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Here are some of the basic questions we’ve been asked, or that should have been asked by new fencers at their very first (or even 2nd) tournament.

When do I have to be there?

The close of registration is posted on various websites or you’ll be told by your coach, generally this means be at the site by 15 minutes before that time. So if the close of registration is 11 AM, be there no later than 10:45 so you have time to check in.

What equipment do I need to have/wear?

You will need to have your jacket, glove, mask, plastron, knickers, long socks, lame and two working weapons and two working bodycords.

So what can I expect when I get there?

When you first get to the venue, you’ll make your way to the registration desk, it’s in the main gym. If there is a line, join it, otherwise, just walk up to the table and introduce yourself. The desk staff will collect your money for the event and they will ask you for 3 things; Name, Club, and Rating. Your name you should know, your club is where you fence, so if you fence at Salle d’Etroit, then UFO is your club, your rating is likely “U” or Unclassified. Ratings are earned by winning or finishing high in USFA sanctioned events and you’ll know when you have one.

Once you’ve checked in the with desk staff and they have you listed for the event, you need to find a spot to stash your gear (don’t block doorways, the bout table, or overlap onto marked strips), change into your fencing gear, and get your mask checked.

Mask Checked?

Before every tournament, fencers get certain pieces of their equipment checked. You’ll be getting your masked checked for this one. There will be a table labeled “Mask Check”, take your mask and give it to the person there. They are going to verify that your mask is safe. This will involve a physical inspection of the mask and a “punch test”. The punch test will verify that the steel mesh is strong enough to protect you from a broken blade. The person checking the mask will make a mark on your mask indicating it passed. The director for your fencing bouts will check for this mark before allowing you to fence.

OK, what then?

Then you wait, stretch, calm your nerves and listen for your name to be called to a strip.
What happened while you were checking in, getting your mask checked and changing, the tourney organizers were busy. They compiled a list of all the fencers there for the day and split you into groups of 5 to 7. Each group is called a “pool” and you’ll fence everyone else in your pool. There will be a director for each pool and they will control the action. Listen to what they say and follow their commands, they are in charge. Each pool lasts for 3 minutes of fencing time (the time you are actively fencing against your opponent) or until one of you scores 5 touches.

I fenced everyone in my pool, do I go home now?

Not quite, from pools you’ll be seeded into the Direct Elimination round, or DEs. These are nine minutes of active fencing time (with breaks at every 3 minutes) or 15 touches. If you win, you have another bout, if you lose then you are free to go home or stick around and watch the rest of the fencing.

I think I placed in the top 4 fencers, what do I do?

If you place in the top four, then you’ll be getting some type of award, usually a medal or other token of your finish. Stick around for a couple minutes while the last of the fencing finishes up and the final results are tallied.

We have new fencers starting with us all the time. We get a lot of questions, so it’s time to sum them up. If you have a question that isn’t addressed here, let us know. We are happy to help.

1. I’ve taken the beginner classes and I think I am ready to move on. What’s next?

We do offer an advanced fencing class. It’s Wednesdays, 6:30 – 7:30. The other option is private lessons with one of our coaches. Private lessons run from 20 minutes to 1 hour and cost varies depending on the coach.

Don’t forget open fencing. For a $5 floor fee, come out on a second night and put everything you’ve learned into practice. Open fencing can be dry or electric.

2. How do I find a coach to give me private lessons?

You can talk with a coach directly, or ask any of our fencers who they get lessons from and who they like. We suggest that you try lessons with a few different coaches and find one who’s style is compatible with you. Ben and Jon both offer private lessons.

3. I’m using club gear, when should I get my own?

When you get done with a few beginner classes and you think you want to keep up with the sport, it’s probably time to start getting your own equipment. Mask, Jacket, Glove to start. When you start doing open fencing, you’ll want to look into buying some electric equipment. At least one electric foil and a body cord for fencing.

4. What is a USFA membership and why would I need one?

The USFA is fencing’s national organization. To participate in any sanctioned tournament, you need to have a valid USFA membership. Annual memberships cost $60 and you can sign up on-line at www.usfencing.org. If you have never been a member before, then a membership bought after April 1st will last until July 31st, 2011.

5. What do I need to fence a tournament?

You’ll need a USFA membership as outlined above. You will also need the following gear. Mask, jacket, glove, plastron (half vest worn under the jacket), knickers, long socks, two working weapons, two working body cords, and a lame` (the metalized vest for foil). While UFO has some equipment we can lend you, it’s strongly recommended that you obtain your own.

6. When am I ready to fence a tournament?

This depends on the person. Usually we recommend you practice for a couple months before starting to compete. But after that, it’s up to you when you feel ready. Just let Ben or any coach know that you are interested in competing and they can recommend the best events for you to attend.

7. What are the ratings in fencing and what do they mean?

Ratings are gained by placing in a USFA sanctioned event. They run from E to A. If you haven’t earned a rating, you are unclassified. Ratings also indicate the year it was earned, like E10 for an E rating earned in 2010.

Tournaments are restricted by rating. So a C and Under is for those fencers rated C, D, E or Unclassified. Open events are for fencers of any ratings. Newer fencers might want to start off with lower rated events like D and Under, E and Under, and Unclassified. C and Unders and Opens tend to be very competitive.

8. What club do I fence for and what is my Division?

If you are taking lessons with us, then your club will be UFO (Underground Fencing Organization). UFO is our USFA member club. Ask about the UFO membership, socks, and patch.

Your division is Michigan. Information about the division and other Michigan clubs can be found at the division webpage www.michfencing.net.

9. I’ve started with foil, but what about epee and sabre?

All of our beginner classes start with foil. If you would like to try one of the other weapons, talk to your coach. If we get enough interest, we may start classes for these two weapons.