Beginner Fencer here, questions.

[ysbadadden]

Watch the fencing footwork videos made by Dave Littell and the ones featuring Alex Beguinet. You will see the moves correctly executed -- probably better than your coach -- you will have a chance to imitate them while watching yourself in the mirror -- and you will come to your first class with a good idea of what will be expected of you.

[Dr Epee]

When I first started fencing, I was looking for a book to read. The only book on fencing that Barnes and Noble had was by Nick Evangelista. So I got it. Don't you make that mistake. It took me months to exorcise him from my head. If you want to know why, just do a thread search on his name.

[Hobbes]

http://www.escrime-ffe.fr/SITE_FFE/b...its_videos.htm

go here, go to the section labeled "Compétitions" and click the links. That is a great place to get some high level fencing. There is no commentary so no one explains anything. Just another source for videos. Oh, and watch the Princess Bride... who cares if you can't fence like that on the strip, I still don't know a fencer who has not watched it.

[ACrimsonRapier]

How much film is on these DVDs? (In minutes)
Is it worth investing into?

I think for the most part they're worth investing in. You see how different high level fencing is from what's commonly seen, and the slow motion replays DOES help a lot. It's particularly good to see how their foot work and prep is. It gives you ideas on your own. Once you understand the basics of fencing I strongly believe watching the DVDs helps you get better. There's no replacement for actual fencing, but you definitely learn a lot by watching.

I only know about the foil DVDs, but the lengths are always different because they change the number of bouts they put on the DVD, and different bouts last different amounts of time. It also depends on the editing. Some DVDs edit out the minute breaks, some don't. Some edit out lengthy pauses, some don't.

The DVD lengths and quality vary. In the most recent St. Petersburg DVD there is the French v German team, two bouts from the final 8, the semi-finals, and the finals. The bouts from the top 8 aren't filmed as well as the team, finals, and semi-finals though. These have replays after almost every touch, and the score and lights (machine, touches, whatever you want to call it) is shown at the bottom of the screen, so you know who hit where. In the top eight they don't do this so it can be very confusing. That DVD also has two women's bouts.

In the Torino World Championship there are only four bouts--the semi-finals, finals, and team (Germany v France). Even though this DVD is shorter, I think the bouts are probably more exciting to watch and editing is a little better.

The other DVD I have is the best of men's foil, which, again, depends heavily on the editing and camera work. It shows some really good bouts, but when the score and lights aren't displayed at the bottom it can make complicated actions hard to follow. The camera work is sort of bad on some of them, too. Like the fencers will move out of the camera's view, and the camera wont move to follow them.

All good to learn from, but that's my experience with them! :X

There's a lot of good fencing you can find on random websites, streaming. They wont have the slow motion replay--most have the lights at the bottom, though--but they're still free and exciting.

[King Thunderblast III]

Ah thanks for all the replies guys!

[King Thunderblast III]

I'm afraid I'm going to make you all BALK at this next question. But how long does it take to get good at Fencing? I know it's subjective from person to person but I mean assimilate principles, techniques, not show oneself up at a bout etc, enter comps.

Don't flame me.

[Hobbes]

I'm afraid I'm going to make you all BALK at this next question. But how long does it take to get good at Fencing? I know it's subjective from person to person but I mean assimilate principles, techniques, not show oneself up at a bout etc, enter comps.

Don't flame me.

When did you start getting better?

search function ftw! See I'm not flaming the question, just the fact that you asked it.

[Got_Fenced_In]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=79EsZgZFZqA

Now that, was bloody cool.

I have that faved on my YT account

[King Thunderblast III]

I have that faved on my YT account

Haha yeah!

When did you start getting better?

search function ftw! See I'm not flaming the question, just the fact that you asked it.

Heh np, I didn't quite know what to search.

[mrbiggs]

I'm afraid I'm going to make you all BALK at this next question. But how long does it take to get good at Fencing? I know it's subjective from person to person but I mean assimilate principles, techniques, not show oneself up at a bout etc, enter comps.

Don't flame me.

Actually not at all a dumb question IMO.

I'd say bare minimum a year to become competitive. That's when I started competing. I was awful at that point, but I believe there are examples of fencers with mild national success with not much more training than that. It depends on who you are, but also on the quality and type of your coach, as well as how much you practice. If you get private lessons with a national coach every day of the week for a year and practice fencing nearly daily as well, you'll probably be pretty good at the end of that year. If you do as I did and practice with a high school team, then go to a club once a week, you won't be as good.

