Foo - Cycling fencers

Any cyclists here that fence? Just curious...
I mean fencing as in sport fencing not chainlink etc fencing. Or ren fair/sca fencing (barf barf).

I used to when I was in high school and college, but it got too expensive once I was out in the real world with out mom & pop paying for gear, club, and insurance. I'd like to get back into it at some point.

I think the highlite of my career was a bout against a former Olympian who went on the next year to win the USFA veteran division. He destroyed me 15-1, but I did get a real touch on him. Woo.

Nice. What weapon?
http://fencing.net Join. Introduce yourself.
Get back into it!

I fenced competitively in college. Lot of fun.

I was a foil D and did some epee, but was never any good at it.

Unfortunately there still isn't enough time/money right now to get back into it.

Like this (http://www.deadbabybikes.org/vids/isvclown.wmv) you mean?

SwingingSabre does stuff with swords.....but not sure if its considered fencing or not. Probably not.

A friend of mine has the equipment and I hope to dabble this summer. He is proposing a new sport: lawn fencing!

I have done a fair amount of Iado and Kendo. I tried European fencing but the teacher was a prick.

I fenced for 12 years or so and went to 4 or 5 junior olympics. I did foil, epee, and sabre (but enjoyed sabre the most...hehe).

I really, really, really want to get back into it...but just don't have the time.

Oh hell. If my client doesn't call me today, I'm gonna go today and do it. Hell yes.

That sucks, a bad teacher will ruin it. I had one once. This girl went off because she thought I was flexing my biceps to impress her when she was trying to show me the en guard position. She was a bit of a troll and I thought she'd lost her d@mn mind. I finally had to show her the difference when I flexed or not so she would leave it alone. What a tool.

I will say this, that as a martial art European fencing has no peer. European style would rip any other sword martial art to pieces.

That sucks, a bad teacher will ruin it. I had one once. This girl went off because she thought I was flexing my biceps to impress her when she was trying to show me the en guard position. She was a bit of a troll and I thought she'd lost her d@mn mind. I finally had to show her the difference when I flexed or not so she would leave it alone. What a tool.

Yeah. I have found that many of the people who get into European fencing are complete ******s/hacks, at least around here. They treat it as an extension of their pirate/renfaire/d&d fantasies.


I will say this, that as a martial art European fencing has no peer. European style would rip any other sword martial art to pieces.

Practitioner leads style. Always has, always will.

I will say this, that as a martial art European fencing has no peer. European style would rip any other sword martial art to pieces.

Pretty much! Haha!

There are a couple kids in the fire dancing group who play with a bit of akido and some other sword martial arts. I always find it funny when they dog on me for knowing European fencing...and how weak the styles they know are. Of course, they don't really "know" what they're talking about, as they only dabble. Still, though.


Yeah. I have found that many of the people who get into European fencing are complete ******s/hacks, at least around here. They treat it as an extension of their pirate/renfaire/d&d fantasies.

Pretty much. The local SCA is a great place to watch this sort of thing pan out. Nothing against it...just...not for me.

...pirate/renfaire/d&d fantasies.

Being around those people for long periods of time causes genital shriveling. :eek:

Luckily there aren't too many of those in my division. Except for the ones who wear 'ninja headbands' to tourneys. :eek:

Like this (http://www.deadbabybikes.org/vids/isvclown.wmv) you mean?

That's what I had in mind!

I don't fence but I definately want to try it out when I can afford it. I do FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) and a lot of the blade work there was translated from Spanish fencing (300 years of colonization will do that to you).

I don't fence but I definately want to try it out when I can afford it. I do FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) and a lot of the blade work there was translated from Spanish fencing (300 years of colonization will do that to you).

http://fencing.net

Join the forums, read up, find a club in your area. An invaluble source of info. Get fencing. It's a blast.

There are a couple kids in the fire dancing group who play with a bit of akido and some other sword martial arts. I always find it funny when they dog on me for knowing European fencing...and how weak the styles they know are. Of course, they don't really "know" what they're talking about, as they only dabble. Still, though.

I guess that was a pretty broad and general sweeping boast from me, but all the other sword styles I've encountered take the blade way out of defensive line to attack, whereas European fencing relies primarily on the point, and never taking your blade too far out of line. That makes it much faster. I had a kendo master in a European fencing class and we came to the same conclusion (from what I could tell - he didn't speak English very well)

Oh and btw, fencing is an extremely effective cardio workout. It's tough as h3ll physically too.

