Hey, I'm as new to fencing as it gets. I've done wushu (which isn't really similar at all) and a few other martial arts, but other than pretend fencing (imitating Zorro, or Wesley from Princess Bride,) I have no experience and I'm REALLY excited for my first lesson and for my new hobby.
I am also new to this forum and I had a few questions, if that's alright.
First off, other than fencing (footwork, going over parries with a partner, etc), what kind of things are good conditioning/training for getting better? I already do yoga three times a week for flexibility and strength, (and I work at Wendy's full-time for stamina and endurance :\) but I want to take the sport seriously and get quite good, so I don't want to slack off!
Secondly, is there some place where I can get affordable but nice quality gear that you guys could inform me of? The prices really differ on different sites and stores, but I wanted to see if there was a well-known reliable source that more versed fencers could tell me about.
I want the whole schebang, probably starting with a nice foil, mask and glove, then if I can afford it, I'd get the coat, knickers, socks, shoes, maybe even the bib. Most people at my fencing club don't have all that gear, but this one student who is really amazing has the whole suit, and he looks way sweeter than the people with a t-shirt and gym shorts. Also, I want gear, shoes and clothes that I can move around properly in, and participate in tournaments with.
Lastly, I just wanted to say thanks for taking the time for reading all this!
As you might not have noticed, I am often the type to jump the gun. I was thinking about moving this post to it's proper home in "General Fencing", but I think it says something about my character that I was so whacky about getting started and asking questions that I didn't even properly introduce myself!
Sorry about that.
My name is Andrew, and I am proud to call myself a geek. I love fantasy and video games, writing music, cartoons and climbing trees (Despite the fact that I'm twenty.)
I got into fencing because I really wanted to exercise my mind and body in a fun way that would sharpen my instincts, acuity, reflexes and focus. I'm a bit flighty and absentminded, and I'm pretty goofy too. Oftentimes I either put my foot in my mouth or do "embarrassing things" like using a forum improperly, but I luckily don't really get embarrassed.
I like to think that despite my sometimes frustratingly carefree and unfocused, easygoing nature, I could furrow my brow and get serious in a duel and be good. I have a few years of wushu, and one year of karate. I'm also moderately competitive in nature, and happen to swing-dance as a hobby.
I haven't had my first lesson yet, and I think I want to get into epee or saber (even though my instructor only teaches foil), but that's okay, I hear foil is the groundsetter, so I can deal with starting there.
I'm not wealthy by any means, but I do want to get all the gear.
I think that's about it for my introduction... Oh, and I'm adequately longwinded.
If anybody wants to know more about me or talk about fencing, and/or pass along wisdom, feel free to respond or PM me.
hello Haikan and welcome i am sure you will be pleased with your new hobby (as i am) :P. i have been practising for one year so i am considered "new" to the sport but i would like to advice you as you dont get all the gear from the beggining. start with a sword, a wire and a mask on about 1-2 months after you start. then 2-3 months later get the jacet and if you are going into competitions get and the pants. up to the year you can see what it is missing and complete it .
about store there is the fencing.net store and i would also recoment the uhlmann/allstar store.
(i hope your first lesson turned up as you expected it and even better ;P)
P.S. sorry for bad spelling but i am not at my computer and there is not a spellchecker here =/
Thanks for the advice! You're probably right, I just want to have my own stuff so I can practice outside of the club more than once a week. (I can't take borrowed equipment out of the school). I do really look forward to my new hobby, and thanks for the warm welcome!
Assuming you can borrow equipment from your club for use during lessons, you probably won't need worry about buying much just yet.
As a beginner the most likely thing to work on outside of class will be footwork. Later on you might move up to simple blade work (extension, lunge, parries and disengages) however even then you aren't likely to need much more than a glove and a foil (or epee, or saber - whichever is appropriate) unless you happen to have either a fencing dummy or a live person with whom to practice (in which case you both should probably be wearing full protective gear - including the underarm protector that Purple Fencer previously mentioned).
And when you do start practicing with a weapon at home, please be aware of anyone else who might happen to be in the building - they aren't likely to be wearing any protective gear, nor should they need to.
Wind sprints are good training. (i.e. run as hard as you can for 30 sec, then run at 20% for 30-90 secs... up a hill if one is nearby). Other sports that require agility, coordination and quick changes in direction (tennis, basketball etc) are good for fencing.
Google and learn about training fast twitch muscles. (Type IIa and IIb). Discuss these things with your coach and get his/ her take on it.
When it comes to beginner gear, most vendors offer 2 types of pre-made beginner kits- a non-electric kit and an electric kit.
Ask your coach what gear to start out with. Typically, beginners start with a non-electric kit including: Mask, jacket, glove and non-electric weapon. An under-arm protector (aka plastron) is also very well advised.
An electric starter kit offers the rest of what one needs to fence electric. An electric weapon, a lame, a body cord, etc.
