want to learn

[kenmon]

would like to get involved in the sport. is it too late for me? im 37 yrs old. looking for suggestions on where to start

[Fencergrl]

LOL... you'll find many fencers on this forum who started in this sport much later in life than you have (myself included).

Find a club in your area (I think there's a club listing on this site) or wait until someone makes a recommendation. Take a beginner's class... and you're set. Keep going to the club and soon you'll be fencing in Vet events like the rest of us.

Welcome to the sport and the forum!

[Miglin]

^Do what she said. Welcome.

[OROD]

Originally Posted by kenmon

looking for suggestions on where to start

Find a club near you. Go there. Start fencing.

.

[Johnsa]

I'm also thinking about starting, and I'm 38...

The plan is to go with my son, as soon as he's old enough. I guess 6 years should suffice...?

But I'm looking at some videos, and have a question: Foil seems to be for the young & fast, while there are a lot more oldies in epee and particularly in sabre. Is this correct??

How old is Kulchar? 35?

John

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by Johnsa

I'm also thinking about starting, and I'm 38...

Good plan, welcome.

Originally Posted by Johnsa

The plan is to go with my son, as soon as he's old enough. I guess 6 years should suffice...?

Different clubs have different policies. You need to check with the club you plan to start with. They may be more willing to accept him if you'll be in the class too.

Originally Posted by Johnsa

But I'm looking at some videos, and have a question: Foil seems to be for the young & fast, while there are a lot more oldies in epee and particularly in sabre. Is this correct??

No. You'll -- generally -- find all ages in all weapons.

Though...knowing you're in Norway I'm guessing the situation is pretty much the same there as it is here in Sweden: foil is considered a childrens weapon and most fencers switch to épée in their early teens. Sabre is virtually non-existant.

[Johnsa]

Yes, I know... But kenmon probably has the choice of all 3 weapons. So I just thought I'd check if age should be taken into consideration when choosing.

I personally have the choice between epee or... epee Unless I manage to track down that one single norwegian Sabreur and train with him. Hey! Maybe he's really lonesome and looking for a training buddy!?

John

[irishfolker]

I started in January at the age of 52. On Sunday, I will be fencing at the Richmond NAC in V50MF with 46 other 50-somethings. It's never too late. Join the fun!

[tkexi991]

Originally Posted by kenmon

would like to get involved in the sport. is it too late for me? im 37 yrs old. looking for suggestions on where to start

Here is a map of clubs in VA - http://www.va-usfa.org/clubmap.html

Good luck!

[blackfencer]

it is not important when you start but how you start!!

[Dev]

Originally Posted by Johnsa

I'm also thinking about starting, and I'm 38...

But I'm looking at some videos, and have a question: Foil seems to be for the young & fast, while there are a lot more oldies in epee and particularly in sabre. Is this correct??

John

See what's available in your local region and at the nearby clubs. You might have an easier time (not to mention more fun) with a weapon that is well-represented with coaches and fencers around your own age, as opposed to one that limits your opportunities to learn and practice simply because there's no one to teach you and nobody to fence.

[irishfolker]

They may be faster, but you can get smarter.

[sabreteur]

I started fencing four years ago when I was 46. It has been more fun than I know how to describe.

[fencer92]

I don't think it is ever too late. My husband started last year at 46 and is competing in first competition NAC on Sunday. Good luck to you and have fun.

[fencerbill]

Use Peach as an example. She started fencing when she got tired of just sitting around watching her teen aged daughter fencing. She has earned a Veterans World Championship FIE medal and has been several times National Age Group Champion. Along the way she earned an A at an all-age Women's Sabre NAC.

The problem with Sabre for all Veterans is overcoming the advantage of young legs. You will get very discouraged at losing touches, bouts and tournaments against the young folks with legs like Tigger. Yes, you can hold your own against others at your stage of maturity but you have to rationalize, a lot, losing to middle schoolers.

There is a certain logic to starting with Foil. There is a better balance between using legs and arms to earn touches. There is more of an emphasis on balance between attack and defense and learning the complexities of right of way and how to gain advantage and avoid losing advantage using ROW.

It is true that a lot of older fencers gravitate to Epee. You will run across a lot of A-classified V50 and even V60 Epeeists, both men and women. Elaine Cheris went to an Olympics in her 40's, if not 50's. Your fall off of capability in your hands/arms is slower than in your legs. John Moreau won a national all-ages US Epee Championship after he had competed at a Veterans World Championships.

There isn't just one choice of weapon, it depends on your temperament and capabilites. I would recommend that you consider your choice of which weapon to emphasize based on the training and coaches that are available to you. How well and how quickly you improve will be helped by coaching that considers your capabilities at your age.

[sheck]

Originally Posted by fencerbill

The problem with Sabre for all Veterans is overcoming the advantage of young legs. You will get very discouraged at losing touches, bouts and tournaments against the young folks with legs like Tigger. Yes, you can hold your own against others at your stage of maturity but you have to rationalize, a lot, losing to middle schoolers.

So true!

[jmos58]

A guy in my club is 72 and has no problem.