forced me to create my own personal goals... Yeah I can't brag on the forum that I got my E, D, C, B or A... but I am very proud of what I have achieved as an athlete.

[piste off]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

It is unrealistic for a vetran who has just gotten back into it who does not fence any vetran events ever to expect to get an A or something like that.

Thanks for bursting my bubble!

Just for that... THERE IS NO SANTA CLAUS!

Take that you young whipper-snapper.

Rick

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

It is unrealistic for a vetran who has just gotten back into it who does not fence any vetran events ever to expect to get an A or something like that.

Except in epee, where you can stumble into ANY rating.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

Except in epee, where you can stumble into ANY rating.

I suppose there is that.

Originally Posted by piste off

Thanks for bursting my bubble!

Just for that... THERE IS NO SANTA CLAUS!

Take that you young whipper-snapper.

Rick

NO SANTA!!!

You're just lying to me to try to hurt me. it won't work.


PS: I'd like to make it perfectly clear that I never said that vetran fencers--------- even vetran fencers who never fence vet events can't get A's, just that it's not a particularly realistic expectation for someone just getting back into it.

so HAH!

hehehehhe

[Fencergrl]

I don't know MP... Santa's right next door to me and a Vet fencer... you might be looking at lumps of coal in your stocking this year... mind you it looked that way before you posted your comments... I couldn't help but notice you made his "naughty" list.... just what have YOU been up to????

[jjefferies]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

It is unrealistic for a vetran who has just gotten back into it who does not fence any vetran events ever to expect to get an A or something like that.

And depending on your own personal body restrictions, the fact that you're older might make it more difficult.
.

Bugger off youngster.

And never you mind! He's probably just trolling or looking to do in some of those punk 40 year olds!

I started at age 54. Studied foil for two years before finally discovering my true love, epee. A proper weapon epee. This was 8 years ago. Today I'm a fairly solid "B" and looking to move up. So far I've made it to two Veterans World Championships, Krems and Bath.

Now, what you've got to understand is that nothing worrth doing or having comes completely free. Start gradually, just like you get out of bed each morning, and then work up to it. You will definitely be using muscles you never knew you had in new and painful ways. On average it takes 5-6 years before most fencers hit their stride, that is become more of a threat to others in tournaments than to themselves. And from what I've seen that applies to the youngsters as well as Vets. So work into it and decide if it's really worth to you. If it is, then learn about glucosomine and
ibuprofen, good friends to the veteran fencer. Get a good coach, remember to kiss the wife and kitty goodbye each morning, it's the only time you'll have to be with them, and get into it. Train, train, train, even though it can be boring. Figure at least an hour a day in physical training, and then another two or so hours fencing practice. Allow for at least two coached lessons a week. Figure you need to attend both NACs and the Summer Nationals each year (probable cost ~$500. USD each). Lesson prices vary but anywhere from $10/-$20/ lesson. Then there are club dues etc. Like I said work your way into it going as quickly as your body and pocketbook will allow. And you can't forget medicine and surgery. If you have any underlying problems with your body even ones you've never noticed before, you'll now learn about them for sure..

Now to the advantages, all those aches and pains you've been becoming aware of, you'll now have something and someone to blame them on, fencing and your coach or your opponents and your coach. Also you'll now become more aware of the fair sex, but they're all much too young and much too attractive for the likes of you. But you're an athlete and don't care. There's more but nothing that we can share on line.
J.

[Peach]

It's realistic, but it takes time, training, and dedication. I've won open mixed competitions against whippersnappers. I started at 43, earned an A six years later in open competition, made it to Veteran Worlds three times, and won the last time I went. And I still have another age category to look forward to.

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by jajohn

A question for those of you who are in the veteran classification: Is it realistic for an unrated veteran to aspire to a letter classification? In my early 50s I re-entered fencing after a 25-year hiatus. After two years of tourneys of all levels (unrated to open), I'm still unrated. There are no veteran competitions in our region; it's all competition against kids. Am I kidding myself? Is it best to just do fencing for the great exercise that it is?

In addition to what everyone else has said, it depends on your weapon.

I assume from your sn that you're a guy, but in women's sabre, for example, ratings are fairly hard to come by, whereas you can't sneeze without hitting an E in men's epee.

So depending on your weapon, skill level, and region, it might be easy or difficult to get a classification

[jajohn]

I understand weapon (I'm in foil) and skill level, but I keep hearing "region." Isn't an E the same no matter where in the country? (I'm in the midwest, by the way.)

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by jajohn

I understand weapon (I'm in foil) and skill level, but I keep hearing "region." Isn't an E the same no matter where in the country? (I'm in the midwest, by the way.)

Yes, but in some regions, it's rare to get six fencers together to make the E tournament, and in some regions, there many good fencers, so even unrated tournaments often draw thirty fencers. (And then you need to get top 4 for the E)

[neal white]

If you have kept in shape, it is totally realistic. I came back to foil two years ago after 33 years off. Earned a C in Div III NAC and earned a B in Vets at Reno NAC. Just have to practice harder than the kids and those that have never stopped. I think it is really important, however, to get good coaching.

[jjefferies]

Originally Posted by Peach

And I still have another age category to look forward to.

Awww Peach, Life is just so unfair. I really do hope they get the Vet 70's started up soon.
J.

[Peach]

Originally Posted by jjefferies

Awww Peach, Life is just so unfair. I really do hope they get the Vet 70's started up soon.
J.

Yeah, I think Vet-70 is a very realistic category, don't you? I know too many people who have a shot in their sixties but the 70s are just too tough on the legs and everything else.

[firstblood]

Glad to know Vets are in motion! Thanks for the inspiration. I'm a returning Vet after 30 years off and intend to pick up where I left off ....