my daughter's answer to life's problems(saber)

[big poppa]

I few months ago i bought a pair of foam rubber swords for my two daughters. The two year old , Taylor has seen foil, so she does her little footwork thing.My other daughter Sam 15 months runs to the toy box whenever she is stressed and grabs a sword and start to run and slash anything and everybody, Saber is her solution to almost any problem. I know she is not violent but she has that saber fencer look, what do you guys think?

[swordsen]

I know we encourage people to start lessons young but that might be a bit too young.
But it is great fun with a foam sword....

[saberkid]

yeah thats VERY young my youngest is 5 and thats is hard just cause the #2 saber is taller than him

[Cutter]

Most coaches like about 8 years old to start. They are old enough to at least pretend to concentrate. Younger than that is hard to keep their focus. But, keep that saber in that girls hand. You are a fencer and can show her how to use it. Once she is old enough to start and you would be the best source for determining that, get her into a class.

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Cutter
Reach out and "touch" someone.

[ladybug]

Yes I beliive it!! My coaches sons are 3 and 1 and both spend the majority of their time at the fencing club. The 3 year old started walking with fencing steps and can lunge better than some beginners. He LOVES fencing with foam swords and will actually practice his footwork without any prompting. He loves challenging everyone to bouts (with foam swords of course). The 1 year old isn't walking yet but will hold onto something and practice his lunges - its pretty funny to see. The scary thing is that in the not too distant future these two will be cleaning my clock!!

[Moonitic]

ladybug is right...the coach's son is a TRIP to watch! He runs & gets his own little mask & has a ball.

My own son has the whacky whackers now too. He's getting pretty good. JT is also 3. I think I'll be bringing him out to your club, Ladybug, when the time comes! We don't really have sabre coaches at SC, except on occasion.

[HilandDoug]

Uh-oh, Mary, don't let Jim hear you say that! Or Cliff, for that matter! Sabre is Jim's preferred weapon, and I get my sabre lessons from him. So does just about everyone else. And if you expressed an interest in learning sabre, Jim would probably be ecstatic!

[Zelda]

Ok, you never grow out of foam sabres. Almost every sabure on the camp I went to in Durham in August had one. They are wonderful for aggression, especially when faced with a 10 odd hour plane trip and you are aching, sore and tired. We had some great fun on the last day really laying into each other with them. I dont think the drink machines, nor the common room at St. Bede's will ever be the same again!

[epeetaph]

It's never too early to get the right "mindset" if you will. If it makes her happy to slash the heck out of people, at least better to do it in a sport, where your opponents are at least wearing a little padding...in the right places.

[Moonitic]

I love Jim & Cliff dearly, but Jim is committed to his U of M students, & Cliff has his family. During their hot season, he disappears. The RFC people practically LIVE in their building. One night a week isn't enough to produce a good fencer. Believe me, I tried!

[HilandDoug]

Don't short change yourself, Mary. When you were only fencing once a week, you were a good fencer: technically correct in your footwork, your lunges, and your defensive actions. You only lacked bouting experience. I used to point to you during class as a good example.

On the topic of the thread, can you actually execute a parry with the foam sabres? (Not that you would need to!)

[Moonitic]

ok...now I have a complex...THAT'S why people were looking at me?

AAAGGGH!!

[HilandDoug]

That, or it was those tight knickers you used to wear! (just kidding, but I couldn't resist!)