06-12-2008, 09:56 AM
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#1 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2
| New and have some questions!
Hey there!  I’m a 16 yr old girl and I’m just under 5 feet tall. I’m also a lefty! Fencing is something that has always looks interesting to me. I think I’m going to try it…and I was wondering what any of the factors I listed would affect my ability in anyway. Is 16 a good age to start? And would being slightly short and left handed make any difference? I really don’t know much about it so I would appreciate a little info before I get started! Thanks! | 
|  | | And now for this message... |
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06-12-2008, 12:09 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Under the sea
Posts: 2,805
| First of all, Hi and welcome to the forums. Ignore the gibbon who'll no doubt be along soon to start wittering at you.
Next, the forums are full of folk who didn't start fencing till much older than you are now, and I believe at least one of them has gone on to be World Champion in the vets, so unless you're planning on making it to the Olympics, then your shouldn't affect your abilities.
Being short just means you've got less target to hit and are more likely to move easier than tall people, and being a lefty is definitely an advantage.
Hope this helps, and happy stabbing 
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06-12-2008, 01:50 PM
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#3 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2
| Thanks D'Art! I'm pretty exited and I'm going to start in a couple weeks!!
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Be kind - remember everyone you meet is fighting a battle - everybody's lonesome ~ Marion Parker
It doesn't hurt to be optimistic. You can always cry later. ~Unknown | |
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06-12-2008, 04:12 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston, but South
Posts: 2,416
| Quote:
Originally Posted by charmie  Hey there! | Welcome to our little hole in the internet! Quote: |
Is 16 a good age to start?
| Yes. You can get good before you're off and into college and eventually the real world. Quote: |
And would being slightly short...make any difference?
| Being slightly short does give you a disadvantage in your lunge distance. It will, however, give you a lower center of gravity, you'll be able to counter-attack with an esquive that requires getting lower to the floor (Something like passatta soto, not inquartata), and you will have a slightly less target area. Quote: |
And would being...left handed make any difference?
| Lefties usually have an advantage because they are used to fencing righties, but the righties arn't used to fencing lefties.
Of course, all of this information is for foil, which I personally found to be the best out of the three weapons. I suggest that you look into it. 
__________________ ↕ Embrace both lines.
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1 for syrup 0 for none.  | |
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06-12-2008, 05:15 PM
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#5 | | Posting Hound
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lylat System
Posts: 13,068
| Quote:
Originally Posted by D'Art First of all, Hi and welcome to the forums. Ignore the gibbon who'll no doubt be along soon to start wittering at you. | RAWR.
__________________ VOTE FOR SPORTS KID OF THE YEAR: The Fencer, DUH. I'm Neinteen, and I approve of this message. | |
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06-12-2008, 07:02 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dere middle of Vermont
Posts: 3,701
| *Fires a tranq dart into Nein's flank*
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06-12-2008, 09:38 PM
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#7 | | Posting Hound
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lylat System
Posts: 13,068
| Quote:
Originally Posted by the maple epee *Fires a tranq dart into Nein's flank* | Flanks of steel, try again.
__________________ VOTE FOR SPORTS KID OF THE YEAR: The Fencer, DUH. I'm Neinteen, and I approve of this message. | |
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06-12-2008, 10:10 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cubicle 13A on the 13th floor
Posts: 3,792
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Neinteen Flanks of steel, try again. | 
YAY! for lefty.
Welcome to the forum.
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"Agh, that's roping milk." -Mr. R. Johson, October 22nd, 2008
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06-13-2008, 12:00 AM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,048
| Quote:
Originally Posted by charmie Hey there! | A Hoy-Hoy! Quote:
Originally Posted by charmie I’m a 16 yr old girl and I’m just under 5 feet tall. | Short is good. 16, not so much. Too young for me to date without going to jail... Quote:
Originally Posted by charmie I’m also a lefty! | Good for you! So am I. Quote:
Originally Posted by charmie Fencing is something that has always looked interesting to me. | A promising start. Quote:
Originally Posted by charmie I think I’m going to try it… | A good decision. Quote:
Originally Posted by charmie ...and I was wondering what any of the factors I listed would affect my ability in anyway. | A good question. Quote:
Originally Posted by charmie Is 16 a good age to start? | It's as good as any other age. And better to start young than old, since you'll get to enjoy fencing for longer. Quote:
Originally Posted by charmie And would being slightly short and left handed make any difference? | Yes, they will.
Left-handedness is an advantage. You'll find that out quickly once you fence the righties at your club, and they start cursing when they wee you holding a blade in your left hand. The short is a mixed blessing. All things considered, it's how you use it. Quote:
Originally Posted by charmie I really don’t know much about it so I would appreciate a little info before I get started! Thanks! | Well, you are at the right place. Ask away, and don't mind  . She's crazy, but mostly harmless.
__________________ The preceding post brought to you by Rabid Monk (TM).
Rabid Monk: informative, irreverent, interesting, random and downright odd posts, done with pride since 1983. | |
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06-13-2008, 08:42 AM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,457
| Welcome to the forum
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06-13-2008, 11:18 AM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SOTX Division. Also usually found here ->
Posts: 2,427
| Since everyone else has pretty much taken care of your questions, I'll just say welcome to fnet, and that there are a lot fo people on here relatively close to your age... Me, and Timo, and Fish (Pescados!) and Maple, and Neinteen, and Sword Hobbit... there's a pretty ineteresting little group.
And everyone else is wonderful, as well. I could make lists but I'd be here all day 
__________________ ...and his favorite was 'Carpe Diem'.
(But all things must come to an end.)
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06-13-2008, 01:57 PM
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#12 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 14
| Welcome!
Don't fret about your age. I'm 26 and I just started fencing, too - ended up getting some pointers from the 19 year old sabre fencer in the local Orlando club.
I'm on a hiatus from going back until I get my own equipment, requiring a few weeks of putting money away, but I am definetely going back.
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