However, I honestly don't know the average time spent to get at a certain level, be it points lists or even the best fencers at the local level. I can tell you that nearly all of the best fencers I fence at local tournaments must have been fencing for at least 3-5 years because I've known them for that long.

[King Thunderblast III]

Ah, thank you for your informative reply.

[Aestro]

Yeah, it does a depend on a lot of different things - what you consider "good", how often your club meets, how long practices are, and how much you practice on your own, as well as natural talent. Some fencers will start slow but keep at it for years and end up being incredible. Some will start off quickly because of good reflexes or athleticism, but get cocky after beating a few lower-level opponents, become too worried about always getting the touch instead of actually working on areas that need improvement. Some will work hard and rocket up the charts, and some simply stay bad but enjoy the sport nonetheless. "Good" is always up to your goals, whether they be simply to be competitive in small, local tournaments or to place well at nationals.

For the most part, just talk to your instructor. They should have a lesson plan, and will tell you when they think you're ready for competition fencing (or even a friendly bout!). Just be warned that it is a very slow process at first - you will potentially spend weeks or even months before picking up a blade. Again, this could differ based on your instructor's plan, but expect a bit of a wait before you're even allowed to do practice bouts.

[King Thunderblast III]

Cool thanks guys, currently I'm also reading up on famous fencers, Aldo Nadi sounds cool.

[Aestro]

Cool thanks guys, currently I'm also reading up on famous fencers, Aldo Nadi sounds cool.

He is, and if you haven't seen it yet, buy this.

[Slacker]

Thunder, when you get good all depends on your level of committment and natural ability. Some people have natural ability; some people work/study very hard, but never beat the naturals, and then there's a group that just doesn't get it.

I've fenced for 5 years and I still suck. (Never mind that I am old enough to be your mother, and that I practice once or twice a week, with few private lessons-I do it for fun) Wait a minute-- I've never seen the Pricess Bride; maybe that"s my problem!

I see kids pass through our club tripping over themselves in the beginning. Within 6-8 months they're beating me regularly. In local and regional competitions they do respectably. By the time they get to college they've made the college team. The successful ones take the coach's suggestions (and that's what they are- suggestions, not criticism) seriously, and work on it. Every one of them hits a plateau for awhile.

If you're really anxious to learn, watch the videos and get pumped up that way. Look at the footwork exercises on this website. Strengthen your legs with biking, running. The first weeks weed out a lot of people just from sore muscles! I've found tennis helps my fencing and vice versa. Good luck- see you on the piste.

[wbowman]

When you do start getting better, other people who watch you or fence you will be able to notice long before you feel like it yourself. That's the point where you have to try not to get discouraged and just keep plugging away at it.

[King Thunderblast III]

He is, and if you haven't seen it yet, buy this.

Surely that's far to technical for a n00b? :P

Thunder, when you get good all depends on your level of committment and natural ability. Some people have natural ability; some people work/study very hard, but never beat the naturals, and then there's a group that just doesn't get it.

I've fenced for 5 years and I still suck. (Never mind that I am old enough to be your mother, and that I practice once or twice a week, with few private lessons-I do it for fun) Wait a minute-- I've never seen the Pricess Bride; maybe that"s my problem!

I see kids pass through our club tripping over themselves in the beginning. Within 6-8 months they're beating me regularly. In local and regional competitions they do respectably. By the time they get to college they've made the college team. The successful ones take the coach's suggestions (and that's what they are- suggestions, not criticism) seriously, and work on it. Every one of them hits a plateau for awhile.

If you're really anxious to learn, watch the videos and get pumped up that way. Look at the footwork exercises on this website. Strengthen your legs with biking, running. The first weeks weed out a lot of people just from sore muscles! I've found tennis helps my fencing and vice versa. Good luck- see you on the piste.

Ah cool, thanks.

And good point Bow actually.

[FlecheAndBlood]

Some good ideas posted above.

Here is a link for what you can aspire to be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE2NMrqCGaI

Two bits of advice:

1. Stay loose at all times, a stiff arm makes you an easy target. As an old mastreo used to say "arm of rubber - hand of iron"

2. Watch the best fencers at your club and then try to mimic their movements.

But for day one just try no to fall down.

[TooLoftheDeviL]

Some good ideas posted above.

Here is a link for what you can aspire to be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE2NMrqCGaI

Two bits of advice:

1. Stay loose at all times, a stiff arm makes you an easy target. As an old mastreo used to say "arm of rubber - hand of iron"

2. Watch the best fencers at your club and then try to mimic their movements.

But for day one just try no to fall down.

Every time this video comes up, I twitch at the youtube comments.

[Timberwolf_CY]

My god, I don't know about fencing in a t-shirt...