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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Fencing?

20 replies

ZZZenAgain · 03/08/2009 09:28

Anyone's dc do fencing? Dd would like to try it. I don't really mind, we have a fencing club quite nearby but she is not very coordinated and I am not sure this is really a sport that:
a) suits her (trial would show I suppose)
and b) makes much sense (perhaps a more wide-spread team sport would pay off in the long run).

Any thoughts, any experiences?!

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Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 03/08/2009 09:29

just adding here that she is not a spectacularly athletic type although she enjoys running fast, climbing anything in sight etc and has already tried football, Kung-Fu and dance which were not for her really.

I don't really see her in a raquet or ball sport tbh

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MrsBadger · 03/08/2009 09:51

yes try it

imo it is very good for the uncoordinated as you have a big target to hit, unlike racquet sports, hockey etc where the ball is tiny and if you miss you don't get another go.
It is quite disciplined though and if she had trouble with that aspect of dance or kung fu it might not be for her.

it is a bit of a niche sport but that means the community is quite chummy and tight-knit so you make friends quickly and keep seeing them, rather than flitting from huge club to huge club without getting to know people.

NB the kit can get expensive, esp as they are still growing - borrow as much as possible from the club; if she is desperate shoes and a glove are a good start.

If she likes climbing has she tried an actual climbing club?

Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 03/08/2009 09:58

no, never tried a climbing club. I suggested it once (indoor climbing place) but she didn't want to give it a go. I think she likes climbing trees, hills, fences, ruins etc but not up a rockface IYSWIM.

Hard to find a sport for her that she will have enough natural talent for to perservere with/enjoy it.

You don't find fencing a bit outdated/odd then?

I suppose because it is always indoors, you wear a thick outfit and mask and each individual duel is over quite fast, I have difficulty seeing it as a regular sport IYSWIM. Will call them and ask what the set-up is re borrowing equipment and so on.

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Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 03/08/2009 10:13

while we're giving new things a bash, we could actually give the climbing club a bash too

Thanks MrsB

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MrsBadger · 03/08/2009 10:16

(am struggling manfully not to take offence here- I started at school when I was 11 and have only just taken a break due to being pg again)

not outdated or odd, no

certainly no more than. oh, sailing or cricket, and certainly not as odd as fives or croquet or chess.

just because you don't see it on tv every saturday doesn't mean it's weird, you know. Wait till the Olympics!

It's indoors in the warm and you get to hit people with swords - what's not to like?
The clothes are a lot better than they used to be too - stretchy and breathable, not like the duvet jackets I wore at school.

True each fight can be over fast, but they are very intense.
Comparing it to a 90min football match (where you might have 5 or 10 min actual contact with the ball) is like comparing a marathon to a 100m sprint.

On a club night, after warm up, footwork and technique stuff you might fight five different people, and if you go to a competition you could have up to fifteen bouts in a day. It's not just hit the other guy and go home!

Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 03/08/2009 10:20

oh no no please don't take offence, I didn't mean any.

I see the attraction in fencing, just wondering if my dd fits in there and if it's right for her.

Is it highly competitive then, even in the early stages? Can you wear the mask over glasses?

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pointydog · 03/08/2009 10:22

fight! fight! fight! Go badger!

Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 03/08/2009 10:23

hey! Step outside you!

whispers fgs the woman is experienced and hormonal!

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pointydog · 03/08/2009 10:25

en garde!

(congrats on pregnancy, mrsb)

Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 03/08/2009 10:26

speaking hormonal (sorry MrsB) and fighting skills, perhaps this is not wise with puberty looming...

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MrsBadger · 03/08/2009 10:28

no worries

yes you can wear a mask over glasses, no problem, but one of those straps round the back to keep them on will stop them coming off every time you take your mask off.

can be as competitive as you like - depends on your attitude and the club. There are oodles of little junior competitions locally and around the country which the coaches will know all about, or you can choose to develop your technique within the club first without any pressure.

Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 03/08/2009 10:31

have called the trainer (seems to be eastern European) and he tells me his ds began fencing at 4 and dd can come and try it out for a month or so before we make any decision. They can lend her what she needs in that time but after that we would need to buy the equipment.

If we can fit it in schedule-wise, we'll give it a go

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MrsBadger · 03/08/2009 10:37

oh yes, lots of coaches are Hungarian, and they really do begin at 4 (with a stick)

tis why they are world champions

NB not in Oxon, are you?

mimsum · 03/08/2009 20:02

I did fencing at school and loved it - it got me out of hockey in the freezing cold! You have to be really fit as the bouts can be very intense, so quite a bit of what we did was circuit training

Your dd doesn't have to take part in competitions at all if she doesn't want to, we had people who just did it for fun/fitness but there are plenty of competitions around if you want to

It also means that I can thrash all my dc when they're pretending to be musketeers!

MrsBadger · 04/08/2009 09:01

never mind musketeers, it makes you invincible with a lightsabre...

2009 · 04/08/2009 09:20

fencing is great but the kit is very expensive. Most clubs around here (london) let you use them for free, I'm surprised they say you have to buy your own. Even on the second hand market its not cheap...

MrsBadger · 04/08/2009 09:26

yes I was a bit at that too
but maybe if it is a small club they don't have the capital to buy much

the trick is to find someone with a dd a bit older who is growing out of stuff...

If she likes it, come back on and we will advise you on cheapest stockists etc

Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 04/08/2009 09:47

ooh very interesting thanks! So I have the wrong club eh? I should look around, further afield? It's not cheap generally , won't break the bank but costs about the same as the riding lessons.

Will investigate, this fencing club (no not oxon!) was just not too far from us , so I liked the sound of that what with travelling near and far for various other things all week etc.

I do like the sound of circuit training, fitness, intensive workout etc because that in my ignorance, is what I thought was missing in fencing. I am coming round to it.

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MrsBadger · 04/08/2009 09:52

go along and see
if the coaching is good and she likes the people that can make up for all manner of deficiencies.
I'd rather your club than a big, rich one where all the effort goes on boosting good fencers' rankings rather than developing juniors.

Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 04/08/2009 09:53

I like the sound of circuit training, fitness, intensive workout etc FOR MY DD I should probably have said

Whilst I top up my coffee and reach for the chocolate coated nuts. Ahhh...... bliss

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