Fencing gear comes in 2 basic types: "Cen1 and Cen2 (aka "FIE"). Cen2 gear has higher safety standards than cen1 gear... but is more expensive.
During your lesson remain attentive, be nice to coach and the other noobs and have fun. No need for any brow furrowing :smile:
__________________ When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."
Foil is the recommended way to start and will teach you skills that will be valuable if and when you ever use an epee or sabre.
As an old guy, my biggets challenge has been running out of breath while fencing. So for me, cardio-pulmonary exercises are what I need most. As a younger person, I'm sure this is not as big an issue for you, but anything that helps you build your endurance will be a benefit (i.e. running, swimming, biking, hiking, etc).
As for buying gear, I'd start by buying the bare minimum (why spend money if you dont have to?). In my opinion, that would just be the foil itself for now. That way you can practice your point control and grip at home.
anything that helps you build your endurance will be a benefit (i.e. running, swimming, biking, hiking, etc).
Endurance training can be useful to get you to a basic minimum level of general fitness. After that, fencing calls for more anaerobic training. You need fast, explosive, controlled movements. The ability to slog through a 10k doesn’t help fencers that much. Google HIIT and modify that info to fit your condition.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdavies
As for buying gear, I'd start by buying the bare minimum (why spend money if you don’t have to?). In my opinion, that would just be the foil itself for now. That way you can practice your point control and grip at home.
People have been sweating in the club gear for centuries. How often do you think it gets washed?
For me, it'd be worth the 150 bucks to have my own gear.
__________________ When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."
Wow, this advice is really helpful! For what it's worth, my twin brother and I are taking up the lessons at the same time, so near as I figure, I could train with him outside of class, which is why I wanted the gear. The coach said that on my first lesson I'd just learn footwork, and some basic parries. Just for fun at the end of the lesson I might get to fence.
So, that's about where I stand. Do you think my brother and I should get the starter kits (and plastrons) so we can practice? Or should we wait? We do have the money for the gear and the lessons (in fact, we're considering also taking kung fu lessons), it's just we wouldn't have much left after all that (we'd still have enough to pay the bills, but no nights out on the town for a while )
So basically, I just want to be able to train all the time.
IF you and your brother are going to practice together then you should definitely both be wearing practice kits at a minimum. However you may want to reconsider that entire idea. Two beginners practicing together without knowledgeable supervision sounds like a pretty good way to pick up bad habits that might prove difficult to break latter on.
Better to stick with footwork at first (there are still plenty of footwork drills you can do together).
Good for you, Haikan! Welcome to the wonderful and sometimes weird world of fencing. Your first lesson sounds like it's a group lesson, not an individual lesson. This is how many of us started. You will likely add individual lessons as you become more proficient and your interest in competition grows. For now, don't worry about equipment. Ask your coach for assistance when you are ready to buy, or come back here and support Craig, or Purple Fencer, or one of the quality outfits that support this board. You get what you pay for and this is not just sporting gear, IT'S SAFETY GEAR! Now on to more important things!
One of the most common problems for fencers of all ages is the confusion between building fitness and building technique. The advice above on endurance and anaerobic training is well founded. You can do those exercises on your own (or with your bro) and they are a great use of your time. You should pay close attention to the coach when you're in your lesson. Focus and take your time. Do the actions exactly as described and don't rush them! Do them as slowly and as perfectly as you can. You are learning technique and building muscle memory (or training your proprioception circuits if you want to get scientific). Fencing is like all the other really good things in life, it takes time to master. But the enjoyment is in the pursuit, and it starts right away; at least it did for me 30 years ago! Enjoy!!
-M
__________________
And, isn't sanity really just a one-trick pony anyway? I mean all you get is one trick, rational thinking, but when you're good and crazy, oooh, oooh, oooh, the sky is the limit.
Alright! I had my first lesson, and it was pretty cool. I didn't learn from the head coach; I learned from a few of his top students and they started with just footwork. I learned on guard, I learned how to lunge, advance, retreat, and I think they called it la sarde or something? It was basically the grapevine and I had to learn how to keep my balance on BOTH feet, not one or the other. ...That was frustrating and weird at first. (In wushu it's all about switching off balance constantly). They said my stamina was really good for a first time student though, which was happy, but I guess I have bad habits of standing on my toes.
And I wanted to be a pro-fencer after my first lesson. :C
But seriously, I'm pretty excited. In an hour and a half, I learned some footwork, I learned how to parry 4 and 6, and I learned how to attack 4. Really they just drilled that over and over for a while. The one guy made me wait two whole seconds between attacking and lunging, which feels weird, I want to have just a fraction of a second, but I need it to be black and white at first, which I understand.
Anyway... That seems like more of a blogpost than a topic reply,
I guess you guys didn't need to know all that, but I'm super stoked about fencing.
these are great news Haikan. always the first lesson is at the same time a little boring as you dont have the chance to play a match but also very exciting as you learn the basics. i see that you love the sport so you will advance quicker than some others . i am sure you cannot wait till the next lesson ;P
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