Do you play an unpopular/uncommon sport?
- Thread starter Jenny Morris
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Yeah, I have a bit more than beginners need - except for the fact that my club had 3 epees but none which were pistol grip (my weapon of choice) so I got the epee and glove early on. The mask I didn't get until I started competing but I personally think that if you decide fencing is the sport for you it should be the first thing you buy. All clubs will provide gear but having your own mask that fits/ doesn't have a bunch of randoms' sweat/ snot in it is the best investment in fencing.irmasterlol said:
Also: Wooo! Epee! I remember when I joined my club the lecture went like this: There are three weapons in fencing: Foil, sabre and epee. Epee isn't any good because you can score points anywhere and there are no right of way.
two weeks later I bought an epee and have turned a predominantly foil club into a bunch of epee fanatics!
Brazilian Jiu Jistsu sounds pretty cool
It's always a win when your unusual sport starts gathering more followers.
You're answer to that question is just perfectKing of Asgaard said:
I used to have a top that said "epee princess". And one that said "Don't worry, it's only a Flèche wound"
Wow just re-read this thread - many more fencers than expected! And pretty much all Epeeists! Wooh!
Proud Golfer. Been doing it for close to twelve years now and I am pretty good at it. Only sport I can really only do.
yeah. Make fun. I dare.
yeah. Make fun. I dare.
I'm also a fencer though I prefer foil myself. Epee is generally dull and incredibly tedious - never being able to really commit to any action makes the pace incredibly plodding. By contrast, sabre is worse still as a fair measure of success can be found with nothing more than aggressive attack in the second intention.Jenny Morris said:
Foil just seems to strike the proper balance between speed and planning. A simple assault is rarely sufficient and reliance on the counter attack (Epee in my experience consists of little more than counter attacks, binds and the occasional stab at the wrist) is foolhardy - the significantly increased lockout delay and right of way rules are such that counter attacks are possibly but only useful if you can evade the attack altogether.
As to the questions posed of expense, the true answer is that it varies tremendously. The highest cost is often found in training - in Texas at least, there are few venues that offer cheap training outside those attached to an academic program. It can easily cost several dollars per minute to work with a coach and many fencing halls charge various membership fees along with strip use fees. If you are lucky enough to find a venue where coaching and strip use can be had cheaply (often in a club setting where you pay a flat rate for the above) the recurring cost of fencing can be relatively cheap. I've fenced with 2 school teams and the fees were around $150 per semester which effectively went to paying for the various objects used by the club (score boxes, reels, strip parts, weapons, uniforms, etc).
As far as personal cost of equipment goes, that varies tremendously. Uniform alone (a requirement as it is what stands between a broken (i.e. sharp) blade and your fleshy form) can be tremendously expensive. The protective standard of manufacturer is where the biggest part of cost comes from. In the US, it is perfectly acceptable to fence in gear that only offers 350N protection while the FIE (the international governing body of the sport) specifies that jacket, plasteron (a half jacket worn under the jacket that provides protection where seams produce a weakness) and pants must provide 800N protection. A set of these garments begins at about 500 USD. Those manufactured to the lower standard can often be had for less than 100 USD. Mask standards are generally the same and choice becomes one of comfort rather than regulatory requirement. I favor Leon Paul's line as they are simply more comfortable - the mask costs about 100 bucks. These items are subject to wear and tear but they will generally last a few seasons before they require replacement.
Weapons on the other hand are often a significant recurring cost. Blades break and cheap blades break frequently. Electric blades are generally more costly than non electric counterparts even if you simple get bare blades and wire them yourself (though that does save about 20 bucks in exchange for incredible tedium). Cost for a single wired weapon is between about 30 USD to several hundred while unwired can save anywhere from a few bucks to 30 or so. Weapons will often represent a rather high recurring cost.
The weapon cost varies of course. Sabre weapons are incredibly simple and tend to be relatively sturdy meaning that even quality examples are cheaper. Epee blades are less prone to breaking and bending but are more expensive than either foil or sabre.
All told, my initial investment in equipment, which was only necessary after I had fenced for months using club equipment, was about 600 USD. I broke at least a dozen cheap blades before opting for a higher class of blade to help prevent this and eventually upgraded my uniform after a full season of use, a decision made from a comfort standpoint as much as anything. To date, after five years of fencing, I have purchased three uniforms, two masks, a half dozen gloves (took me awhile to find one I liked), two dozen blades and paid various fees countless times. Cost of attending tournaments (entry fees) in that time is perhaps 500 dollars, while equipment and club fees was perhaps 3000 dollars.
All told, fencing is a fairly cheap sport to participate in over the long haul but it is punctuated by relatively high infrequent cost that can be hard to manage for many. One of the key things that attracted me to the sport was the low cost of participation. There are cheaper sports (basketball, soccer, baseball, etc) but none of them appeal to my brand of hyperactive geek like fencing does.
Only two weeks? My club makes beginners do 3-4 months of foil before you get to branch into Epee or Sabre. The rationale goes something along the lines of: foil started as a training weapons, so you're going to train with it, and it has elements of both of the other weapons.Jenny Morris said:Yeah, I have a bit more than beginners need - except for the fact that my club had 3 epees but none which were pistol grip (my weapon of choice) so I got the epee and glove early on. The mask I didn't get until I started competing but I personally think that if you decide fencing is the sport for you it should be the first thing you buy. All clubs will provide gear but having your own mask that fits/ doesn't have a bunch of randoms' sweat/ snot in it is the best investment in fencing.
