Training is on a Wednesday from 6.00pm to 8.00pm in the Biko Hall located in the sports centre.

Clubs and societies are great ways to meet new people, and can be particularly helpful for first years. UUC Fencing Club puts an emphasis on the social aspect of the club, and many former members still help out.

Because the club provides all your equipment, all it will cost is your membership and Student Union insurance (which is mandatory).

You would think that it might, but if done properly it doesn't. The primary source of injury in fencing is from pulled muscles and joints. Proper warm-up and stretching before fencing will minimize these occurrences. Reckless and overly aggressive fencers can occasionally deliver painful blows. Always wear proper protective gear to reduce this risk. These are supplied by the club, and must be worn during training and competitions. Always check your equipment for damage before using.

Casual and beginner fencers can rely on cotton or synthetic jackets, but should wear a plastron for extra protection. Track pants are also thrifty alternatives to genuine fencing clothing, although they afford little protection.

Most jackets are left- or right-handed. Women are expected to wear shield like breast protectors.

During training, breeches are optional - all other safety equipment and clothing is mandatory however.

Foil is the most common starter weapon. It is an excellent weapon to begin with if you have no preferences or want to learn generalized principles of sword fighting. Transitions to the other weapons from foil are relatively straight forward.

Foil is an abstracted form of fencing that emphasizes proper defense, and cleanly executed killing attacks. Historically it was a training weapon for the small sword, so it is well suited for the purposes of learning. However, it is far from a simple weapon, and many experienced fencers return to foil after trying the others.

If you want to take your fencing further, our coaches will help and encourage you all the way.

A dedicated novice who practices twice per week will be ready to try low-level competition in 3-6 months. Competition at this point should be viewed as a learning aid, not as a dedicated effort to win.

Serious attempts at competing will be possible after 2-3 years, when the basic skills have been sufficiently mastered that the mind is free to consider strategy.

A moderate level of skill (eg. C classification) can take 3-5 years of regular practice and competition.

Penetration of the elite ranks (eg. world cup, A classification) demands three to five days per week of practice and competition, and usually at least 10-15 years of experience.

Progress can be faster or slower, depending on the fencer's aptitude, dedication, and quality of instruction. Rapid progress normally requires at least three practices per week, and regular competition against superior fencers.

There are many.

On the athletic side, speed and endurance must rank foremost. Other traits that can be exploited are strength (for explosive speed, not heavy handedness), precision, and flexibility. Quick reaction time=20 is extremely important.

On the intellectual side, a good mind for strategy and tactics is essential. The ability to quickly size up your opponent and adapt your style accordingly is essential.

Psychologically, a fencer must be able to maintain focus, concentration, and emotional level-headedness under intense conditions of combat. Stress management, visualization, and relaxation techniques are all helpful to putting in winning performances.

As far as body type goes, it is always possible to adapt your style to take advantage of your natural traits. Even so, height seems to be useful in epee, but not necessarily in sabre. Small or thin people are harder to hit in foil. A long reach helps in epee, and long legs are an asset in foil.

It should be noted that left handers usually enjoy a slight advantage, especially against inexperienced fencers. This may account for the fact that lefties make up 15% of novice fencers, but half of FIE world champions.