It's contagious!

[hamletta]

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

 

Comments

[yhlee]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

We lucked out in that Joe and I are the only ones in the beginner class right now. (A lot of businesses took a hit after the 2016 floods, locally.) So we're pretty much being introduced to things a bit at a time. Our instructor has people who began fencing at 60 and he says it's a lifetime sport if you want it to be, so I think it can be done.

And if the instructor asks, you can always say it's for writing research. ;)

[hamletta]

Our instructor has people who began fencing at 60...

Now, that's encouraging! Thank you!

(I've just ordered a practice foil so I have something to play with. Now I only need my equivalent of Jedao stickers to practice on... Maybe I'll cut out some politicians from the paper...)

[yhlee]

No problem!

Does your club start folks with foil? Practice seems to vary here; our instructor introduces all three and then lets you choose, which is apparently a more modern practice. In Ye Olden Days you had to fence foil at the beginning before they even let you touch the others apparently? And the instructor says it may just depend on what your club/salle has the equipment for.

[hamletta]

I think it's the same here. We've been using plastic foils so far, and they are so horribly bendy it's hard to hit anything. We will go to metal in lesson 4 or 5. And then we'll get to try both the sabre and the epee before the end of the beginners course.

I guess we'll be able to "specialise" if we so choose later on. I was going to wait to try all the weapons before buying anything, but I found a practice (non-electric) foil for only £27 ($36?), so figured I can afford it and at least I can practice at home. I have to get better, now it's a matter of pride... ;)

BTW, one exercise the instructor suggested was to hang a tennis ball on a string and then move the tip of the blade around it in a tight circle--that simulates the movement around the opponent's guard, and the smoother and tighter you get, the better. I'm going to try!

[yhlee]

Yeah, we also started with plastic foils (to save time putting on safety gear) but the instructor moved us pretty quickly to metal because he said that the plastic was so whippy it wouldn't give us proper technique for parry-ripostes and, probably, other things.

We were loaned foils to practice with until we specialize and purchase our own equipment...as long as you're in stance you can practice the basics for saber. I'm not so sure about épée in that the thing weighs twice as much and that's going to make a difference, but mostly what I need to work on is footwork and aim right now, so.

I've occasionally tried the tip-circle exercise with (a) a doorknob or (b) my cat, who likes to bat at the foil tip! She's too stupid to realize that batting at even blunt swords is maybe not the brightest of life choices. XD

[hamletta]

I never missed doorknobs in my life, but now, yeah, could be handy (only doorhandles here, make the exercise rather pointless).

I'm pretty sure the younger of my cats will come to help. I'll have to watch it! :D

[tbutler]

Ugh, 50. I hear that. Worse, my knees and hips hear that. ^^;;

I ran track/cross-country back in high school, and did enough damage to my legs that I can't run very far, any more. So, yeah... maybe fencing? :) Right now, I'm doing half-hour walks pushing the pace, but it's easy to let it drop off my schedule.

Good luck and good fencing! And yes, You Will Show Them. :)

[hamletta]

Try fencing! Then we can all compare notes... ;)

I was very encouraged by Yoon's instructor saying he had people who started in their 60s. I mean, I'm not going to make the olympics, but I'd like not to be an embarrassment... :D