How long does it take to reach the higher levels of fencing?

[Sabresque]

Originally posted by Mischa
Top 8 in the US after 1.5 years training?

Hey, why not? It's been done.
Usually it takes longer but sometimes it can happen.
Good luck, Sarah. I like to look back at the quotes that're in my signature. (Translation for the first one: Noone's born knowing everything, or noone's born a master)

[oiuyt]

According to the latest American Fencing Brendan Meyers (age 14) has been fencing 4 years. He's currently #1 in the US for MF Y14, Cadet, and Junior, and #5 Senior. Somewhat impressive to put it mildly.

We have a ME fencer locally who earned his A after about 1 1/2 years.

Certainly getting good fast CAN happen. Does it? Not often.

-B :)

[WoodsideDr]

So, if I were to summarize this. It either takes a long time, or a short time, or somewhere in-between. Except when it doesn't.

[Sabresque]

Basically. It definitely depends on the individual, their coach, and who they fence with.

[Sarah]

Yeah, getting good depends on a lot of things, but mainly how much effort and time you put into it (plus you must love what you do) At least that's what I think these people are saying, but I could be wrong... lol!

[Mischa]

How often do you fence, Sarah? I assume 3 or 4 nights a week?

[Sarah]

I fence every weekday and go to at least 2 competitions a month. Plus I do other physical activities by myself, like biking. I have time for it because I'm homeschooled. My fencing hours are 5-9 pm from Tues.-Fri. and 6-9pm on Mondays. I'll be on in 4.5 hours, hopefully we can talk then... c-ya!

[a517dogg]

Make sure you don't burn out.

[botmer]

sarah,
I think you can really get to top levels being that young and training that much...
I've also asked myself the same question you've posted, and often get myself frustrated about getting good, since I started fencing 2 years ago, at the age of 20 and had a dream of winning a competition, but since then I've heard often that I started too old to get to top levels, something that shouldn't bother you having started earlier. Unless the age you start at doesn't matter, but it does, since before 20 there are all the junior and cadet competitions to go, something I couldn't get in, for example.
With the information you give, I'd say you'd be really good in about 3-4 years more.
I dream also of winning some international competitions, but I'm 22, started 2 years ago, and train half the time you train, and on top of all, I'm still pretty bad and have a conflict of fencing styles....
then don't worry, there are more critical cases than yours (snif, snif)

[Sarah]

Oh, botmer so many adult start fencing later and actually acheive greatness, for instance Janace (a fencer at my hawaiian club) has been fencing off and on for over 20 years, she's a beautiful fencer and she's in her 40's I think. All it takes is time and patience (the patience thing is hard for me to grasp) and in 10-20 years you'll be brilliant! Like the song says "it just takes some time..." (Jimmyeatworld's song 'the middle', my life's theme song!) Thanks for the compliment, that's nice of you. (usually only my mom does that lol)

[wflaschka]

Originally posted by botmer

...I started fencing 2 years ago, at the age of 20 and had a dream of winning a competition, but since then I've heard often that I started too old to get to top levels, something that shouldn't bother you having started earlier.

As an instructor, I've found that late-starting fencers are easier to teach than young fencers. Right now, I'm mostly teaching to learn how to teach, and I prefer older fencers.

In my view, one can say that there are two main aspects to learning fencing: [a] tactics -- converting natural fencing actions like the parry, disengage and extension into reflexive or instinctive moves, and [b] philosophy -- being able to see how fencing actions fit into the larger confrontational framework of fencing.

Young fencers have it easier with [a], older fencers are better picking up at [b]. And, given that a conscientious series of lessons will create [a] in under a year, then [b] is the critical factor in developing a whole, well-rounded fencer.

For example, I picked up a 14-year-old who was started by someone else, and I also started a 35+ fencer myself. For the last 8 months, the young one has been struggling with adaptive strategies (how to change tactics based on opponent, psychology, 2nd intention). This is something the older fencer finds intuitive -- but his problem is getting his body to do what he wants. For now, the young fencer coasts through early rounds of tournaments by relying on 4 years of habitual response, while the older fencer must really concentrate to even maintain garde. However, the older fencer is taking more advanced lessons, and at present rates of improvement will soon out-shine the young fencer.

And I certainly remember myself as a young fencer -- if something couldn't be solved by going faster or harder, it just wouldn't be solved. It was like banging my head against a wall -- the higher levels of fencing were so much witchcraft to me. I would go so far as to say, at 14-19 years, I was mindless.

Anyway, starting at 20 is not fencing-death. If you start "old", you're fencing young people with smarts -- but you have intelligence derived from life experience and (possibly) smarts. There is also a 90% chance you're using your time better. And in the USA at least we've had "old" fencers doing well, and even national champions +40's (like Uriah Jones, I think). If it helps, fencing is one olympic sport with athletes well into their 30's.

[Mischa]

Sarah: Yeh, I guess you do train a lot. I train for 5 hours on Thursdays, 2 hours on Fridays and 3 hours on Wednesdays if I don't have too much work. I also go to the gym

It also depends on the quality of the coaching you receive.

Remember, "the average world champion is in their late 20s / early 30s and began fencing as a kid"

Hopefully I'll see you at an International sometime soon

[Sarah]

Mischa: Yeah, hopefully I'll see you there in a couple years. So far I've been lucky, my coaches are very good and they've had international experience. I'm looking forward to fencing at an international level, but I don't think I'm quite ready yet.

[Mischa]

You should try to come to London for the Eden Cup this November.

[Sarah]

The Eden Cup? Oh, I'd love to, are American fencer's allowd? I could stay with my cousins over there. But plane tickets are so expensive, I'd have to get a job. I"ll think about it but its highly unlike'y that I'll be able to go. Plane tickets are very expensive. (which everyone knows) I'll look into it. Thanks!

[Mischa]

On second thoughts, I think the Eden Cup is a men's event only. Lol. Oh well.

[Sarah]

oh well.

[CarlKnoch]

I've been fencing just a year come May. I have read all the info about how long it may take to fence well, and why it doesn't really matter as it may not really be the goal to be the best fencer....

I have been told by one of the coaches at my school, not my coach mind you but one of the coaches there, that I started too late in life to really be anything. I'll never reach a competancy where I could fence successfully internationally. I'm 35 years old.

So what I was wondering is does anyone have an opinion about how old is too old to be in the top 8 at NACs and the SNs?

I thought I was doing quite well with my learning until that coach basically said that I was too old to do anything seriously with the sport. I am hoping that this isn't the case.
Carl

[Sarah]

I do! When you're dead. That's officially too old to fence. At my club in Hawaii, we had someone who was 87 and he was excellent for his age. He'd run at you and you had to think fast. I mean he's great! And he's lots of fun to fence. Basically as long as you have drive, you can do anything. (at least that's what my mom says)

[CvilleFencer]

Originally posted by CarlKnoch

I thought I was doing quite well with my learning until that coach basically said that I was too old to do anything seriously with the sport. I am hoping that this isn't the case.
Carl

Ignore him. Chances are you can take him as it is. Unless this was Alex, and then just blow it off to not enough vodka that day. If you continue at your current rate you will be one of the top fencers in the state, maybe even the division, by next year. You are already beating C's and B's. If we had more tourneys in VA (cvillefencer casually moves near a soapbox that rests beside a very dead and dessicaited equine corpse...) then you would have your C by now.

Blow him off and go for it. You might not have the legs to keep up with the younger guys at the very top (Wood, Tiomkin, Kellner), and you may never win a worlds, but you can still be a threat using your speed, intelligence, and tactical awareness. And you should paint your mask. That would help I am sure of it!