Hello, from Mukilteo, WA

[sunkissed]

Hey all, I just want to say this is so very new to me. I began in September and wanted to find some commonality in my hobbies so I joined.
I do historical 14-16th century Italian rapier. I am doing a study on women on this so this and any other info reguarding fencing is always welcome.
Thanks so much, Shannon

[ParryRiposte]

Hey Shannon! Welcome to the forum! By the way, I'm in Kitsap here. Where do you fence?

[sunkissed]

I go to the academia Della Spada. We practice out of sandpoint. How about you?
Shannon

[ParryRiposte]

I've heard a lot of good things about them. I go to Metro Tacoma FC in Tacoma, we're one of the smaller clubs.

[sunkissed]

I have never heard of it...
Do they have a website?

[ParryRiposte]

Yes, www.tacomafencing.com.

[fatfencer]

Don't get me wrong. I like rapier fencing. My experience with it in the SCA is that people don't get that if it is a representation of a weapon that from time to time it is GOING to hurt a bit. By and large the rapier fencers I met were whiners.

My experience with local SCA-ers was that they are not really athletic by any means and none of them really knew what it meant to get a really hard days worth of work into their fencing.

Shannon, I hope your group is not like my local one. If it is come join us here in sport fencing. The blades are much more flexible, better made, etc.

Although sport fencing in general is, a la Weird Al, white and nerdy, it can be quite fun. But the SCA thing is DEEEEFFFFINITTTELY white and nerdy.

Get out while you still can...or else you might start playing d&d or something.

Fatfencer

PS: Pocket protectors do NOT look good on a girl. :-)

[Goldgar]

PS: Pocket protectors do NOT look good on a girl. :-)

Sure they do! But I'm married to my own nerd.

[fences_like_a_lemur]

Welcome to the forum Shannon!

I've heard some good stuff about the Academia Della Spada; I myself fence out of Tacoma.

[sunkissed]

We are not the SCA, I repeat we are not the Freakin' SCA.
Yes, periodically some of us do get out of shape... but who doesn't periodically doesn't
Yes we do practice in a historical way, but we are not a bunch of college kids running around with swords and getting drunk.
I have friends whom are in the SCA and that is there thing but don't lable anyone until you have heard this first hand and also with a name like what? fat or something or rather? seems to me like you would be the one out of shape...

[xcrunner]

We are not the SCA, I repeat we are not the Freakin' SCA.
Yes, periodically some of us do get out of shape... but who doesn't periodically doesn't
Yes we do practice in a historical way, but we are not a bunch of college kids running around with swords and getting drunk.
I have friends whom are in the SCA and that is there thing but don't lable anyone until you have heard this first hand and also with a name like what? fat or something or rather? seems to me like you would be the one out of shape...

so what exactly do yall do?

oh and fatfencer isn't really fat. he just exploits his beer belly.

[sunkissed]

We have classes to learn the technques, position, steps, timing, etc. Just like you. We do have duals (usually with each other).
We do also have demonstrations for the right places. We have done some historical such as the renaissance fair last summer and also in various parks or at other events.
We also get together sometimes as a group and we do camp thingys like next weekend we were invited to someones house to learn the pike (German warfare) we camp and get into our historical garb or our fencing gear and camp, learn and just have a great time together.
One thing i really enjoyed was the sense of family within the group and i think that builds a good trust amongst each other.
We practice as well as have a good time together.
I will say it is a great group.
And, yes with the proper exercise we can lose those beer bellies. I had 4 ten pound babies and struggle with the gut thing but if you are really in shape you can do it...so i really do not like the reference to us all being a bunch of fat people...