What qualities make a good fencer? On the athletic side, speed and cardiovascular fitness rank foremost.

Other traits that can be exploited are strength (for explosive power, not heavy handedness), manual dexterity, and flexibility. Quick reaction time is extremely important. On the mental side, a fencer must be adaptable and observant, and have a good mind for strategy and tactics. Psychologically, he or she must be able to maintain focus, concentration, and emotional level-headedness under intense conditions of combat. As far as body type goes, it is always possible to adapt your style to take advantage of your natural traits. Even so, height seems to be most useful in epee. Small or thin people are harder to hit in foil. A long reach helps in epee, and long legs are an asset in foil. It should be noted that left handers seem to enjoy a slight advantage, especially against less experienced fencers. This may account for the fact that lefties make up 15% of novice fencers, but close to half of FIE world champions. Do I have to buy any equipment?No! ... more