Hello and fencing for a 11 year old boy

Athletic Recruits
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<p>@sherpa: Thanks for chiming in on our points of difference.</p>

<p>Honestly, I don’t follow the college fencing scene that closely. However, I am a big fan of Lee K’s style and have shared her matches on Youtube with my daughter and followed her progress over the past year or so. With her sister at Harvard and her Dad a Duke alum (and I think former fencing team captain), I’d think that she’d have an “in” at either place, so for her to pick ND over other schools says a lot to me about the quality of the program.</p>

<p>I’m glad you mentioned Brandeis and the other non-Ivy non-Big 10/Big East schools…pretty sure Brandeis is where fencing “ambassador” Tim Moorehouse (Olympic team silver medalist) went. Cottontree…Tim’s book “American Fencer” is worth a read for you and your son.</p>

<p>Of course, I’d love for my daughter to go to Princeton (we are from NJ) and fence there…but who knows if she’ll have the scores/academic chops/fencing game that matter when that time comes?</p>

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<p>And speaking of the Air Force Academy…what’s up with Seth Kelsey’s unorthodox but quite effective epee style?</p>

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<p>I ask my son about sabre. He said he was taught foil in the past. Last night was his first experience of sabre. He said “sabre is cool and more exciting. I felt like a pirate do the slashing and cutting. foil is just stabbing” I asked " how do you know pirate is doing slashing and cutting?" He said " movie. You can see that’s how they fight".</p>

<p>Now, I understand my son uses his imagination to choose what he likes to do or not. He can picture himself using sword from the books and movies. That’s why he likes fencing after he stops the marshal arts practice and wrestling. He does not want to do tennis year around even he had quite a lot training on it over many summers.</p>

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<p>I don’t know whether it is a good reason to choose sabre. How should I discuss with coach about which weapon for my son? Should I get involved or let him and his coach to decide since I have no knowledge which weapon is better in what way.</p>

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<p>The truth finally came out. My son did not like fencing when he was trained in foil. He thought it was boring. No wonder when I mentioned about fencing after he completed karate, he just ignored me but wanted to do “underground fighting”. </p>

<p>He finally agreed to look at fencing once more because nothing else to do. When we went to see/observe the boy team practice last Saturday, he saw them practicing sabre and it looked much more interesting than foil. When we “accidentally” missed the beginner class (as a private lesson) on Wednesday night, he joined the boy team practice. Coach let him tried sabre with another boy and he really liked it. So, now he wants to learn sabre to see how it goes.</p>

<p>I did not know he has such strong opinion about foil and sabre until tonight. If coach let him tried foil in this private lesson as beginner class, he might never want to take fencing class again. This sabre changes his entire perspective about fencing.</p>

<p>It is good I have one month trail before I commit 6 month membership. This fencing class is still up the air.</p>

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<p>My son was told by his dad last night that he will have to pick one sport to be physically active. If he can’t find one he “likes”, he has to choose one he “dislikes” the least. Otherwise, we will pick one for him. </p>

<p>I told him the best choice will be swimming since we have two swimming teams within 10 minutes’ drive. Swimming will be physical demanding to keep him strong and fit. He did not like swimming training ever since he was little. He think it is boring.</p>

<p>Or he will do all the typical sports with his friends, like soccer, football, etc. in the close by community centers.</p>

<p>I predict he will learn sabre for few months and tries few competitions and then calls quit since sabre is only fun to fight like a pirate. I don’t think he will want to fight like a pirate for a long time. Soon his interest will go away. I will have to find something else to keep him physical active.</p>

<p>As you can see, my son is stubborn, picky, and very particular in his own ways looking at sports and many things in life.</p>

<p>I can only hope things happen certain way and provide the opportunity for him but I really can’t force him to do things except violin learning.</p>

<p>We have friend who can get their son to do whatever they want him to do. This boy can practice piano two hours a day, study Chinese for hours, study math for competitions, and jump grades by studying ahead at home. The typical working hard Chinese students who eventually becomes high achievers at the end even though they may not be the most smart kids.</p>

<p>His father admits that my son is much smarter than his son. This friend tested my son out(only telling me many months later) by giving him few math problems that his son could not do. This friend brought the math questions to my son and another boy. Both of them took higher grade math than regular GT math. The other boy also could not solve the math problems but my son did.</p>

<p>but his son can produce much better results than my son because his son will follow his father’s instructions and put into many hours to work hard.</p>

<p>I have tried to get my son to do things like this boy but he just won’t obey. At the end, I have to follow his choices.</p>

<p>Thanks for ALL who share the thoughts, wisdoms, and experiences. I learn so much from all of you. I will update his progress in fencing and other sport choices later.</p>