#westside fencing

So I started to take a foil group lesson once a week at #the Westside Fencing.

The class was taught by an instructor, #Roberta Brown, who is also a swordmaster/actress.  The class was small, only 4 people were there.

At the end of 6th lesson, we fenced with the club manager, #Andy Shaw, who is also the United States Fencing Association’s Official Historian and now a coach at Fairfield Avenue School of Fencing, LA.  He has been fencing over 50+ years by now.

Yes, quite a few people start practice fencing when they are between 8 to 10 (8 years old is the youngest who can start fencing).  And I started as an adult.  There’s no way that I could have win.  All of my classmate were beat by him without getting any touches.

My turn.  I thought about, “Well, I only have practiced for 6 weeks.  Just do the best.”  And guess what?  I got one touch out from him.  I was so excited.  I was the only one who got a touch!  Yes, it was a lucky touch.  But a touch is a touch and I got one point out from him!

So one day, I went to Westside Fencing in the afternoon, but it was quite empty.  I later found out that most of the fencing clubs (”salle”, which often to be called.  The official language in fencing is French.) open after 3:00p.m. or so, except weekends, which make sense.

Anyway, I talked with a club manager at that time and made an appointment for a tryout lesson, a couple of days later in the evening.

There are three different types of fencing-Foil (Fleuret), Epee (Épée) and Sabre (Sabre).  Generally speaking, foil is based on practice, epee is based on duel and sabre is based on military cavalry.  And quite a few people start with foil and then switch or add to other weapon(s).

My trial lesson was actually sabre with a very tall, stout Russian coach.  I can’t remember how I did, but I still remember what I thought-He is tall and I am short (5′2 1/2″).  It might not be a good idea to choose sabre.

After my first lesson, I was told from the club manager that they offer a 6-weeks foil group lesson and I took it.  

Well, I didn’t write the reason why I started fencing on my last blog...

I got divorced, which made me very depressed.  I wasn’t planning it, but my ex-husband wasn’t honest to me.  Tough life.

I went to see a psychiatrist, like quite a few people in the same situation do, as you can imagine, those sessions are quite expensive.  I took her session twice.

And I thought about that twice is enough.  I didn’t want to pay any more money, just talk about how I feel, let her hear it and get her professional opinion/direction.  Money talks, especially after divorce.

One thing that she suggested me was “Start something new.  Maybe a sport?”

OK, fine.  I was quite athletic when I was in school.  But what should I do?

I know that I live in sunny Southern California.  But guess what?  I don’t want to get sun tanned!  Therefore, there’s no way that I chose any outdoor sports, like tennis or beach volleyball.  Ana I wasn’t and am not so much interested in going to a gym or a yoga class.

What is going to be my choice?

At that time, I was living in Culver City, CA and I was driving by the Helms Bakery quite a bit.  While I was passing by the building, I was seeing a banner, “WestsideFencing”.

“Hummm...fencing.  It’s an Olympic sport, so everyone knows.  But I don’t know anyone who actually practice.  It’s an individual sport, which I prefer.”