Art of Fencing, Art of Life

7 Reasons to Start Fencing in your 30’s, 40’s and Beyond

Adult Fencing Think that fencing is something that you have to start when you’re a kid? You don’t! Fencing is something that you can start at any age. In fact one of the best times to start fencing is as an adult.

There’s a great saying that goes like this:

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.

The second best time is now.

Here are seven great reasons to get started in fencing when you’re an adult.

1. You’re Not Too Old

There’s a serious culture of youth in the world today – a culture that says that being young is something that is really just for seventeen year olds. It’s not! You’re still young and vibrant in your 30’s and 40’s, and beyond! We are as young as we feel, and really it is all about our mindset. Start something new and exciting like fencing, and you’ll feel your youth.

2. Become Healthy in a Fun Way

Getting on a treadmill is a great way to get healthy, but it’s not motivating for most of us. We need something exciting that makes us want to get healthy. The fencing club is the perfect place for it! You’ll find that you’re aching to get out and work out when you’re fencing. One of the best parts of this sport is how it makes your body feel so much stronger. Plus it’s a low impact form of exercise, so you’ll be practicing great joint health.

3. Learn New Skills

With fencing you’re going to learn skills that you didn’t even know you had! You’ll learn a whole new vocabulary of words that you never knew existed. One of the best parts of learning to fence as an adult is the sense of fulfillment that you get from taking on something new.

4. Meet Great People

As adults, we sometimes fall into the rut of staying within a single social circle. We never stray from it! The fencing club is a fantastic way to meet great people who you can connect with over a shared passion. There’s an entire culture of people for you to interact with and learn from, and who are interested in you and your development. It’s a great group of people to be with!

5. Fulfill a Lifelong Dream

How many years have you seen fencing in the movies and thought “Whoa – that is really cool!” One of the best parts about fencing is that you can access this lifelong dream of yours, taking it to the next level and feeling great about it. You can just make the choice to go down to your local fencing club and fulfill that dream of the child inside you to go and take up swordfighting. How amazing is that? Do you really need the last two reasons?

6. Improve Brain Health

We know that in order to stave off mental decline, it’s essential that we keep our brains activated. In a world where we spend most of our time using just our hands and our eyes, fencing offers the chance to engage the whole body, which in turn engages the whole mind. Need more proof? How about this incredible study from the Journal of Neurophysiology that showed improved cortical elasticity after just five days of learning a new skill. You can make your brain healthier just by learning new physical skills! And the great thing about fencing is that the new skills can keep coming for years as you advance!

7. Have Fun!

You get up. You go to work. Maybe you take care of a house full of children, or an aging loved one. You worry about world politics and your mortgage. Where’s the fun? As adults we often lose sight of the fact that in order to keep all of those mundane (but essential) things going in our lives, we need to have some great fun. It’s not selfish to spend time for yourself. Fencing is so much fun! It’s exciting and thrilling, and it will have you coming back again and again.

Sounds interesting? Google adult fencing classes near you and discover the great benefits of starting your grown up fencing adventure!

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18 Comments

  1. Dr. Edward Salkind CRNA DNAP

    I started fencing in High School at age 15 and also took lessons from the fencing master at the U of P club. With various interruptions in my life including my doctoral dissertation , going off to war (OEF) to attend casualties in Combat support hospitals and a minor injury , I am back at fencing and enjoying it. I don’t expect to win all the time but enjoy the challenge , the fitness, the stress reduction, working out with nice people, learning new things like refereeing(directing), and not sitting back in a recliner and decaying. I am 62 and will be 63 in August. I don’t expect to be on any Olympic team but am doing OK in some recent events and loving the challenge. I have a great Coach-Dr. Jane Littmann. I encourage all those out there to investigate and try this lifelong sport, for physical , mental and social well being. It also teaches us to strategize and problem solve.

  2. Charmaine Berry

    Are there any fencing clubs in Table View for adults?

    • Irina Chirashnya

      Many fencing clubs offer some options for adults. In some clubs it might be organized classes, in others it would be open fencing. I recommend contacting fencing clubs in your area to explore the options.

  3. Ray Blair, MD

    I’m 57. I started in college when I was 20. It truly is a lifelong sport. Over the years I’ve seen people as old as 91 still actively competing and having fun. In addition to all of the above benefits, fencing has given me a lifelong passion and a great excuse to travel. Fencing has taken me all over the US, and to Toronto, Curacao, Mexico, Aruba, and Lima, Peru. I can’t wait to see where it takes me next. In the Veteran age groups (over 40) there are national teams you can qualify for that allow you to represent your country in international competition. There is so much opportunity!

