Who teaches the classes?

There are club members who are selected to lead in drills and basic exercises as well as teach new members the basics of fencing. There is one instructor per weapon and one club coach that oversees the training of each instructor. The club coach is also responsible for the training and teaching of any member wishing to take private lessons and expand his or her fencing skills. Only those members with the status of instructor may teach any member, but other senior members are welcome to add comments or suggestions that will benefit the group or fencer. The club coach may also interrupt a lesson or exercise to offer advice or suggestions. All questions dealing with footwork or blade work of fencing must be addressed to the instructors or coach of that particular weapon.

Do I need any prior experience?

No. There is no experience needed to join the Ball State Fencing Club. Club instructors will teach you everything you need to know in order to be a competitive fencer.

What is the difference between a competitive member and a social member?

A competitive member is one who uses their knowledge of fencing to compete at United States Fencing Association (USFA) sanctioned tournaments and events. A social member is one who is only interested in staying active at the local level and does not wish to compete.

Does it cost to compete?

Yes. Unfortunately, there are several costs that are paid to compete. The largest fee, with the exception of purchasing personal equipment, is the member registration with USFA. This $50 fee is a must if you wish to be a competitive member. On top of that, most tournaments require a registration fee of anywhere between $5-20, depending on the size of the tournament. Another cost is the purchase of competition equipment. This cost may vary depending on what equipment you need to have for the weapon you are fencing. However, the Ball State Fencing Club has competitive equipment available for members to borrow if they do not have the finances to purchase their own.

When are competitions?

There is usually at least one competition each month between September and May. For some of the more experienced fencers, there are competitions year round. A listing of competitions that will be visited by one or more BSUFC members can be found on the Tournaments and Events page.

Is transportation to tournaments provided by Ball State University?

No. Any member wishing to compete at a tournament must provide their own method of transportation. However, if several members are going to one tournament there will be car pooling available. It is up to the individual member to secure a ride with another member who has an available vehicle.

What is the average rate of success when learning fencing?

The rate of success (the amount of tournaments won versus the amount of tournaments attended) of each individual fencer is directly proportional to the amount of effort put into each practice session. For example, a member who only practices one hour, one night a week may not be as successful at tournaments as a member who practices one hour a night, three nights a week. The same can apply for members taking private lessons. Private lessons allow the instructors to focus on the finer details of one’s fencing skill, allowing the fencer to learn at a more personal level.

What do the letters and numbers next to the fencer's name or weapon mean?

The letters and numbers, such as E2007 or C2003, is a rating system for fencers registered through the USFA. The letter, A-E, dignifies the fencer’s skill level earned through fencing at USFA-sanctioned tournaments. The numbers, usually two or four digits, represent the year that letter ranking was earned. If a fencer places high enough in a rated tournament, that fencer will receive the appropriate rating depending on the size of the tournament and his or her placing.

How are ranked tournaments determined?

A tournament becomes a ranked event if it is a USFA-sanctioned tournament with at least six (6) fencers. Rankings are determined by the number and skills of fencers at each tournament. For example, a tournament with only six (6) fencers will be an E1 tournament, meaning that only the first place winner will receive their E ranking. Larger tournaments will provide more fencers with higher rankings. Another example would be an A2 ranked tournament. In this case the first place fencer will receive their A ranking and fencers below them will earn consecutively reducing rankings (2-4 a B, 5-8 a C, 9-10 a D, 11-12 an E). A more detailed look at how ratings are determined can be found on the USFA website.

What does "valid target area" mean?

The term "valid target area" refers to the area on your opponent’s body that will award you a point. Each weapon has a different standard for target area.

Foil - The target area for foil is most commonly looked at as the main torso of the opponent. It is the area inside the seams for the jacket’s sleeves and between the neck and the bottom of the waist; both front side and back side.

Sabre - Valid target area for sabre is anything above the waist, including the head, arms, back, and wrists. The only area above the waist that is not target is the back of the head, and the hands.

Épée - Since épée holds more true to the original style of fencing, the entire body is target area. This area includes the head, front, back, arms, hands, legs, and feet.