It's contagious!

I've been reading yhlee's fencing posts with increasing interest. It seemed like so much good fun--and combined with exercise that I very much need. And then I discovered a local fencing club advertising for a beginners' class--they were so undersubscribed, they were offering the first lesson for free, just so you can come and see how you like it. So I figured, what the heck, at least I'll know what it feels like. 

 

My first lesson was last week--and I think I caught the bug. I had so much fun! Mostly, I loved trying something so completely new to me, learning new terms and moves. There's something energising about it, and not simply because you get to get your heart rate going. I'm not sure yet what it is that I found so intoxicating, but there was certainly something. I hope one day I'll be able to put a name to it.

 

I've now paid up for the ten-week beginner course. Today was the second lesson. It was still very exciting, and I loved doing it, but there were also some difficult moments. First of all--and I suspected that would be the case going in--I'm way older than everyone else. The group is now seven-strong: three participants are just teenagers, two are in late twenties. Well, I'm fifty (groan), and not in top shape. I got to practice with the only guy in the group, probably eighteen or nineteen-year-old--it was good fun but I knew I was slowing him down and he wasn't getting the full value of the lesson. I was out of breath and had to take frequent breaks. 

 

And the instructor, even though he's really nice and friendly, but I can't help the feeling he's wondering what I'm doing there. I kind of don't blame him, as some of the young ones want to go into competition fencing, which well, isn't going to happen to me, but still, it makes me feel a bit… redundant. 

 

But, I love the action itself, so I'm not about to lay down my sword (not that I have one, mind you, just metaphorically). I hope I won't be as sore this time as I was after the first lesson (the lunges! Honestly, I could barely walk for three days, and had to climb stairs one step at a time!) so I can do some endurance training… It's never going to be much, but at least maybe I won't get out of breath so quickly.

 

And I'll practice footwork, and maybe some targeting, if I find something I can hit without destroying the walls. I'll show them! ;D