Engarde!

[ready_aim_rock]

Anybody here fence? I've been in it for about 10 months (since February, you do the math) and I'm loving it. I'm an epee user, just got my first blade about a month back. STM blade, electric. Anyone else play/follow/watch/attack people with real swords?

[Jane Deere]

my dad fences. we do medieval reenactment with the SCA. i do archery, i can't fence. fencing is pretty cool though! :)

[dustinzgirl]

As soon as we get a second car, my daughter wants to do fencing. I find that both cool and kind of scary. I don't know how it will work though because she was born blind from a cataract in her left eye so she has shit coordination and really bad depth perception.

[ready_aim_rock]

As soon as we get a second car, my daughter wants to do fencing. I find that both cool and kind of scary. I don't know how it will work though because she was born blind from a cataract in her left eye so she has shit coordination and really bad depth perception.

Seriously? I have the exact same condition, from birth anyway. They lasered it when I was about two though, and its an extremely variable condition. At any rate, it hasn't affected me in respect to fencing, though I do seem to suck at other sports =P

It does require the same dedication as any other sport, though. Most all fencing clubs/classes feature conditioning and footwork as a large part of the curriculum, before bladework is even introduced. Just make sure she's aware of the commitment

[Bathory]

I've always wanted to try fencing.

[Woodreaux]

I don't fence, but I do train in swordsmanship. I study Shinkendo.

[ready_aim_rock]

I don't fence, but I do train in swordsmanship. I study Shinkendo.

Hmm...strictly speaking, it falls under the definition of fencing, just not the "'escrime"western version that's become synonymous with the term. I've wanted to look into shinkendo for some time though. What sort of movement does it entail?

[Woodreaux]

Shinkendo focuses on the long sword, aka Katana. The upper body motions are mainly guards, strikes, and transitions between the two. Strikes are usually cuts, but thrusts certainly work also. The blocks and transitions focus on transferring the kinetic energy from the incoming strike into positioning yourself for a return strike. Footwork and overall balance is pretty much the same as Aikido. Not coincidentally, I learn Shinkendo from the same instructor and dojo as I train in Aikido.