37 yrs old and getting back into fencing

[andy966]

Don't buy anything now. After you've used club equipment for a few weeks, buy a glove and mask. Then next time you wish to shell out the ca$h, get a halfway decent jacket (should last a year or two, so don't get a crappy one.) a bodycord and one electric weapon. And a bag to carry your stuff in.

Thanks for the advise lefty. Makes sense.

[Fencergrl]

Yeah... club gear is notoriously smelly.... No coincidence that it improves equipment sales... nope none.

[wahrman]

Aww..shucks... *blush*

Too bad my ex-wife didn't seem to think so.

You're just a babe (in more ways than one)!

[needle]

I came back at 34, after 20 years hiatus.
Depends on how hard you're willing to train, how much time/money to spend, and what results you want to achieve.
You won't get a place on a junior team, I think that's a fairly safe bet

[theLuz]

...oh..and ditch the foil for epee!!!!!!

follow what you like. Epee is for old folks, where foil and saber give you a good workout. You can fence epee during the evening when you want to rest, though. Epee is more of a lottery.

[Inquartata]

Or bingo at a retirement home.

The picture that FG photo is not showing speed, BTW, so much as faulty photography. ( It also looks more like a running attack than a fleche, but then, what do I know about either? I fence sabre. )

[Got_Fenced_In]

Sorry for being like, the last one to say this (life is pretty busy right now) but, welcome to fnet!

[the maple epee]

hoy!...

[d2mckay]

I'm in the same boat as Andy.. I fenced (foil only) from highschool to 2 or 3 years into uni. I only have one friend who kept it up, and he's coaching a club now here in Australia.

I tried to get back into it, joining the local club that I was a member of 'back then' (still run by the same couple), but found myself physically incapable of fitting into club gear.. I've lead a fairly sedentary life since the good old days.
... So... I gave up.

I really want to get back into it, and compete in the sport.

[TodG]

I've had 3 breaks in my fencing: College, then a 20 year hiatus and staring again at 40, then another year break and starting again at 45. I moved from Portland OR to Helena MT and ended up founding the Helen fencing club about 2 months ago. It's amazing how quickly it all comes back, although the mind recovers faster than the body.

[fencertny]

I started fencing about 9 months ago at 39 and LOVE IT (despite getting beat up by my own kids!) I'm glad to know there are more "grown-ups" out there as I often seem to be the only adult showing up at my adult class. It means I get a private lesson, which is great, but it would be nice to fence with other pre-arthritic folk...

[TodG]

I restarted at 45. I'm enjoying watching the weight fall off and the muscles tone. As noted by others, the endurance is lacking, but my technique is much better than the youngsters Old age and guile can make up for youth.