[OT] Anyone Fence? Advice?

[Darklance]

I've grown to old to play baseball in the town league now, I'm to lazy to play for the school(practice or game every day of the week, ug!) and I wanted to try something new. I'd like to give fencing a try generally because I think I would like it. Now I've done some searching for traditional fencing and I've come up with a very limited selection of places that teach it in my state. None are really closer than an hour away (I live in Connecticut).

So I'm wondering how all of your fencers (assuming that there are any, and I would because I've heard it mentioned in sword talks) learned to fence. Traditional Fencing studios? Student to teacher? What kind of fencing?

Now 1st there is the traditional fencing. (flimsy foil swords that bend) This appeals to me the least but appears to be the most popular.

2nd there are the Japanese/martial art styles that seem to be semi popular. One of my brother's friends is a instructor at a dojo and he is taking a class in this. However I get the impression that it is more for experienced martial artists.

3rd. This is the medieval type sword fighting that appeals to me most but I can't even find a single place that teaches it within my state.

So...anyone with experience? How did you learn? Any suggestions or recommendations? Thanks for your time.

 

[Darkness]

This thread should have "OT" in the title...

Other than that, I'd go with your 2nd option - but that might be because a friend of mine is quiet good at such things and so I'm more familiar with it...

 

[nameless]

Here's my advice: You can find a decent amount of books written by martial artists (including western martial arts) on basic techniques in their styles. Some are better than others, but the good ones cover warming up, basic stances and weapon grips, basic maneuvers, and some forms/patterns. It's darn near impossible to learn a martial art alone, however. Get a friend or three who also want to learn, get some practice gear, and just practice. Once you get down the basics, you'll know if you want to continue with real lessons or just study in your spare time.

If possible, buy the book in a real store, because it'll be helpful to see it before you shell out $40 or $50 on it.

-nameless

 

[Tsyr]

I've taken both tradition "classes" and more informal lessons in "traditional" fencing, and while it's interesting, I don't terribly enjoy it. I've taken a similar assortment of classes in the japenese styles, and enjoy that much more. But it's very full body. You learn sword use, yes, but don't expect a good wrist to bail you out the way it can in normal fencing.

 

[Fade]

I did traditional fencing for a semester with my university fencing club for a semester. Professional teacher, small class.

I'm probably going to start doing rapier with the SCA soon, which is 'medieval fencing'. The people to look for are the Society for Creative Anachronisms. They're all over the world, I'd be surprised if there isn't even one group in your state.

 

[Neowolf]

I fenced for about two years, and was blessed with the luck of having a former Olympian and her coach as my teachers. It's a pretty fair sport as far as older vs. younger participants, I'll admit to having my tail kicked by people older than my dad.

Fencing requires quick reflexes and the ability to think on your feet, as opposed to brute strength. Speed helps, but if you're a little on the slow side you can develop the speed you'll need.

Be warned though: fencing requires a fairly significant monetary investment. You'll need a jacket, a plastron (another layer of canvas worn under the jacket, it covers part of your sword arm and part of your chest), a glove, a mask, a practice weapon, an electronic weapon (if you plan to fence competitively), a body cord (also if you plan to be competitive), pants, and shoes. It all adds up, somewhere up into the neighborhood of $500-700 (US).

It's also a sport requiring a great deal of dedication. Even after you learn all the techniques of your chosen style (there are three main ones: foil, saber, and epee), you'll probably spend years learning the various strategies. Overall though, at the end of the day it's worth every minute. The cameraderie is great, and you'll almost always want to shake your opponent's hand after a bout.

 

[Tratyn Runewind]

This might help...

Hello!

This link will take you to the website for the ARMA, the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts (formerly the HACA, the Historical Armed Combat Association). They are students, teachers, and researchers of European weapons and combat techniques. The "Practice Partners & Study Groups" and "New Study Groups" pages should tell you whether they are active at all in your area. Whether or not you decide to get involved with the group, the site itself can be an interesting resource; there are glossaries, essays, and even online reprints from several historical fechtbuchs and other Western fighting manuals.

Hope this helps!

 

[Darklance]

Anyone know the name/names for some of the Japanese styles?

 

[Tsyr]

Kendo is the japanese equivilant of sport fencing... it's not exactly a true combat style, just a sport version thereof. It's based of Jenjtsu, which is the "real" version of the same thing. I enjoy Kenjutsu, Kendo is a touch too formalised for my tastes.

 

[RangerWickett]

There's always Bato Jutsu, which is the art of the quickdraw. I've heard that masters of this style are able to draw and make an attack so quickly that you can barely even see their movements with a slow-motion camera.

I myself took fencing a year ago at my college, and yes, it was very fun. I personally prefer saber fencing, because it's most like the cinematic sword fights in movies. Foil and epee don't use slashes, which ruins a lot of the fun in my opinion. Either way, though, it's a really cool artform to learn, but be willing to take it slow from the beginning. Learn stances, lunges, and the two main blade positions first, and just practice with those. Move on to things like ripostes, circular parries, lowline attacks, and so on.

Sadly, my instructor never let us fence outside. The best I was able to manage was fighting on top of a big, uneven pile of wrestling mats in the corner of the gymnasium. I almost got in trouble for it too, because he didn't appreciate my sense of drama (i.e., he didn't want me falling and breaking my neck while trying to lunge across a big mound of foam).

I say go for it. Eventually, buy a rapier and a lot of padding, and practice the real thing. I know I plan to.