Fencing Equipment – Get The Right Protection

A successful fencer must possess a rather large variety of different items such as, an outstanding positive attitude and a whole lot of extreme patience. For the beginner, they will need a fencing mask, jacket, glove, and a practice weapon or fencing equipment or a practice weapon, which is less involved than the obvious requirements of competition preparation. The main fencing swords used are the foil, the sabre, and the epee.

 

Many clubs will lend you fencing gear when you are just starting and doing a beginner course. Once you complete the course, and are hooked to it, you will be encouraged to buy your own set of gear. There are two different options for a beginner.

 

The first option is to buy the equipment piece-wise, until you have a full set. The other option is to purchase a starter kit, these kits contain all the basic elements of fencing requirements already assemble and sold as a unit. You have a list of required items, but what do you do with it? Prior to purchasing or using your own equipment it is important to have a solid basic understanding of both capability and purpose of each item.

 

Fencing jackets work to help to keep the fencer safe from harm. Choosing a jacket that is durable and offers sufficient protection is vital for any fencer. While the United States has no minimum standard of protection, Europe does. Thus, a stronger protection requirement applies in international events, like the Olympics.

 

When you are beginning, the standard costume will be more than sufficient. Your primary decision will be whether you want it in cotton or synthetic fabric. Cotton will probably be less expensive but it is heavier and warmer. Synthetic fabric is lightweight but it will cost a bit more.

 

The mask is also for protection so be sure to select a mask that has sufficient interior padding, does not press on the top of the head or chin, and fits with ease. Even though you can purchase non-electric gloves it is almost always worth buying a glove with a cuff that can be used for electric fencing.

 

This cuff lets you to effortlessly connect the body cord from under your sleeve to an electric weapon. These are sized either as small, medium or large, or in separate glove sizes. Going for gloves that are individually sized will generally get you a better fit but they tend to be more costly. The foil is intended for thrusting. The blade is very thin, with a rounded or foiled tip. Foil blades are flexible enough to bend upon striking an opponent, in order to avoid injuries.

 

Fencing Equipment – What Pieces Do You Really Need?

A successful fencer must possess a rather large variety of different items such as, an outstanding positive attitude and a whole lot of extreme patience. For the beginner, they will need a fencing mask, jacket, glove, and a practice weapon or fencing gear during your initial training sessions. After you have mastered the fundamentals, you will be ready to purchase some items. Two possibilities exist for the newcomer.

 

There are two ways to proceed: you can either obtain each piece individually until you get a complete set, or you can buy a foundation set, which will have everything you need already gathered together and assembled. Now that you have all of the required apparatus, what should come next? Before buying or using any fencing equipment, you really should learn what each piece is used for and what it is capable of doing.

 

Fencing jackets work to help to keep the fencer safe from harm. Choosing a jacket that is durable and offers sufficient protection is vital for any fencer. While the United States has no minimum standard of protection, Europe does. Thus, a stronger protection requirement applies in international events, like the Olympics.

 

When you are beginning, the standard costume will be more than sufficient. Your primary decision will be whether you want it in cotton or synthetic fabric. Cotton will probably be less expensive but it is heavier and warmer. Synthetic fabric is lightweight but it will cost a bit more.

 

The mask is also for protection so be sure to select a mask that has sufficient interior padding, does not press on the top of the head or chin, and fits with ease. Even though you can purchase non-electric gloves it is almost always worth buying a glove with a cuff that can be used for electric fencing.

 

This cuff lets you to effortlessly connect the body cord from under your sleeve to an electric weapon. These are sized either as small, medium or large, or in separate glove sizes. Going for gloves that are individually sized will generally get you a better fit but they tend to be more costly. The foil is intended for thrusting. The blade is very thin, with a rounded or foiled tip. Foil blades are flexible enough to bend upon striking an opponent, in order to avoid injuries.

How Safe Is Fencing?

Watch Sada Jacobson and Becca Ward fence in Orleans France

“Put safety first.” Throughout our lives, we hear this expression at school, at work, and at play. Unfortunately, injuries occur in sports even at the recreational level. Okay, playing a game of go or stratego is fairly safe. However, other activities, such as full-contact sports can result in major injuries. But how about the sport of fencing? In theory, any sport involving blades might seem dangerous. Here are some factors to consider in determining how dangerous fencing is:

 

1. Swordplay has existed since ancient times

Historical records revealing sword-fighting as a type of sport date back to the ancient Egyptians. Since then, fencing swordplay has developed significantly. However, today’s fencing basically originates from the rapier dueling of the 15^th century. A rapier is an extremely thin sword with a point that is long and sharp. This type of dueling involved no armor, which made it potentially quite dangerous.

 

The fact that fencing has a long history does not imply that it is safe per se. However, throughout the centuries, innovations in technology and enlightenments in physiology have resulted in safer fencing equipment. While fencing masks, jackets, pants, shoes, etc., are standard for today’s fencers, such equipment was non-existent when the sport was born!

 

2. Fencing blades are extremely lightweight

Blades on the various types of swords for fencing (foil, epee, and saber), are quite thin. Though referred to as "swords" they are made with flexible blades and foiled, or blunted, tips. These are not the mammoth swords that you see in movies with Samurais or Conan the Barbarian. Also, varying from the sword dueling that inspired fencing, the object in the latter is to “touch” the opponent literally, using the tip of your fencing weapon. Electronic equipment can immediately inform the referee and players, when a “touch” has occurred.   

 

3. Quality protective equipment includes puncture-resistant fabrics

Such fabrics, including ballistic nylon, can help to safeguard you from the “blow” of a fencing attack. Because they are designed to bend, when the tip of the fencing blade hits an opponent’s protective gear, the bending of the blade tends to absorb most of the force. Is it possible to get a few minor bumps and bruises when fencing? Yes, that is possible. However, by selecting quality protective gear and by wearing it properly, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of becoming injured.  Types of gear you should wear include:

 

·         glove

·         jacket

·         knickers

·         mask

·         shoes

·         socks

 

While you do not have to buy the best protective gear possible, make sure that provides adequate protection!  The best protection is provided by fencing masks and uniforms that are "FIE" rated, meaning that they provide enough protection for competition at the world championship and Olympic level events.

 

4. Stretching can help to prevent muscle injuries

Like in other sports, warm up before starting your practice session. The thrusting position makes you the most vulnerable to muscle injuries, as your legs are both fully extended. While in the thrusting stance, squat towards the front foot for a while. Then shift your weight backwards and squat towards the back foot. 

 

As with any other sport, make sure to put safety first, when fencing. The aforementioned tips can help to ensure that you enjoy fencing in a responsible way. Have fun!