Newbie Info
(Information for new members)
The most important thing to know is it’s NEVER too late to learn to
fence. Traditionally, most members of the club are complete beginners and many
have gone on to do very well. We have no formal coach. Experienced members train
newcomers as best as they can. We are not here to train Olympic fencers. We are
just a bunch of men and women who are interested in the sport and want to have
a good time.
You don't have to call ahead to attend practice, but if you need more
information you can contact Webmaster
Wear comfortable athletic shoes to your first practice (and all subsequent
practices). Cross trainers or wrestling shoes are probably the best, but any
will do. You should also wear a t-shirt and sweat- or snap-pants. New recruits
will not be using weapons until after a few practices, so feel free to wear
shorts to the first few practices. Some people wear shorts to practices in
which weapons are used. This is not advised for anyone.
The club provides all the equipment you'll need -- making this the perfect
opportunity to give fencing a try. We'll set you up with a mask, jacket, glove
and weapon. What a deal!
You don't have to show up for every practice, but we do hope you will try to
attend regularly.
We usually travel in a club van to other universities to attend US Fencing
Association competitions where we register and compete as individuals. Club
members that are interested in competing are encouraged to attend. At any given
tournament there are MANY fencers with little or no experience so do not be
afraid you will be the worst one there.
As far as exercise goes ... fencing is not the most balanced workout, but if
you do it right and put some effort into it, you will be tired after practice.
Your legs will be doing most of the work.
People of any (or no) athletic background can enjoy fencing and succeed at
it, though coordination and speed may be the most important characteristics of
a good fencer. Brute strength won't do much for you.
A common question we get is, "Are there any women in the club?" The
answer is YES! Women are just as interested in a sport about stabbing your
opponent as men are. The club has traditionally attracted women with and
without fencing experience. Brute force is not the way a fencer succeeds, so
women hold their own on the fencing strip.
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FAQ:
-I missed the first/last few meetings, am I so far behind? Not at all. Should I even bother coming? Most
Definatly.
-Do I need experience? No. Most club members joined without any previous
experience. We have no formal coach. Experienced members try as best they can
to introduce the sport to newcomers. Several of us have been fencing for a
long time and have successfully trained new fencers. Two years ago, many
members without experienced joined and one did particularly well, earning
trophies at more than one tournament and nearly defeated a ten-year veteran
for the gold!
-Do I need my own equipment? No. Dues goes towards maintaining
equipment that is provided at each practice and at tournaments.
-Do any women join? Yes. While combatant sports tend to attract more
men than women, there is something about human nature that interests us all
about sword fighting. A couple years ago, one of our women fencers placed 4th
in Women's Individual Épeé at
a national tournament for college club teams. Also last year, another woman
fencer came in third place at a one-touch tournament only three weeks after
first picking up a weapon.
-Do you guys do fun stuff
outside of practice? Yes. Wherever you go, fencers are a warm
people who like to socialize. In an unofficial capacity, we have parties and
go out to the movies, the zoo, and other cool places and events.
-Do you guys compete against other schools? Yes &
No. We are not a varsity team, we are a recreational club. Often when we
compete we attend weekend tournaments within driving distance that are open
to any member of the United States Fencing Association. Not all Miami Fencing
Club members choose to compete or join the USFA. USFA membership is $60 per
year and allows you to enter official tournaments and enables you to achieve
rankings. Generally a local school or private fencing club will host a
USFA-members-only tournament with an entry fee usually $15/$20. Less commonly
we attend free tournaments that do not require USFA membership.
-Do I have to go to the tournaments? No.
-I'm afraid of really sucking, should I be? No. We are
not a hardcore team, we are a recreational club. You get out of the
experience what you are willing to put into it.
-If I miss the first few practices, will I be behind? Absolutely not.
We've had people join with only a few weeks left of school. Any day is a good
day to start fencing! It is encouraged that you attend the first meeting, but
do not be discouraged if you miss it or want to join at a later time.
-I heard there were three different kinds of swords, what's the deal?
There are 3 different weapons in Olympic fencing. We have members
particularly fond of one or the other. Beginner fencers are first trained in
Foil. After the basics are acquired a fencer may specialize in one of the
other weapons.
-Are you the guys who dress up renaissance style and swing massive swords?
No. You're thinking of the Society for Creative Anachronism.
-Can my buddy and I just stop by and you just give us a couple swords to bash
each other with? No. Fencing is a lot of fun after some training in how
to do it properly and safely. We are not simply here to hand out weapons for
tomfoolery.
-Will knowledge of fencing help me in a knife fight? If by "knife
fight" you mean "Olympic fencing bout," then yes, otherwise
you will need to rely on other skills, although some skills that you will
learn are beneficial in most parts of life.
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If you are interested in Fencing Terminology,
click HERE.
Click here to join (or leave) the MUFencing listserv The
listserv is how the team communicates about club events and social events. If
you are interested in joining the team, you may want to wait before joining the
listserv. Put your name and email address on one of our recruitment sheets at
Mega Fair, the Info Fair at the REC, or at the first few practices. If we
obtain your email in that way, we will add you to a list of prospective members
and email you about the first meetings. When you are committed to the team you
should then join the listserv. The link is available here for your convenience.
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