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I highly recommend fencing. It's a spectacular workout, and the three different weapons provide unique experiences, one of which will certainly cater to your i
by mcantor 17y ago
I highly recommend fencing. It's a spectacular workout, and the three different weapons provide unique experiences, one of which will certainly cater to your intellect or personality. Foil is highly strategic, épée is much less rules-oriented and the most like a "real" duel of the three, and sabre is extremely fast-paced.
The only downside is that competing can get expensive, but the exposure to so many different fencing styles is worth it. All three weapons are fun and intellectually stimulating to study, and the community is universally supportive. I think it's an excellent "hackers' game."
My other hobbies: drawing & painting, writing & reading (always reading), finding new music to listen to, video games, and poker (another great game with deep strategy behind it).
- paddy_m 17y agoI have thought of getting into fencing. DHH's article about it a couple years ago piqued my interest. Maybe I'm just elitist, but I think that with more obscure sports/hobbies you meet more interesting people. Anyone can play/talk about basketball, without much effort put in to play/learn about the sport. A sport like fencing though, requires a much more serious investment of time and follow through. Has anyone else noticed this?
- tomjen2 17y agoThat is funny, I started thinking about fencing (or rather sword fighting in general) a couple of weeks ago. Do you by chance have the link to his article? My google-fo seems week.
- acangiano 17y agoDo you by chance have the link to his article? My google-fo seems week. http://www.loudthinking.com/posts/2-getting-back-to-the-foil http://www.loudthinking.com/posts/2-getting-back-to-the-foil
- nradov 17y agoI fenced in school and enjoyed it, but as for being a workout I was always bothered by how it's so asymmetrical. I'm right handed and so it didn't work my left arm nearly as much.
- mcantor 17y agoIt can be challenging and instructive to fence off-handed. I don't know anyone who regularly swaps between handedness to keep it even, but now that you mention it, it's a pretty interesting idea...
- pixcavator 17y ago>>asymmetrical You can say the same about tennis... I wouldn’t worry. You can also try "period" fencing (look up "SCA"). The rules are different: if you are "wounded" on the right arm, you have to switch to the left. There is also two-handed fencing (longsword).