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NiteShadow got all f'ed up on Angel Dust and wrote:
I wanna learn that stuff... I get short staff next belt, long staff th belt after that , then broadsword and then he gives us the rest and along the way he'll throw in some special class deals.

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heh, yours was optional, lucky dog, I live with my instructer, so I'm held at a higher standard *grumble* sucks not being allowed to fuck up

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Star Collective wrote this stupid crap:
Is it the kind of sport one could pick up to get in shape, or should one get into shape before trying to learn?

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Probably in-shape first. It's more of a hobby then anything. Yes, however, you do get some good leg stretches with fencing.

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There was much rejoicing when Star Collective said this:
Fencing sounds interesting. Is it the kind of sport one could pick up to get in shape, or should one get into shape before trying to learn?

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I mean, certainly your body will probably be a lot stronger and more powerful and more agile and more dextrous after Fencing for awhile, but I think it isn't like... something you'd do to get in shape by losing weight (Though, even that, I guess, would depend upon how much weight you need/want to lose).

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Star Collective was naked while typing this:
Fencing sounds interesting. Is it the kind of sport one could pick up to get in shape, or should one get into shape before trying to learn?

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Depends.

If you do it as a sport, you'll get in shape quickly. If you just go to a club and goof off once a week, you won't get in shape.

Competitive fencing is quite physically challenging. When I was fencing NCAA, I ended up having two knee surgeries as a result.

If you can find a club that takes it seriously, or an instructor willing to train you for competition, you'll get in shape quickly.

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Bloodsage spewed forth this undeniable truth:
When I was fencing NCAA, I ended up having two knee surgeries as a result.

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There's something new I learned. I could imagine fencing being quite challenging...knee surgeries? Whoa.

My Junior year, I had to have my left knee done, but favoring that one put extra pressure on the right, so I had to have that done the next year.

If a doctor ever tells you to choose between giving up sports and having any kind of surgery . . . give up sports.

At a certain level, fencing is more physically demanding than it looks.

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Verily, Lashanna doth proclaim:
I was actually looking into that as well, considering maybe joining in SCA for that.
Talked to another ECer who's been in SCA for quite some time, and poked around my kingdom and the Georgia area SCA. The Georgia SCA looks sort of lacking in any of the combat departments, but that may just be because of poor web site design, and I think I may call someone about it.

More than likely though, I'll pursue (continue to pursue? re-pursue?) traditional fencing...

I'm not confident enough to place myself above beginner/novice. I WAS pretty good, but that was also about 4-5 years ago and and I was 13 or 14... well.. My body, for one, has changed a lot since then and I don't remember a great deal of the specifics.

The problem being that places like the Atlanta Fencers Club ONLY has a beginners section for people 7-14 years old.
I'll probably end up look for a small instructor, though I think it may take some looking.

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GO TO FLORIDA!

VIVAT TRIMARIS!

Seriously... The Floridian kingdom is much, much, much better.

Around Atlanta, NERO is more fun. And if you have had ANY proper training, you will be able to thrash even the "Uberguild" type people in the game. NONE of them can defend against a thrust worth a shit.

Theres a couple more LARP type games around Georgia as well, but that doesnt seem quite what you're looking for. If you're interested in trying out the Florida SCA Kingdom, lemme know, and I'll put you in touch with some folks from there.

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Lashanna had this to say about Captain Planet:
As for "goofing" off... I did 4 practices a week with a private instructor, so not sure what that counts as.

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That's certainly not goofing off.

I was addressing the point someone made that fencing isn't a real sport, that demands physical skill, but rather a hobby.

Which isn't true.

Kind of a "Push you into it, see if you survive" training routine. Our group wasn't all nice and fluffy, we use hard, real, swords during training.

I survived.

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Mortious had this to say about Tron:

I survived.

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You did? I couldn't tell.

I lack the co-ordination for foil style. You need a lot of skill for broadblades, but foil/fencing was too hard for me to be good at.

I relied more on force and skill in the broad-blade arena where, at least to me, it appeared my rapier opponents relied more on speed/skill/agility which I lack.

I'm built more for heavy blades in anycase. If I could I would get into it again, but I have more responcibilities now and a lot less time. I could probably still compete since I don't think I'd be THAT rusty, but I wouldn't wanna test it on an up to date opponent.

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Bloodsage wrote this stupid crap:
That's certainly not goofing off.

I was addressing the point someone made that fencing isn't a real sport, that demands physical skill, but rather a hobby.

Which isn't true.

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Anyone who would say that has never really seen a true sword fight before. Any type of sword fighting, from broadblades to foil, requires a LOT of skill and practice. Either that or risk SERIOUS injury. Again I'm not to familiar with foil/epee and can't comment, but broadblade styles (Longsword, Bastard, Greatsword, etc etc.)can be dangerous without lots of practice and hard work involving skill. I'd say any sport is technically a hobby, so thats irrelevant. Any sport, however, requires skill to make it viable.

And swordfighting IS a sport.

I think I'll probably end up sticking to foil... I've actually used a foil.
I'll use all Three, of course, but from my knowledge of epee and sabre and foil, foil seems like it is more suited to me.

But I heard it somewhere before that foil/epee was more suited to women than any of the broadblades or sabre's even, because boobies don't get in the way like they do on larger blade fighting styles.

I always thought that was funny.

But I have seen several Bastard wielding females in my day, and they were damn good at it too..

Saber: you need to be really fast, and really aggressive. And have a high pain tolerance. Cuts dominate--you'll rarely score with the point.

Epee: you need to be both aggressive and methodical, since there are no right-of-way rules. Whoever gets the touch, gets the point, period. Point control and binds are huge--you'll score 90% of your points on the opponent's wrist and arm.

Foil: you need to be methodical and balanced. Unlike the other two, offense does not dominate. It's like a dance, though it is by no means slow. Transition from attack to defense to attack is key--you'll score all of your points on the opponent's chest.

Fencing looks to... Strategy-based for me. I just wanna get in there and swing.

As for my favourite sword... BROADSWORDS! HUZZAH!

[ 05-15-2002: Message edited by: Ruvyen Warblade ]

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Ruvyen Warblade obviously shouldn't have said:
The only training I had with broadblades was my lightsabre, and now that's broken.

Fencing looks to... Strategy-based for me. I just wanna get in there and swing.

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You are just asking for pain, especially with broadblades.

A "Get in there and swing" attitude will get you hurt, quickly. Best to take training to heart, and enjoy what your doing. Otherwise it's not worth it.