New to Fencing and a few questions

[Nerdynick]

Hello everyone.

I have recently started fencing by purchasing a foil, mask, glove, and a book (The Art and Science of Fencing by Nick Evangelista). My maestro (Justin Evangelista) provides the jackets for now, I'll get one eventually though. I have about 6 weeks of fencing (1 class a week) under my belt. And, since starting to read the aforementioned book and doing some online reading, I was wondering a few things.

1. I have heard it is difficult to fence leftys because of their (relatively) strange stance. I was wondering if it would be worth it to learn to fence left handed (I'm right handed) to either help me against lefty opponents or to give me an edge over other right handed fencers (when I get around to bouting).

2. When does the average fencer start bouting? When is the best time to start? I am understandably eager, but I don't want to develop bad habits.

3. I lead a semi-sedentary lifestyle, consisting of little exercise (i have recently started to do arm repetitions and pushups on a semi-regular basis, but I find it hard to motivate myself. I do a lot of walking however). Is this a problem for fencing? I have noticed slight trouble breathing when in the jacket and mask, not debilitating, just distracting. I think it is related to me being out of shape, having little muscle, and an ill-fitting jacket.

4. My build is fairly large. Just over 6 feet (I'm 14, I tower over most of my peers) and weigh in at 220 or so pounds (mostly fat, to my frustration. I'm trying to reverse that though). How can I use this to my advantage?

5. What general advice can you give a starting fencer? I plan to continue fencing into at least the advanced courses, hopefully to competition level.

6. Some of my friends have taken an intrest in fencing after I demonstrated a few things to them (one went as far as to buy a foil). I don't want to teach them though, as I am still learning and still have a few kinks to work out for myself and would undoubtedly instill one bad habit or another in them. We (obviously) wish to be in the same class, but I don't want to hold myself back and repeat basics, nor do I want them to be behind me by enrolling in basics after me. What would be the best course of action here?

Thank you everyone. Cheers!

[noodle]

1. I have heard it is difficult to fence leftys because of their (relatively) strange stance. I was wondering if it would be worth it to learn to fence left handed (I'm right handed) to either help me against lefty opponents or to give me an edge over other right handed fencers (when I get around to bouting).

their stance isn't strange, its just that the angles are different. you can see and easily hit different target area against a left-handed fencer as compared to a right-handed one. and there are fewer left-handed fencers, so you typically get less practice against them, leading to you performing worse against them.

fence whichever hand is more comfortable for you.

2. When does the average fencer start bouting? When is the best time to start? I am understandably eager, but I don't want to develop bad habits.

thoroughly depends on the instructor and the class. i know teachers that will suit up beginners the first day to bout, and i know some that won't let new fencers touch a weapon for many months.

3. I lead a semi-sedentary lifestyle, consisting of little exercise (i have recently started to do arm repetitions and pushups on a semi-regular basis, but I find it hard to motivate myself. I do a lot of walking however). Is this a problem for fencing? I have noticed slight trouble breathing when in the jacket and mask, not debilitating, just distracting. I think it is related to me being out of shape, having little muscle, and an ill-fitting jacket.

again, thoroughly depends on the class and instructor. if you want to take a more recreational, sedentary type of fencing class, perhaps one more geared towards the art of it than the sport of it, you can.

if you hope to compete, though, you'll either ramp yourself up into more athletic shape, or you'll not do well at all.

4. My build is fairly large. Just over 6 feet (I'm 14, I tower over most of my peers) and weigh in at 220 or so pounds (mostly fat, to my frustration. I'm trying to reverse that though). How can I use this to my advantage?

being tall is an advantage in all weapons. whichever you pick, i'm sure you'll figure out how to use it best for yourself.

5. What general advice can you give a starting fencer? I plan to continue fencing into at least the advanced courses, hopefully to competition level.

based on what you've said so far, i'd suggest 3 things:
1) read a different book. maybe one of these, specifically the recommended ones
2) work on getting in shape. no need to push hard, but at age 14, you can do almost anything and shed weight. you just have to want to do it, and do it consistently. doing some basic weightlifting would likely help a lot.
3) stick with it.

6. Some of my friends have taken an intrest in fencing after I demonstrated a few things to them (one went as far as to buy a foil). I don't want to teach them though, as I am still learning and still have a few kinks to work out for myself and would undoubtedly instill one bad habit or another in them. We (obviously) wish to be in the same class, but I don't want to hold myself back and repeat basics, nor do I want them to be behind me by enrolling in basics after me. What would be the best course of action here?

a week or two will not make a difference in the long run. perhaps you won't be in the same class for a bit, but it would be very strange if, after a month or two, you were not in the same class.

[Lady Quindecim]

Yeah, what he said.
Only, I'd like to add that, in a club of 10, with one being a lefty, how many fencers does she get to fence? Lefties give each other trouble, just because it is unfamiliar.

[Kylee]

I've been fencing for about a month or so now. Naturally, I am right handed at everything I do, but, I tried left on the first day and It did not feel too odd so I stuck with it.

Now, I fence left-handed. I give a lot of people trouble, naturally.
As the others that posted before me said, do what feels better, try each hand out.

From experience, when ever I fence tall fencers (I'm very slender, 4'10 and age 20) the main problem is their arm reach, obviously, but then again in my opinion very tall or very short has a advantage. I mean, I have such a small target area! It just takes time to find out how to use that advantage, I've been working on it.

Exercise will really help. I was never into working out, since I never had to since I have never gained weight really and didn't do too much activity. Working on staying in the en guarde position, and calf exercises, have helped me out alot as well as just drills of advance/retreat.

I don't think I'm helping, but, I know what your going through, I wish I had someone to fence with though when not in class! Good luck, keep it up, if I can make it this far so can you.

[thekoby]

2. When does the average fencer start bouting? When is the best time to start? I am understandably eager, but I don't want to develop bad habits.

4. My build is fairly large. Just over 6 feet (I'm 14, I tower over most of my peers) and weigh in at 220 or so pounds (mostly fat, to my frustration. I'm trying to reverse that though). How can I use this to my advantage?

2. For my beginner foil students, they start bouting each other at practice under my supervision (with help from the senior members) after the first 3 weeks of practice - but we meet 3 nights a week so there is a bit more time in there.

4. for this I will link you to this image of Joe Landin (far right). He's from northern Indiana and stands nearly 6'8". The best thing about Joe is that you see a large, very tall guy and expect him to be slow. His footwork is impeccable and lightning fast when he wants it to be. I would suggest learning how to use your height to your advantage to keep a greater distance, yet still keeping control of the strip and able to hit valid target area.

[Scorpius]

1. Don't worry about learning to fence left handed. Of course you can if you want to, but don't feel like you have to just because Evangelista says so. I've never really had a problem with lefties myself. You see an open target, you hit it, just like a right-hander.

2. In my classes it's week seven or eight.

3. Keep fencing, it will get better. You might want to consider adding some light cardio every day.

2.

4. for this I will link you to this image of Joe Landin (far right). He's from northern Indiana and stands nearly 6'8". The best thing about Joe is that you see a large, very tall guy and expect him to be slow. His footwork is impeccable and lightning fast when he wants it to be. I would suggest learning how to use your height to your advantage to keep a greater distance, yet still keeping control of the strip and able to hit valid target area.

Been there, done that. His arms are so long he hardly needs to lunge. He just extends and nails you. And, of course, if he catches your blade you're done.