Learning Fencing
I had a couple fencing classes in college, and I never quite got the hang of it, which was kind of a bummer for me, as I was very into the idea of it… I found it to be very mental in a way, kinda like a chess match (as cliched as that sounds). I wasn’t able to think fast enough to do the moves/counter moves. It is a martial art, i.e., combat, like karate. I found I enjoyed racquet sports more, and got a better workout. Table tennis can be a blast, if you’re playing at a high level. Racquetball is good, too, if you’ve got access to a court. But shoot, if you’ve got a club down the street, go for it.
I fenced a bit in high school and college. I think one of the major disappointments I had when I took up fencing at the college level was just how quickly the matches ended and how haphazardly the points could be achieved. The speed and some of the formalities (particularly right of way) can quickly take the fun out of matches. Additionally, you’ll find that the sensitivity of the electronic scoring means that you can get a “hit” by barely touching your opponent. For me, it was the electronic scoring that completely ruined the spirit of the sport. Opponents would frequently game the system and get points that, in a “real” dual wouldn’t even cause a flesh wound.
Ah fencing! What everyone has said here rings true. Please check your preconceived ideas about age and fencing at the door. Assuming you take it up, at some point, a 14 year old girl is going to absolutely -kick your ass- on the piste. (Competitive fencing is gender segregated, but training is usually mixed in my experience). Do NOT beat yourself up about it. She probably has 5+ years of experience on you. You’ll probably also be beaten up by some old guy who wheezes and looks like he is about to collapse on the piste. Don’t be fooled. No one will think less of you, because winning has everything to do with your experience and how much you train, and less to do with how old you are now. I have met many people who have started fencing both as a child and as an adult. You will probably find yourself fencing against a wide age range, and can learn from both the wisdom of the older fencers and the crazy tricks of the younger fencers.
