Anybody here ever competed in fencing?

I've signed up for a fencing class; begins tonight. I've never played it, covered it, or really watched it except for brief clips I've seen during the Olympics and in movies. I honestly have no idea how it's scored, what the rules are, or how you win. It looks fun, though, and I like to learn new sports, so I thought I'd give it a fling.

Any advice here?

 

Don't mention to anyone in the class that you've never "played" it before.

 

I competed a bit in high school (nothing high level, just a club sport) and loved it. Key is to keep the tip of your foil pointed at your target and move the bell to parry your opponent's thrust. Or something like that. High school was a long time ago.

 

Just fantasy fencing.

 

Nobody gives a shit about your fantasy team.

 

Sure, I've competed in fencing. I try to find the best prices for the items that I've stol ....

.... Oh, THAT FENCING!

 

Finished the first class earlier tonight. I had fun. It wasn't what I expected. I don't really know what I expected, but this wasn't it. It was mostly footwork drills - I get it; it would be like taking a first-timers basketball class and the first thing you practice is bouncing the ball up and down. In fencing, I guess footwork, and learning how to move forward and backward quickly is the most basic piece. It was fun though. I look forward to the next class.

Hopefully I next week we get to stab some shit!

 

They use shit for practice?

 

Curious - why'd you start? It sounds like a weird thing to just do.
I am a little jealous though.

 

Good luck with it.
I took curling lessons years ago. Mainly because you can curl with a beer in your hand.
I broke my thumb the first time out.
So, moral of the story? Don't drink and fence and you'll be golden!

 

I do some verbal jousting every now and then.