# I Signed Up For Fencing lessons **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 22, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603 "2011-03-22T14:09:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/1 "2011-03-22T14:09:22Z")
So last night i finely signed up. 6 week beginner course in foil, epee and sabre. Really looking forward to this, i’ve got to get back into shape and I am not a gym kind of guy. I love swords and have always wanted to “take a stab” at european fencing. _En guard!_ ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/2 "2011-03-22T14:27:10Z")
Good luck. Keep us posted on how it goes. I’ve always considered taking fencing lessons - if nothing else, I want to be trained with some type of edged weapon in the event of a zompocolypse I’ve got some questions, but I suspect you won’t know much of the specifics until you’ve taken a few classes. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/3 "2011-03-22T14:31:59Z")
Wow, you didn’t sign up in Hudson did you? My friends just started a month or so ago. So far they are not very forthcoming with how they like (or dislike) it. Glad you found something fun to do to keep moving! ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/4 "2011-03-22T15:09:23Z")
I’m jealous! I wanted to do that too, but when I looked into the one local fencing club I could find it was prohibitively expensive. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/5 "2011-03-22T15:12:49Z")
Only six weeks and all three weapons being covered? Heavy. Have fun, and keep your brain in the point. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/6 "2011-03-22T15:14:23Z")
You can practice at my place. I have a fence that’s falling down. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/7 "2011-03-22T15:36:40Z")
Be prepared for sore butt muscles… ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/8 "2011-03-22T15:40:31Z")
The lessons start with foil, I think thats the focus. No, not Hudson, Lakewood, _Cyrano’s Place_. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/9 "2011-03-22T16:28:10Z")
Great fun. I was on the fencing team briefly in school. You’ll have a blast. One note: DO NOT show up with your neighbor’s stereo. They will call the police on you. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/10 "2011-03-22T16:51:44Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > …One note: DO NOT show up with your neighbor’s stereo. They will call the police on you. Pardon? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/11 "2011-03-22T17:16:31Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Pardon? 😕 [Fence](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fence) _n._ **3.** **a.** One who receives and sells stolen goods. **b.** A place where stolen goods are received and sold. _v.tr._ **4.** To sell (stolen goods) to a fence. _v.intr._ **4.** To act as a conduit for stolen goods. . ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/12 "2011-03-22T17:18:05Z")
Enjoy! I took a semester of fencing in college, then spent a few years with a theatrical fencing group after I graduated. I loved it, and it’s one of those things I wish I could get back to. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/13 "2011-03-22T17:29:10Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Fence](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fence) > _n._ > > **3.** > **a.** One who receives and sells stolen goods. > **b.** A place where stolen goods are received and sold. > > _v.tr._ > **4.** To sell (stolen goods) to a fence. > > _v.intr._ > **4.** To act as a conduit for stolen goods. > > . :smack: ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/14 "2011-03-22T18:02:50Z")
I took fencing in college and had a lot of fun - well, except for this tall, thin black woman who just destroyed me. She was so good - man, she could stick that epee into the same exact spot time after time until it started to hurt, even with the padding! I hated and envied her skill at the same time. Still, I really liked that class although I went in with low expectations. I remember thinking I would like to take another class someday, but the opportunity never came again. ---
**Author:** ![foxymoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@foxymoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foxymoron)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/15 "2011-03-22T19:34:12Z")
My 10-year-old is starting a beginners fencing class (épée only) this Friday. He’s been wanting to for years and is now old enough. I hope he loves it. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/16 "2011-03-22T20:21:55Z")
Dang, I wish I could get to Lakewood (or Hudson) on a regular basis! I still have all my equipment from when I fenced competitively in college – women’s epee. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/17 "2011-03-22T20:39:10Z")
When you lose a match, be sure to exclaim… “Curses! Foiled again!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/18 "2011-03-22T20:54:47Z")
Have fun! I took foil for 2 of my 4 PE requirements in college. I was never very good at it, but it was a lot of fun. And, when the Sith attack, you’ll be ready. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/19 "2011-03-22T20:56:56Z")
i always say: _“Lightly I toss my hat away, Languidly over my arm let fall The cloak that covers my bright array – Then out swords, and to work withal! A Launcelot in his Lady’s hall… A Spartacus, at the Hippodrome!.. I dally awhile with you, dear jackal, Then, as I end the refrain, thrust home!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603/20 "2011-03-22T21:31:42Z")
So what kind of fencing are you doing? Picket? Page wire? Chain-link? 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-signed-up-for-fencing-lessons/575603.md?page=2)