Fencing?

[LynetteScavo]

So you all managed to put me off Irish Dancing.

What are the pros and cons of fencing for my 7yo DS?

Cons
(1) Expensive kit.
(2) Can be dangerous when you parry and hit a wall hard.
(3) Does not go down well in inner cities as a self defence method

Pros
(1) He will be able to whip up kebabs quickly.

DS1 and DS2 have done it a few times and enjoy it. They also do Judo if you want combat sports which is cheaper.

Is he old enough?
My ds couldn't start fencing until he was 9 at out local club..
no cons other than that though...
yes, the kit is expensive, but so is football kit and our club has the full range of gear/foils/electrics to borrow.
Are you planning trying it at school or have you researched your local club?

He's had a letter home from school about an after school club, held at a nearby high school, but run by a fencing club. So I guess they must think Y3's are old enough. Apparently they provide protective clothing and masks.

It's not something that would have entered my mind usually, but he seems quite keen.

whomovedmychocolate, DS2 can run very fast....that's the self defence method I've told him to always use.

I used to fence (admittedly when I was a bit older). Its a fantastic sport, I would recommend it to anyone. Particular pros, very good for fitness I would imagine, you need to be very fast moving.

Cons - my Dad (also used to fence) used to get stopped & searched a lot by the police apparently when carrying his kit around Streatham at night. I suspect this may be less of a problem for your 7 y/o.

Other con - reason I gave up - when I went to join the fencing club on going to university all the others there seemed to be called things like Gervase & to know each other from Eton or Westminster - as a scruffy comprehensive school kid, I ran away in terror (though I'm sure they would have been perfectly friendly had I stayed).

I'm sure any club would have kit to lend to beginners, IIRC we didn't have to buy kit at all, though I did get some 2nd hand once I got keener.

Ah now, I see having the opportunity to hang around with some posh people called Gervase as a good think.

Go for it then Lynette... Ds2 absolutely loves it. I'm thinking of taking it up myself, there are lots of women my age at our club and some rather gorgeous young men I'd be happy to stare at fence.

very good for mental agility as well as physical - definitely worth giving a go!

My DH is a fencer, definitely not the Gervase/Eton/Westminster type! Excellent sport, my dc will be starting when they are 7.

DS2 had a go at fencing on holiday and loved it, if he is still interested when he is old enough to have lessons (he is 6 at the moment) then I will sign him up.

Learnt at Uni - did quite a bit and joined various clubs on and off over the years. Don't do any now but ran into the guy who ran the club and he's trying to presudae me to go back. Just seemed to clash with doing taxi runs around for DS'.

Its a good sport and most clubs you can hire / borrow kit until you want and then you can buy some 2nd hand esp childrens.