Fencing

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

That is the dumbest thing ever. The Sabre isn't even the heaviest sword, so we're not talking big requirements in upper-body strength. What, it's too aggressive for teh wimmins? I WILL SHOW YOU AGGRESSIVE!

That's why I like MY school. Equal opportunity. You can start with whatever sword you want, and even switch around if you don't like one, and go to as many classes a week even if it isn't the one you signed up for.

Also, little kids can join in. I was chatting with a 9-year-old last night that could probably kick my ass in Sabre.

[Buglady]

That was LONG time ago - 13 years - and the club was run by an old guy with some funny ideas. His reasoning was, there aren't enough women sabreurs in the province for them to include it in the competetions, therefore it wasn't worth his while to coach us. It was the only game in town at the time. Also, I don't think fencing is as strong in Canada as it is in the US - certainly the clubs here don't get nearly the kind of funding and the vast majority of the attention/coaching goes to epee since that is part of the Pentathlon event.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

Aw, I was gonna get really good at Sabre and challenge him to a duel, defeating him and crushing his weak spirit until he cried like a hurt dog.

Or, ya know... not.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

It is a funny sport, I will admit. Its one of the few sports where most women can compete with equal footing as most men, however it is FULL of misogynistic dickheads. FULL. I don't get that.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

I've always wondered why they separate women's and men's fencing competitions.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I've often wondered that myself. I can't help but think that it's because of the high number of "men" that have a problem having their ass handed to them by a woman. You find a bit of that in period fencing (which is what I do) and you find about twice the amount of it in collegiate (which I an most of my fencing buddies have done at one time.).

Some "men" have problems facing off against a female. I'm assuming that with those guys, a sword really is NOT just a sword.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

Some "men" have problems facing off against a female. I'm assuming that with those guys, a sword really is NOT just a sword.

That's why girls like playing with them. Gotta wonder about a guy swinging around a blade that isn't his. *oh ho ho!*

[Buglady]

My ex says he really enjoys fencing against women in practice bouts because their strategy tends to be very different (from men) and it's a real challenge! He has no problem with getting his ass handed to him by a woman - that, in fact, is pretty well guaranteed to make him go "that was SO COOL! How did you do that? Show me that trick!". One of his finest qualities really

(Um, I am not sure that came out quite right, heh).

I don't know why the competitions are still separate, but I don't think we'll see the end of that for a couple of generations yet.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

Ugh, that teacher is a freaking DRILL SERGEANT!

She also won the silver medal for Women's Individual Foil in 1992.

But OUCH!