Fencing Gear For The Beginner
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 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.
If you are new to the sport, most organizations will offer “loaner” 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.
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 just beginning the basic equipment will more than suffice. The main choices you will be making in this regard are whether to go with cotton or synthetic materials. Cotton is heavier and hotter in use, but is also cheaper. The synthetic materials are of a lighter weight, but they are more expensive.
The mask is used for safety so make sure you choose a mask that is equipped with enough padding, fits well and doesn’t bear down on the top of your head or your chin. Although you can buy non-electric gloves, it really is worthwhile to get a glove equipped with a cuff that you can wear 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.
Tags: fencing gear, sport fencing