A good place to start is by having a look at some of the information about fencing on the web. Fencing.net has a good Introduction to Fencing, and there are a number of similar resources out there for those who look. If, after having learned a little bit more, you're still interested, then read on.
Each semester, AUF, in conjunction with the University of Auckland Recreation Centre, runs a beginners' course over four weeks, in the Rec. Centre main hall. This course is taken by our club coach, Andrew Imms, and aims to teach all the basic techniques required in a simple fencing bout. In addition to the coach, AUF provides course participants with all the gear required to fence: a mask, a jacket, and a foil. For this reason, numbers in this class are limited, so sign up early.
Enrolment is taken care of by the Rec Centre as part of their Recreation Programme. The enrolment office is on the 4th floor (at the level of the balcony around the sports hall. If you get lost just ask for help at Reception.)
The course runs on Monday nights from 7-8.30 pm between the third and sixth weeks of each semester. Specific dates will be posted on the home page as appropriate. The course is held in the Sports Hall of the University of Auckland Recreation Centre, 17 Symonds St (see the contact page for a map).
For training purposes, the best clothes to wear are tracksuit pants and a t-shirt. This is what all the seniors wear, in addition to their jackets and masks, of course. Non-marking gym shoes of some description are good to fence in. Grip and support and the key features of a good fencing shoe, and something like a squash shoe is perfect. AUF doesn't provide gloves for beginners, so it might also be an idea to bring a glove (you only need one for your dominant hand) of some description. Just about anything will do, for example, gardening or golf gloves would be fine.
Fencing is a sport for all people. While being athletic certainly helps, good technique will always win over strength and ignorance in a fencing bout. While men and women usually compete separately at National and higher level, in Auckland all our regional competitions are mixed, and women are not disadvantaged by this - again technique and speed are the more important, and less gender-biased, features of a good fencer. Age is little barrier either, with many people taking up fencing later in life, and being able to compete successfully. Our constitution states that our aims are:
While this means that our focus is directed towards university students, it does in no way preclude non-university fencers becoming members, and anyone is welcome to come along to the course and club sessions.
Parking is often a problem at fencing time, but after 1800 the University carparks are available for public use. The best parking can be found in on Princes St, which is public parking at any time and free parking after 1800, or the paid parking underneath the Business School.
AUF, the club, will, with a few exceptions, fence at least two times a week, every week from the 1st week of the first semester, until the end of November. Once the beginners' course has finished, people wanting to continue with their fencing will be encouraged to join the club, with a discount off the club fee for those who have already paid for the course. Club members are entitled to use club gear (priority is given to first year fencers), and will continue to be coached by senior fencers within the club.
In the early 1980s and '90s the Auckland University Swords Club (AUSC) was one of the biggest clubs in Auckland. Then, from '99 to 2001, the club gradually wilted, and was practically non-existent in 2001. In 2002, AUF was created as a reincarnation of the old AUSC under the control of a dedicated new committee (see Contact) and with the help of generous AUSA (thank you, we love you) grants for new gear. In 2004, AUF sent a small team to the University Games in Dunedin, and won every event it entered, bringing home 6 golds (counting team medal as one for each event) and the fencing trophy. Since then AUF has regularly sent successful teams to most regional and national competitions.