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  1. #1
    Just Joined Array
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    New to Fencing NEED HELP

    I'm sure alot of newbies get on here with "getting started" questions, so please bear with me. I've recently taken interest in the sport of fencing, but the nearest club to me is about 4 hours away. Is there such a thing as "free lance" fencing, or is this just one of those "you're outta luck" situations?

    Thanks in advance for anyone who can help.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Array lefty_monster's Avatar
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    Fencing is by definition a very hard sport to practice by oneself. Have you checked the local colleges? And since your username indicates you're in the army, have you checked out the military fencing circuit? I know there is one, but I haven't checked it out in depth.

    Do you mind telling me where you are? That might help.
    We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

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  3. #3
    HDG
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    Senior Member Array HDG's Avatar
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    You can no more teach yourself to fence from a book than you can teach yourself to be a soldier from a book (assuming from your name that is your vocation).

  4. #4
    Senior Member Array the ancient one's Avatar
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    How many times can you manage to make that 4-hour trip each month?

    When you do get there, get a lesson first rather than hang out and only "free fence".

    More = faster progress. In between, condition, and mirror practice.
    "a braggart, a rogue, a villaine that fights by the book of arithmatick. Why the dev'l came you betweene us?.."

  5. #5
    Senior Member Array D+F+P=Hadouken!'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by usarmy718 View Post
    I'm sure alot of newbies get on here with "getting started" questions, so please bear with me. I've recently taken interest in the sport of fencing, but the nearest club to me is about 4 hours away. Is there such a thing as "free lance" fencing, or is this just one of those "you're outta luck" situations?

    Thanks in advance for anyone who can help.
    Learning how to fence without other fencers is going to be like learning how to be in the millitary without actually being in the millitary.

    You can practice fencing on your own, but learning it is another story.
    "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. And from this side only! The flight of a half-man, half-bird. Dinosaurs nuzzling their young in pastures where strip malls should be. Cookies on dowels. All those moment, lost in time. Gone, like eggs off a hooker's stomach. Time to die" -Phil Ken Sebben

  6. #6
    Just Joined Array rcdjr's Avatar
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    I know your situation. Been there for 18 years. First check USFencing wed site for local clubs. If that is a bust, post an advertisement is your base paper "Wanted Fencers". You'll find other military fencers in the same boat as you on base. Also don't forget to put up similar flyers on your command's and other tenet commands bulletin boards. Start your own group. You can schedule time with the base gym usually for free (also helps to suckup to the base MWR coordinator). On that note, the MWR coordinator can be extremely useful, advertisements, putting you in contact with other fencers if they have inquired with MWR, ect. If you want to fence you can make it happen. You just need to be prepared to put a little effort into it.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Array lefty_monster's Avatar
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    And once you have a group of fencers and people willing to learn to fence, that should be able to attract a coach to teach you. Even if it's the coach from miles away that drives out every weekend just to check up on the club and give lessons.
    We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

    Founding Father of the 516,649 Post Thread.
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  8. #8
    Moderator Array
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    What post? Unless you're in Thule, there may be closer fencing resources than you realize. (Like a fencer living 2 hours away who drives 2 hours to that same club.)

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