Veteran Fencing

[135711]

what's the story. any veteran fencers on board?

[remise]

I don't know if I'm really a veteran. I'm one in age, but not able to compete yet.

[Purple Fencer]

I'll be an official Old Guy at the end of the month...so I'll be a Vet for next season

[Peach]

Vet

[damianip]

US: I'm a Vet
International: I'm not a Vet

Paolo

[Artisan]

Rookie Vet...

Originally posted by 135711
what's the story. any veteran fencers on board?

[sallearmourer]

I am a veteran armourer does that count.

Tim

[Dee EffEll]

Vet., and I have lots of excuses. Ibuprophen (a/k/a "fencing candy") anyone?

[Inquartata]

I'm in the same boat with Paolo: veteran in the eyes of the USFA only, to the FIE I'm still a kid, apparently...

[135711]

it all counts, i hope we can keep this veteran thread going, i'd like to hear what you have to say about fencing later on. for me, i find it more difficult. maybe that's what my other teacher was screaming about, he was feeling his age. it comes and goes, the energy is there, but tapping into it is difficult. Yesterday I spoke was a girl who's getting ready for a marathon, she's doing 10 miles a day, when she answered the telephone she sounded like a 70 year old woman, I was shocked and wondered does she really run? but later, as we spoke, I could hear her voice pick up, then I realized, that it's all about getting involved, and staying in the game. It comes and goes. I'm jumping into the Really folder again, it's fascinating.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Veteran by age, certainly not by depth and breadth of fenceing mastery!

Here's a question for other vets: How do you balance amount of practice with lack of cartilage in the knees? It seems the more I practice, the worse the joints get.

[Inquartata]

Glucosamine-chondroitin!

Neoprene and metal-splint braces!

Aspirin!

Ice! Heating pad!

And I practice as much as I can, knee protests or no...

[sabreur]

I'm a vet, but not for the World Champs yet.

I generally stay away from Vet competitions though. The directing here in Germany can be a little archaic--all those sabre-wielding dinosaurs!

MR

[engardemisami]

I am a vet. In my younger age, I never did much competitive sports. I worked out and was in decent shape. Unlike a lot of people I have known over the years that have had active/competitive activities, my body showed little deterioration. When I started fencing last year, I was limber, no joints hurt, never ever even took ibuprofen. I woke up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to go.
Now, I wake up stiff every day. I try to practice 3 times a week and my body just cannot heal fast enough in between. I have had problems with my fencing hand that worries me that it could spell the end of my fencing career. I take vioxx almost everyday and have to warm up all my joints and muscles before I can move properly. I have to say though that I feel that I am in better cardiac and muscle condition than 10 years ago. It is the swollen joints that are troublesome. All in all, I am having fun in this sport and would continue it even it it meant I have to switch to leftie.

[remise]

I actually have a joint disease, and had was diagnosed with it shortly after I began fencing. While the pain can vary in degrees - I use the glucos and a lot of time on the herbal heating pads. For those fellow vets who have trouble with the hand/wrist - may I recommend sleeping with one of those hand/wrist braces you use for carpal tunnel syndrome. My arthritis doctor suggested this, and at first I thought he was crazy. After a week of sleeping with the brace on my fencing hand, I suddenly noticed that there was no pain in that wrist/hand.

Now, if I have a flare-up, the splint goes back on.

[Mergs]

Same as Paolo. But not for long. Give me a year and a half.

Anyone going to Texas in March?

[Boo Boo]

Originally posted by Inquartata
Glucosamine-chondroitin!

I also use this. I am not a veteran fencer (am in my late 20s), but hope to try and fight of some of the joint damage that fencing so much is bound to be inflicting on my poor knees...

Boo

[Artisan]

Originally posted by 135711
what's the story. any veteran fencers on board?

And here's a story:

I attended a local Vet competition held in our club. Foil in the AM and Epee in the afternoon. Relatively good turn out. 12 for foil and 20 for Epee. I had a very enjoyable time. The mood was very different from the regular opens. People were more easy going, lots of joking around, kidding the refs, etc...most people seemed to have already known each other for years - and despite that, no one could have predicted the outcome - that is to say the competition amongst the final 4-6 was close in both events. There were several nationally ranked fencers present as well as a few rookies such as myself. What is lost in footwork and fitness is often more than compensated for in bladework and cunning. Its an excellent venue to see and learn new skills. Several people were former college fencers who returned to the sport later in life. No scowling, no mask kicking, no yelling after every touch, no one sculking around after a difficult loss. More discussions about knee repairs, recountings of surgical experiences, etc. Big bottle of ibuprophen at the bout committee table...

My Favorite Quote:
"Can they turn on more lights, it seems dark in here?"

My Favorite Moment:
Referee on strip two [impatient]:"SIR, you are fencing NOW, we are waiting!"
Vet Fencer [gathering stuff]: "I'm sorry, did you call my name? I didn't hear you."
Nearby Joker [stage whisper]: "...that happens a lot at these things!"

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Anyone have luck with "tennis elbow"-type remedies? Next to the lunge knee, that's what seems to get tendonitis the worst.

I do ice and heated massage during the bad spells, but are there any recommendations for bands/braces, etc that people have had work?

And before all the young turks at the UMass club (and others) start snickering, I can only say:

Wait 20 years and see how funny you think it is.

[jeff]

Is Vet 50? If so, then not-quite-there, though in the 40+ competitions.

Knees? Don't even say that word! I tore cartilage there in the Garden State Games around 1985, and foolishly continued fencing. Nowadays it's more occasional pain than chronic, but I sure ache the day(s) after a hard day fencing.

Either aspirin or red wine after competition, but not both. Make the platelets happy.

cheers, Jeff