I did foil and epee for five years. Same thing, also, it's too expensive at the moment. I was not very good, but it did wonders for my previously abysmal coordination. My little sister has just gotten into it, so when we get gear, we'll fence each other.

Do SCA Melee's count? If so, I use wood (rattan) mockup weapons and padded armor and we beat the snot out of each other! I'd also like to try out Heidelberg 4 square dueling with live steel.

http://www.fencingphotos.com/

Awesome photos. Check it out. :)

I guess that was a pretty broad and general sweeping boast from me, but all the other sword styles I've encountered take the blade way out of defensive line to attack, whereas European fencing relies primarily on the point, and never taking your blade too far out of line. That makes it much faster. I had a kendo master in a European fencing class and we came to the same conclusion (from what I could tell - he didn't speak English very well)

Exactly. I was fully agreeing.

I find that many of the other styles do, indeed, take the blade way out of the defensive line just to attack. They seem to lead with the blade or with the hand rather than leading with the point.

Myself, I prefer to lead with the business end of my sword. ;)

Do SCA Melee's count? If so, I use wood (rattan) mockup weapons and padded armor and we beat the snot out of each other! I'd also like to try out Heidelberg 4 square dueling with live steel.

Those are fun.

I like to go to my local SCA and play with shanais (spelling?). For some reason, they get angry when I use a point in line as a defensive maneuver. I don't even attack with it! Hey, if you don't want my point pointed at you, then move it!

I'm looking for someone to teach bayonet drills and European style spear fighting, but it seems to be a bit of a lost art. Not even the military puts much time into it anymore.

I've had some introductory classes. My ex is a serious fencer, more so since we separated (I guess he thought I was holding him back, though I have no idea why). I find it really interesting but didn't have the fitness level at the time to do well. I'd like to try it again, now that my legs and lungs are so much stronger from biking, and especially now that they've opened competitive sabre to women.

In general I like the solitary nature of cycling, though. I'm only competing with myself and that is enough.

I'm looking for someone to teach bayonet drills and European style spear fighting, but it seems to be a bit of a lost art. Not even the military puts much time into it anymore.
Simple,

Stab, butstroke, guard!

See avatar. j/k :)

Simple,

Stab, butstroke, guard!

Surely there's more to it than that. This Civil War era manual describes thirty basic "radical movements" which seem to be akin to kata:

http://www.usregulars.com/Bayonet_files/bayonet01.html

My interest was piqued goofing around with WWII era war rifles. With the bayonet attached they can impale hardwood even with an unskilled lunge. If a person knew what they were doing, the rifle would be a very effective close combat weapon even with no ammunition.

We have a fencing club (http://www.kanzafencingclub.org/About%20Kanza%20Fencing%20Club.htm)here in our modest city in the midwest. It is actually quite unusual for a smallish town in the midwest to have something like this. I suspect that most farmers would wonder why anyone would want to be part of a "fencing club."

In fact they would probably tell you that the "fencing club", attired in flannel shirts and seed manufacturer hats, meets every morning for coffee at the local Coop.

http://www.stonyfield.com/weblogarchives/BovineBugle/GaryMovesTheFenceAugust2005.JPG

^:lol:

I do saber fencing when I have time, but I haven't for a year now.:(

I'll get back into it when my life smooths out.

Surely there's more to it than that. This Civil War era manual describes thirty basic "radical movements" which seem to be akin to kata:

http://www.usregulars.com/Bayonet_files/bayonet01.html

My interest was piqued goofing around with WWII era war rifles. With the bayonet attached they can impale hardwood even with an unskilled lunge. If a person knew what they were doing, the rifle would be a very effective close combat weapon even with no ammunition.

Both my grandfathers agreed that the bayonet was a more maneuverable weapon and just as effective when it was not attached to the rifle.

Surely there's more to it than that. This Civil War era manual describes thirty basic "radical movements" which seem to be akin to kata:

http://www.usregulars.com/Bayonet_files/bayonet01.html

My interest was piqued goofing around with WWII era war rifles. With the bayonet attached they can impale hardwood even with an unskilled lunge. If a person knew what they were doing, the rifle would be a very effective close combat weapon even with no ammunition.
all 30 are variations on that theme though;)

I've decided I'm getting back into fencing next week.

Thanks for the inspiration!