Fencing Equipment – Some Interesting Facts
Along with a healthy attitude and adequate staying power, a fencer also requires a few other things when fencing. If you are outfitting yourself for competition it’s a bit more complicated. If you’re starting out you need a fencing jacket, mask, glove and fencing equipment. The fencing swords you use to practice with includes a foil, saber or 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 initial way to go is to acquire separate items one by one until you have a full set. Another way achieve this is to purchase a starter kit. These kits come with all the fundamental necessities already put together and sold as a package. You have your inventory of the necessary equipment, so what’s next? Before you purchase anything or begin to use your new tools, it’s wise to have the basic knowledge of their function and how they work.
The fencing jacket is to assist protect the fencer. It’s important to choose a jacket that is well made and that will give adequate protection. The US does not have a set standard minimum constraint, though Europe requires a particular standard of protection. For international tournaments like Olympic fencing, the requirement is greater.
The basic uniforms are sufficient for the beginner. If you choose cotton material you will find the price to be much more reasonable, but it is much hotter and heavier to wear. The other option is synthetic material which is a bit more expensive, but it is a much lighter weight.
The mask is also for protection so be sure to select a mask that has sufficient interior padding, does not press on the top of the head or chin, and fits with ease. Even though you can purchase non-electric gloves it is almost always worth buying a glove with a cuff that can be used for electric fencing.
To easily attach the body cord to an electric weapon, use a cuff like this one. They come in all standard sizes and can also be obtained as gloves. This will give you an enhanced fit, but the cost will be higher. In order to thrust, the foil is used. It has an extremely slender blade and a round or foiled edge. When striking your adversary, the blade of the foil bows so that you do not hurt anyone.


