Why fencing?

[klauver]

While attending the University of Florida we still had a mandatory PE requirement and when I found out that fencing was inside the gym while almost everything else was outside in the heat it didn't a brain surgeon to pick fencing. From then on I was addicted and ended up as the captain of the team.

[morael]

For some, it's Raquel Welch. For others, it's Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe.

I started fencing in the middle ages (my middle ages, that is) and while I'm still very much a beginner, I'm hooked. Why? It's a sport that demands vigor, stamina and cleverness more than brute strength. Also a sport that doesn't involve a ball. That's a big plus! I like one-on-one sports as opposed to team/formation sports. Maybe a bit of the feminist, in that fencing is historically a "man's sport." A sport that (for me) blends meditation and fast movement (never could get into yoga).

A love of architecture plays into it; real fencing (not limited to the upper ranks, btw) has a beautiful shape and structure. That kind of fencing even sounds good.

Fascination with pre-tech, one on one fighting, even though--or maybe because in real life I'm a hardcore pacifist. On that note, my father and brother are retired army, my sister is army reserves. Maybe I'm just trying to fit in!

Last but not least, the dash and romance of it.

[gojujay]

Originally posted by edew
The Three Musketeers with Raquel Welch did not also start Richard Thomas. It starred Michael York (who does slightly resemble John-Boy), Oliver Reed, Richard Chamberlain, Frank Finlay as the four musketeers; Simon Ward as the Duke of Buckingham, Charlton Heston as Richeliu, Christopher Lee and Faye Dunaway as the two baddies.

My humble apologies to Michael York and Richard Thomas

[gojujay]

Originally posted by AllisonT
I was hooked on medieval history (except for the disease and filth part), but didn't quite fit into the SCA catagory (do they EVER get out of charater?!).

ROFL

[Army Fencer]

My high school English Honors teacher was also the fnecing coach and tried to get his whole class join. I was the only one to take the bait, and I've been addicted ever since.

[Cerian]

Well, there was middleschool when my parents suggested I take a fencing class over the summer and... I didn't.

Then freshman year when my friend tried to get me to join the team and... I didn't.

And then sophomore year when he tried to persuade me again and... I did.

At first it was just for fun but as I became increasingly dissatisfied with soccer I took to it more and more.

[D'Artagnan1673]

I think I've told this story a few times, but maybe I can mix it up a bit.

I had always watched older movies with my parents. One of my mom's favorite actors has always been Errol Flynn. Errol Flynn swordfights well. That and watching Excaliber repeatedly as a young child contributed to my interest in history, especially military history.

Then I picked up the Three Musketeers after watching the 1997 version of The Man in the Iron Mask, you know, the one with DiCaprio. I devoured the book in five days and went on to read the other four my senior year. That started one of my obsessions with the idea of fencing. One day, I found out that even in my culture depraved region had a fencing club. I came and was immediately hooked. I've been fencing on and off for about 4 years now.