[NHB7]

Update: Okay, I had my first lesson.

I had a great time and was dissapointed. I enjoy fencing and I plan to continue (its extremely technical!). My quads hurt like hell today.

Anyway, I've been to 10 martial arts or combat schools in my time and I can sense a bad school within the first lesson now. No offense to these very nice people, but I got that bad school vibe. One of the biggest indicators of being at a bad school (at least for me and my ambitions) is when you ask them if they ever compete and they give you a big long explanation of why they dont compete, and why competing is pointless, and how if they did compete they would beat everyone.

So I want to switch soon to a school that prepares me to compete. This school is based on Classical Italian fencing which apparently is different then sport fencing. Which is fine, but I want to learn sport fencing because I want to participate in a competitive way.

Anyway, fencing is fun. But difficult. I forgot what it is like to have to learn a martial art. That first month it is so hard to put all the movements together smoothly, which I found very frusterating.

Finally, everyone there was really nice, but this particularly class of people who would beat all the sport fencers (the same way any kung fu school would beat any MMA fighter) if they so chose to, looked to me like in the off season they spend there entire time preparing their costumes for the renaissance fair and practicing awful british accents.

[Soundclash]

I actually just stopped doing it, was doing it for about a month and a bit, had to stop cause im leaving for a job for two months, I might possibly start up again after.

It's incredibly addicting, very fun to watch and play, its a very technical sport and you have to pay attention like mad, it wasn't expensive for me, well they gave us equipment at my club so all I had to pay was for lessons, lessons were like $75 for 5 weeks or something.

Also I was left handed so it made it a lot easier for me cause no one at my club was a lefty and they didn't know how to defend lefters. Make sure you pick a style that suits you, I started off with foil and just stuck with it, would of loved to switch over to sabre though.

All the best eh.

[Soundclash]

yeah just like you stated, you have to make sure your getting a good schooling, just like any martial art theres mcdojo's everywhere.

Hope you enjoy it.

[NHB7]

Originally Posted by Soundclash

I actually just stopped doing it, was doing it for about a month and a bit, had to stop cause im leaving for a job for two months, I might possibly start up again after.

It's incredibly addicting, very fun to watch and play, its a very technical sport and you have to pay attention like mad, it wasn't expensive for me, well they gave us equipment at my club so all I had to pay was for lessons, lessons were like $75 for 5 weeks or something.

Also I was left handed so it made it a lot easier for me cause no one at my club was a lefty and they didn't know how to defend lefters. Make sure you pick a style that suits you, I started off with foil and just stuck with it, would of loved to switch over to sabre though.

All the best eh.

Interesting you say that because I am right handed, but because of boxing I feel comfortable standing with my left hand forward. So they taught me on my first day right handed, but I figured I'd rather have the advantage so I think I'm going to learn left handed.

[sallehonolulu]

been doing it for 28 years. obviously, I think it's a wonderful sport.
it's not an expensive sport, or at least it doesn't have to be.
yes, fencing is good for the legs; the top fencers have legs that are as good as any athlete's
you can find the club nearest you by going to usfencing.org. in the menu on the left click on "find a club"
yes, lefties enjoy an advantage, just as southpaws do in martial arts, but I recommend you learn fencing with your dominant hand. unless you are truly ambidextrous

[cmw43]

When I first started University I heard there was a fencing team, so at the sports sign up fair I went over to have a chat with them but they all seemed like the same people who were in the Viking and Warhammer society so I gave it a miss and just took up running instead.

[DeathNTaxes]

you been watching the Olympics?

Italy took the individual mens epee.

If your going to do foil, sabre, or epee.

Go epee. Epee is the man's version of fencing 'cause it's anything goes.

Sabre always seemed to me to be the coolest because you can slash. But the entire "right of way" concept is incredibly gay, confusing, and overly subjective and you will have to deal with that if you decide to go competitive.

EPEE!

En Guarde! Alle!

Man makes me want to do some fencing right now.

[Col. Angus]

Do you have to scream and make a fist after every point like those chicks did?

[Col. Angus]

Edit - my bad

[Col. Angus]

Edit - triple...Damn what's up with the site tdy?