Also: Wooo! Epee! I remember when I joined my club the lecture went like this: There are three weapons in fencing: Foil, sabre and epee. Epee isn't any good because you can score points anywhere and there are no right of way.
two weeks later I bought an epee and have turned a predominantly foil club into a bunch of epee fanatics!
Brazilian Jiu Jistsu sounds pretty cool
It's funny to see how the club's membership goes. We'll see a few years of nothing but sabre, then a few of nothing but Epee. We're on the tail end of a foil craze right now. I have to learn all three weapons just so I'll always have someone to fence xD
I just youtubed this and it looks awesome! But also incredibly expensive. Do you actually own one of these machines?Aerosteam 1908 said:
I don't really have an uncommon sport. I do a lot of skiing and I guess that's somewhat uncommon (or very depending on where you live) because I never got to do it in school. I really love skiing. The thrill of flying down a mountain at breakneck speeds never gets old.
Inconceivable! I'd like to get into fencing and archery, but at the moment the only 'sport' I do is occasionally surf.Jenny Morris said:
Hey Cazza;
From Perth as well My younger brother does fencing as well (epeeist); it seems like a good sport if you're serious or if you just want to do it casually. He is really fit because of it (trains 3 or 4 times a week, a couple of hours a session) and enjoys it because it really makes you think. He's competed nationally after doing it for two years now, and is going strong.
It is open to any age group, and non-discriminatory. My brother fences kids his age (teens) and adults that are 60+; no use by date.
It is, however, pricey. There is absolutley no funding whatsoever - one of the reason why Jenny saw no Aussies on the piste at the Olympics this year. If you want to compete you have to pay for all entry fees and registration on your own. The equipment is also expensive, and don't think 'once you buy it that's it' - the swords are metal, yes, but they break. Having said that, if you do it often enough, it's worth it. I'd budget around $500 to get started, for club registration and equipment etc, but if you're up for it it's good fun.
You should be able to go to a local club (not that there are many) and check it out - they'll lend you the equipment until you start getting serious.
Hope that helps.
From Perth as well
My younger brother does fencing as well (epeeist); it seems like a good sport if you're serious or if you just want to do it casually. He is really fit because of it (trains 3 or 4 times a week, a couple of hours a session) and enjoys it because it really makes you think. He's competed nationally after doing it for two years now, and is going strong. It is open to any age group, and non-discriminatory. My brother fences kids his age (teens) and adults that are 60+; no use by date.
It is, however, pricey. There is absolutley no funding whatsoever - one of the reason why Jenny saw no Aussies on the piste at the Olympics this year. If you want to compete you have to pay for all entry fees and registration on your own. The equipment is also expensive, and don't think 'once you buy it that's it' - the swords are metal, yes, but they break. Having said that, if you do it often enough, it's worth it. I'd budget around $500 to get started, for club registration and equipment etc, but if you're up for it it's good fun.
You should be able to go to a local club (not that there are many) and check it out - they'll lend you the equipment until you start getting serious.
Hope that helps.
Arma(no,not the game although I play that too)
http://www.thearma.org/
its basically Western Martial Arts with/without weapons,
but we're not talking wrestling here(although that is fine too)
some people study Renaissance Martial Arts as a hobby(which is also great!) but basically I train to learn how to defend myself and other people(I have a long history of Eastern Martial Arts too)
but it is amazing what you can do with a Long/Short/Broadsword etc,
there is a misconception that in comparison to Eastern Sword/weapon arts that western Sword/Axe/Blunt etc work is clumsy,but it is anything but.
Gets me lots of extra work on movies too(which is nice!)
http://www.thearma.org/
its basically Western Martial Arts with/without weapons,
but we're not talking wrestling here(although that is fine too)
some people study Renaissance Martial Arts as a hobby(which is also great!) but basically I train to learn how to defend myself and other people(I have a long history of Eastern Martial Arts too)
but it is amazing what you can do with a Long/Short/Broadsword etc,
there is a misconception that in comparison to Eastern Sword/weapon arts that western Sword/Axe/Blunt etc work is clumsy,but it is anything but.
Gets me lots of extra work on movies too(which is nice!)
huh really? I didn't know that...not surprising though as its an incredibly common sport both here and in the countryCazza said:
TBH after seeing "hockey" on TV as a kid and that is was with ice skates...I thourght running around with a stick was kind of silly
but yeah...if I still lived in the country Id love to get a bow or crossbow....when I was a kid we tried to make our own (could fire arouns 10 meters)
EDIT: never liked sport as a kid...but reall the one I take a real disliking too is netball...a stupid "girls" sport
I'm a fencer as well but I only do it casually due to study etc. I mainly do foil but I want to learn sabre.
Sabre just seems like much more fun.
Sabre just seems like much more fun.
A fellow fencer!Jenny Morris said:
I'm a foilist myself. I took it up at university (about five years ago). I compete in some opens (most county competitions), but it's just for fun as I don't do very well. (Although I was briefly something like 256th in the country after having a real fluke of a day and winning ranking points at the London Open.)
I saw the Olympics and Paralympics too, and I think I would have actually preferred there to be no Brits entered! Watching world class fencing was amazing (especially as it never gets shown on TV here), but it was a bit painful listening to the crowd cheering madly for British fencers who stood not a hope in hell of getting anywhere. Richard Kruse lost so fast we barely saw him fence.
My favourite fencing experience was actually in the run up to the Olympics, when I was lucky enough to have a day of wheelchair fencing, training with the GB Paralympic team. Wheelchair fencing is crazy amounts of fun, and everyone there was so welcoming. Plus I can now say I've been beaten in a sword fight by a man with no legs.