What is your USFA ranking?

[EnoYls]

Well, what is it? How long have you been fencing and how long have you been competing to get that ranking?

I'm a D, but I don't think it is an accurate ranking at all. I'm tons better than most the D fencers that I've faced.

[Rick]

I'm unclassified... been competing for only 4 months.

[EnoYls]

oops. I forgot to answer some of my questions. I've been fencing for 4 years and I've just started competing for the last 6 months.

[attila]

I currently hold a B foil, C epee. Although I have had both a B in both foil and epee in the past. Missed that damned A by "this much"
since 1990.

Attila

[Lumberg]

It doesn't matter what you are rated, everyone's a winner in fencing. Yeah!!!

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Lumberg.
"...ahhh, we have sort of a problem here... yeah, you apparently didn't put one of the new cover sheets on your TPS report"

[sabreuse]

I've been fencing for two years, competing for almost one. I have an E rating in sabre, which is the only weapon I fence. The E rating feels about right because I seem to finish in the middle of E territory in every big tournament I go to.

[flik]

I've been fencing for a little over three years now, and only recently started competing in usfa comps...

currently i'm a D in epee and an E in sabre. i've been kicking the s!#t out of B's and C's and surprising a few A's in my last two comps, but have missed the elusive C ranking... damned international fencers...

[Bugaboo]

Why do you want to know? I mean, it's really only important to me on any particular day of the year. And maybe of some importance to the people who face me on the strip, but they're going to know immediately after registration anyway. It can't be important to help you judge our respective experience and wisdom, because ratings are so ephemeral and variable - a D won against a bunch of kids at a fencer's first tourney, for example, doesn't mean much to an unrated fencer of five years who only recently switched weapons.

[HilandDoug]

I've been fencing since September of 1980, and teaching since '88 or so. I am currently unrated. However, I was recently an "A" rated sabre fencer and National Champion, but then my alarm went off and it was time to wake up and go to work.

I have coached several people to higher ratings than me, but can't really take credit for their hard work, only for helping motivate them.

[Crash55]

I just earned my E in epee last month. I have been actively competing since last Spring. I started epee the year before that and did a couple of competitions that year. Before that I did a year of foil and 7yrs before that I did a couple years of foil.

I don't put a lot of stock in ratings. Except for high ones earned at national events I think they often just mean you had a good day. The guy I beat for my E just went from a U to a D the other week.

The only rating I want is a D. That way I can enter any NAC

[Shadow Fencer]

I've been fencing foil for the past 4 months, and prior to that I had a 22 year break. Before that break, I fenced for 5 years.
I'm unclassified but very happy to be fencing again!

[Moonitic]

Been fencing 6...no wait, I may as well say 7 now since that's how long it will be in Feb. No rating. Been competing 3 years. Don't really care about the lack of rating either. I'm a wife, mom, president of my fencing club, published author, division rep...a silly little "E" or whatever doesn't mean much to me now. Not after all I've experienced.

See Doug? I've improved! That 2 months off on injury really helped me put things into perspective. I don't need a rating to tell me how "good" I am.

[arcon]

[ 10-19-2001: Message edited by: arcon ]

[weezelbit]

I have to agree with Bugaboo. What does it matter/mean?
I've been fencing for - oh, let's not say how many years (and yes, I dye my hair). I moved from foil to epee. Over the years I've bust both my ACLs (four knee operations), and broken my ankle fencing. Needless to say, these accidents put my fencing training back a bit. Each time I came back I had to climb up from the bottom again. So, in my mind, my ranking means very little to me - every five years I seem to be back at the beginning again.
Now, I've just had a baby. Guess what? I'm back at the beginning again. My ranking may say one thing but I'm not in fencing shape and I haven't fenced regularly for a year (for some reason, no one wanted to hit me when I was four months pregnant - go figure). I can hardly expect to fence up to my old level yet.

My philosophy: I'll be back.

[veeco]

Weezelbit:

That's exactly what a rating is for! If you don't train, don't expect your rating to stay the same, since your fencing is did not. There are no priviledges of "Oh, I know I did not fence for 5 years, but I was injured!". Otherwise, the rating would be based on the number of years you have spent into practise, which doesn't make sense. I've seen people taking up fencing and getting their A in a year (and they deserved it). I actually think that keeping your rating for 4 years is a too long time. 2 years to my mind is enough. After 2 years if you have not been able to renew, you should drop one level.

Good luck on your comeback!

[This message has been edited by veeco (edited 01-26-2001).]

[Moonitic]

If the rating means nothing to the individual, then others should respect that. If a rating means something to you, fine...but not everyone cares. It takes a lot more confidence in yourself to look past the remarks "higher rated" fencers are making than to be the "higher rated" fencer making the remarks. People who are truly confident & truly comfortable with themselves do not look down upon others, & don't need a "system" to say "HA! I'm better than you are."

I graduated from school 10 years ago. Marks don't mean much to me now. I've seen my accomplishments. My life is my measure.

[veeco]

Moonitic,

I agree with you, that "higher rater" fencers remarks are kind of annoying. But on the other hand, I disagree that it takes not too much confidence to be the "higher rated" fencer.
Fencing is a difficult sport, and it takes a lot of time, a lot of effort, and finally, a lot of self-esteem to be good at it. That's probably why good fencers are sometimes a little too cocky.
As for me, every fencer is my family and I try and respect anyone who fences, no matter at what level they do.
Finally, unless you have been the undefeated world champion for 15 consecutive years, I guess anyone is unhappy at their rating because they feel that they can do better. That's what sport is all about: improve again and again. No matter at what level you are, that's where the fun comes from.

[This message has been edited by veeco (edited 01-26-2001).]

[saberkid]

just got my C 2001 last weekend, am ranked 48 in mens cadet saber. I've been fencing for almost 2 years.

I dunno I kinda care about my rating kinda a pat on the back when you earn it... plus im just a little cocky


Chris

[scarlet_woman156k]

I think the reason why some people ("lower ranked fencers") think other people ("higher ranked fencers") are cocky/arrogant is because those people ("higher ranked fencers") set it up that way and if the "lower ranked fencer" falls into that perception of how they view the "higher ranked fencer," that is how the "higher ranked fencer" WILL actually be/appear to the "lower ranked fencer."

So, just don't fall into other people's perceptions...because that ain't how it is.

As for my rank, I just started back fencing 6 months ago and got my E at my first tourney back and going to the Overland Park NAC...where I should definitely come away with a D or better! I like the rankings because they mean I'm truly accomplishing something not just for myself in a abstract way, but also solid results of my dedication through the USFA standards.

[Bugaboo]

I'm as proud of my rating as the next guy. And I'm not suggesting that anyone who cares about rating comparisons MUST stop asking, nor am I dismissing such 'surveys' as totally irrelevant -- if it's important to you, then you've got to be who you are. Ask away. Post your own info. No big deal.

It's just that a list of ratings here, on this message board, doesn't really serve any good purpose.

Or so I believe.

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