    • Irina Chirashnya

      Hi Ray,
      Thanks for your comment! Couldn’t agree with you more! Good luck to continue with your fencing competitions and travel!

  4. Tomasz

    Hi Everybody,

    I live in Poland. I’m 41 and started when I was 40 😉 With every lessons I improve my skills. For my it is great opportunity to care for physical , mental and social well being. There is so much opportunity!

    • Ed Salkind

      I am 63 . I started fencing at age 15 with the High school team and lessons with the Hungarian fencing master at the Univ of Pennsylvania. I fenced in College and the amateur league until 99. Then started competing again in 2011 after 8 years in the Army and reserves. Stopped in march of 12 du to an ankle injury and started again in 2016. It is the best sport. It keeps the mind and body active. If you do nothing for too long, you will not be able to do anything. It is very zen and calms the mind. One of my Great grandparents was form Warsaw. The others also form eastern Europe and Russia (Hungary, Lithuania, Germany and the Ukraine).

  5. Anonymous

    I was in fencing in college and loved it but masters in architecture and family and life took over now at 60 I have enrolled in the local Academy in my favorite Sabre look forward this is a great motivator

  6. Natasha

    I started sabre fencing at 44. This was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Fencing is a great sport and I believe it needs more publicity. It is an individual sport as well at a team sport.
    Recently, fencing became more affordable as most clubs will let you use their equipment and uniforms. Every training session is a great fun and it keeps you fit. Sense of camaraderie is hard to beat. “One for all, all for one”
    Have a go! You will never regret if!

  7. Braindan

    Great

  8. I stared fencing at 55. Everything you states above is true. Now I’m 62 and in better health, and better shape, than ever. I spend all day on a computer so it’s great to be able to do something so different that is SO MUCH FUN.

    Started with foil and moved to Saber after a few years. I wish I would have stared inhigh school, or even 20 years ago. At our local club a few parents started after their kids got into it.

  9. Ron

    I started fencing at 69. I will turn 73 next month and feel that fencing was an excellent choice for me. It is physically invigorating and mentally challenging. I fence saber and I feel that the strategy of tactics of saber are endlessly fascinating and a great asset for those of us looking to maintain our brain’s acuity and plasticity. And, it’s a whole lot of fun. I medalled in my first NAC tournament last December. My wife and I are both retired and use the trip to a tournament as a chance to travel to different places and have a fun activity around which we can build a trip.

    • Steve

      Ron, this is very encourgaing, thank you. I’m 64 and would like to start but felt embarrassed by my age. having read your words, I am emboldened! I will make enquiries at my local club soon 🙂

      • Ron

        Steve- That’s good to hear. Update: I will turn 75 later this year and am still fencing. Be patient with yourself. Fencing is a very complex sport but try not to be frustrated by the complexity of the rules. I know it can be frustrating in the beginning, but that complexity is a big part of what makes fencing an endlessly fascinating sport. I also recommend trying as many clubs as you can find in your area. Each will have their own individual strengths and weaknesses. Find the place that makes you most comfortable

  10. Kevin

    I just started fencing epee this year and I’m 35. I figured if I start now, I’ll still have most of my adult life to fence. Not sure if I will ever be competitive, but I’m having a lot of fun now so, at the very least, it is a lot more sustainable than a typical gym workout. The way I see it, it is exercise class + learn how to use sword. I don’t see a downside.

    The only thing is I live in suburb learning towards rural, so the local club doesn’t have the capacity to have separate classes for youth and adults. Therefore, I’m in practice bouts against people half my age (or younger!). I thought it would be such a huge mental hurdle to fence against kids, and even lose against them..

    ….

    ….You get over that hurdle pretty quickly.

    • Igor Chirashnya

      You found the best sport ever, Kevin! Good luck with that and start competing – if you think you have a lot of fun now, it will multiply once you compete.

  11. Edward Salkind

    I started fencing at the age of 15 in 1968. When I was in HS we had a team and a few of us went to the Penn Club–salle Csiszar and i was taught by an old Hungarian Maitre D’ armes –Lajos S Csiszar. I fenced in Hs and and 2 college teams and stayed on for years as an amateur fencer. i believe that it keeps your body in tune with your mind and keeps your mind sharper. Win or lose, it is a great activity and life time sport to keep you healthy and burn off stress. It is actually a form of Zen and if you practice it for a while you will realize that. So whatever age you start, keep at it despite the occasional frustrations. it is good for mind body and soul.

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