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Fencing FAQ, every question, answered
All 73 questions in our answer library, in one scannable list. Each links to a full, straight answer, the reasoning, not just the verdict. Prefer browsing? The same answers live as cards on the real questions page.
Start here, by who you are
👪 Parent of a new fencer
Is my kid ready to fence? →What age can kids start? →How much does it cost? →Is fencing safe? →Choosing a club →🧑 Adult beginner
Starting as an adult →Do I need to be fit? →Too late to be competitive? →Which weapon? →Every question
Getting started
- What age can kids start fencing?
- Foil, épée or sabre, which should we pick?
- How do I find a fencing club near me?
- Do I need to be fit or athletic to start fencing?
- What should we wear and bring to a first class?
- Is fencing a good workout?
- How many calories does fencing burn?
- How do I fence on my period without worrying about leaking through white fencing pants?
- Can I fence if I'm overweight or out of shape, or should I lose weight first?
- Why do some people say beginners shouldn't start with épée? Is that true?
- I'm a few weeks or months in and I'm terrible and totally confused. Should I quit?
Parents
- Is it normal to come home with bruises?
- My kid is small for their age, will they get hurt fencing bigger kids?
- How do I switch clubs without burning bridges?
- Would fencing work for my ADHD / autistic / anxious kid?
- How much does fencing cost?
- Is fencing safe?
- My kid fences great in practice but falls apart at tournaments. What can I do as a parent?
- My kid is being bullied at the fencing club. What should we do?
- How do fencing families handle missing school for tournaments?
- Should my teen choose a college for fencing or for academics? And what if the schools they want don't have a fencing team?
- My child was crying during sparring because it hurt and he felt overwhelmed, and the coach told him to keep going. What should I do?
Training
- How many classes a week should a beginner take?
- When are private lessons worth it?
- Is 14 (or 16, or 25) too late to start if I want to be competitive?
- My club has done nothing but footwork for weeks, is this normal?
- How long does it take to get good at fencing?
- Can adults compete in fencing?
- I've been fencing for a while and I've stopped improving. How do I break out of a plateau?
- My knees hurt from lunging. What exercises help, and how much training is too much?
- I fenced years ago and want to come back. What should I expect, and will my old gear still pass?
- I'm new and I hit someone way too hard. How do I stop getting too close and hurting people?
- Can I pick up a second weapon, like sabre after foil, without wrecking my main one?
- My coach just walks up and down the strip giving me cues to hit. Is that really all a private lesson is?
- How should I film and review video of my own bouts so it actually helps?
- Does height matter in fencing, and which weapon is best if you're short?
- I get so hot in my fencing gear. How do I stay cool, and when is overheating dangerous?
- Can you fence seriously while working full time and only training two or three times a week?
Rules & refereeing
- Both fencers hit, why did the other one get the point?
- The referee said my attack was 'preparation', what does that mean?
- What do the yellow, red and black cards mean?
- Can my opponent kick my blade away, block with their other hand, or bump into me? What's actually illegal on the strip?
- If my weapon fails the test after a touch, does the touch get annulled? And what happens if someone gets hurt in the middle of a bout?
- Why do sabre fencers hop and bounce forward instead of just advancing like foilists do?
- Do you really have to salute before every bout, shake hands after, and ask before taking your mask off?
- How do you become a fencing referee, and can teenagers do it?
Gear
- Can you fence with glasses? Mine fog up under the mask.
- Do I need expensive FIE-rated gear, or is 350N fine?
- How often do blades break, and what does it cost to keep up?
- Pistol grip or French grip, and when should I switch?
- Is used fencing gear safe to buy?
- What equipment do we need to start?
- Do I need real fencing shoes? My heels and ankles hurt after lunging in running shoes.
- Is my fencing mask still safe, and will it pass inspection? The paint is chipping and part of the mesh looks bent.
- Can fencing whites go in the dryer? And how do I get grease out and stop them going stiff?
- I'm buying my first own foil or épée. What actually matters?
- Do I need a chest protector or a groin guard? And what can I wear so my upper arm stops getting bruised?
- Is a lacrosse or hockey bag OK for fencing gear, and how do I fly with my weapons?
- What does it mean to cant or set a blade, and should I file the nicks and burrs off mine?
- What's a good budget scoring machine setup for a small school club that doesn't have a permanent space?
- Besides the mask, what gear gets rejected at a tournament? Gloves with holes, grip tape, patches, inspection stamps?
- What do you wear under fencing knickers, and how do you keep long hair and bangs out of the way?
Competing
- How do I stop being so nervous before tournaments?
- How long before I'm ready for my first competition?
- My opponent screams after every touch, is that allowed?
- What are fencing ratings (A, B, C…)?
- How do you actually get to the Olympics in fencing?
- Do colleges give fencing scholarships?
- How do I fence someone way taller with a huge reach? I can't get close without getting hit.
- What should I eat and drink on tournament day to keep my energy up, and are energy drinks or pre-workout allowed?
- Is Summer Nationals worth going to if I'm not in contention for a medal?
- How do I handle an opponent who loses it at me, and what if I'm the one who keeps arguing with referees?
- Is it a big disadvantage to fence a tournament without a coach there with me?
Can't find yours? Send it in ,
good questions become answer pages. Or ask a local club; that's what they're there for.