Why did you choose fencing?

[parryDoh]

To recruit more fencers for our club, im trying to find out why new fencers try out the sport. So far I have:

improve fitness
interests in history
seen it at the olympics
competive sport
fence before

...and thats all i got so far.

So new fencers, what got you fencing????

[Zilverzmurfen]

I wanted to improve fitness, so naturally picked a sport that seemed to be a lot of fun.

Another bonus for me was that it was not a team sport so I could go practice (basically) whenever I wanted, without having to consider ~10 other people.

(I might add that I took up fencing as an adult so possibly had other reasons and priorities than a child might have..)

[slow_learner]

Selling points that I only realized after the fact:

--like many martial arts, you can practice on your own, in a relatively small space

--you show up at an open session, and you fence the other people who show up, versus the endless phoning/negotiating/booking required by tennis/squash ladders or getting a golf foursome together

[Foiled in Seattle]

At 57 years old, I'm about to start my first class. Why fencing? Why now? Because I recognize that I'm a very competitive athlete, and fencing is one of the few sports that allows intense one-on-one competition at a novice level. And the chances of getting hurt are far fewer than in other sports.

[whiteandbluefencer]

Let's see, I started because I saw fencers at the Activities Fair at my college. Back home it's not a very popular sport at all, so I wanted to rebel and try something completely out of the ball park. Other traditional sports (by American standards), just weren't for me... I was never successful at basketball, volleyball, or softball. I tried this new and somewhat unusual sport and loved it. It was not easy, but intensely interesting, so of course, I became hooked. That's my story.

[matt9476]

Why do men do anything? To meet women.

Seriously, I wanted to try something different from what my friends were doing. And I prefer individual sports to team sports.

[Sean Butler]

For me it's the thrill of a fight, with all the intensity of boxing or karate, without the pain. It's a stress reliever, it's good execise, and it's about as fun as sports get without full contact.

[TodG]

Come on. Fighting with sword?! What's not to like?

Started due to historical interest. Stuck with it because it was fun. Now doing it at 45 because it's still fun, is a great work out and beats the treadmill.

[MezhduProchim]

I have always thought fencing was interesting but grew up in a small town that didn't offer much of anything sports wise, let alone something like fencing. When I started university I was going to take kayaking and fencing lessons but chickend out since I didn't know anyone interested in going with me and decided to do rec hockey(it was my sport between dancing and now fencing) instead. Finally after a few years I just thought "Enough is enough. Just suck it up and go alone". I figured that once I'm done with the student life and enter the real would I would make excuses that I don't have enough time and money to try anything new. So if there was any time to start, it's now.

My reasons. Hmm. I would have to say that the fact that is a more obscure sport was a reason for my choosing it. Obviously that causes problems when trying to find a club, gear ect but I don't want to be like everyone else. I don't really think I explained that well...

Another is how great of a workout you actually get. It's amazing.

Another is to work on my shyness. I don't like being the focus of attention and have therefore done only team sports before. Bouting is fine when we are all going at it but last lesson it was just two at a time while the rest of the class(and advanced fencers eek!) watched. It was nerve racking for me, but I survived

[D'Art]

I started cos my big brother did it, and as we all know, when you're a young pup your older sibling is your hero.

[ApAperture]

Seriously, I wanted to try something different from what my friends were doing. And I prefer individual sports to team sports.

I second this; I tried fencing because it looked so alien and different from anything that my friends were doing. When I told my bff's boyfriend, he was in disbelief. He didn't know it existed where we lived. But he was really interested because he never knew anyone who did and that led to a 30 mins conversation about what the classes or the sport was like. Seriously, in a crowd at school, people would say hockey, basketball, football, futbol as their favorite sport and I didn't want to be that common (expect hockey heh , heart that sport too). C'mon, while people swing bats, clubs, sticks, etc, I get to wield a weapon, that itself is awesome!

I liked the tradition also. but this goes back to my theatre influence. I love how we salut in the beginning and end of a bout.

Tell them it's a very mental sport also and not just physical.

[ApAperture]

To recruit more fencers for our club, im trying to find out why new fencers try out the sport. So far I have:

improve fitness
interests in history
seen it at the olympics
competive sport
fence before

...and thats all i got so far.

So new fencers, what got you fencing????

I forget this; for the young ones, if they get really really good at it, they have a bit chance to get into a very good school. Emphasize on the bit.

[slow_learner]

I liked the tradition also. but this goes back to my theatre influence. I love how we salut in the beginning and end of a bout.

I'll second that about the salute. It is sooooo old fashioned, polite, genteel, sportsmanlike, courtly, romantic, chivalric--call it what you will. Exactly the stuff that is fast-draining out of the modern world.

[ApAperture]

I'll second that about the salute. It is sooooo old fashioned, polite, genteel, sportsmanlike, courtly, romantic, chivalric--call it what you will. Exactly the stuff that is fast-draining out of the modern world.

There's just something about the salute that when I do it, even when I lose, it gives me that awesome feeling. Sometimes it's as good as the bout. Love it, Love it, Love it.

[Morale Officer]

I started fencing on a dare. (Dead serious here) My best friend from high school and I were very competative. When we were in the same gym class (for 3 years actually), if the teacher put us on opposite teams, we beat the crap out of each other. If she put us on the same team, we basically worked as an unstopable team. When we went to different colleges. She called me one night and said she had started fencing and didn't think it was something I could do. Needless to say, I couldn't turn down that challenge! I still fence...she doesn't. lol!

[Mr. Top Hat]

I'd seen fencing in movies and stuff never looks like fun until i saw it during the games and running back and forth yelling and poking what else could i ask for?

main thing id say to you is when your not a fencer it seems to never be around then as soon as you start its every where.


so show people the light ! ahhhhhhh

[Pauli]

My brother used to be a good epee fencer and always told these war stories. Being a lot younger than him, many many years later I picked up foil.
Definitely because of my brother.
I quit, being the only student and being bored only seeing my coach and no-one else.

Again, years passed and shortly after a job change, I found out I had time to start something new. Fencing popped up in my mind again.

For the same reasons as already mentioned in earlier posts, good thing is you don't depend on anyone, the results are based on your own performance.

I did an introduction course and fell in love with the sport. So, maybe it's better to tell, why I stuck with fencing:
1) physical fitness
2) it needs total concentration
3) it needs speed
4) it needs strategical thinking
5) it needs control
6) due to above points, it allows me to shut off and be there, only on the piste, only with my epee and through this, relax

[theLuz]

At 57 years old, I'm about to start my first class. Why fencing? Why now? Because I recognize that I'm a very competitive athlete, and fencing is one of the few sports that allows intense one-on-one competition at a novice level. And the chances of getting hurt are far fewer than in other sports.

too bad you're not in Southern California. I like to poke ol farts

[Foiled in Seattle]

too bad you're not in Southern California. I like to poke ol farts

I moved from Southern California. Now I'm remembering why.

[Fencergrl]

LOL... he's just poking fun at you. He's a vet too (albeit a young one).

Welcome to the forum by the way.