Will I get hurt? - Fencing Safety

A small foreword

Fencing is safe. If you use a bit of common sense and listen to your instructor, you will not get hurt. If you ever do it will most likely be from an injury you could sustain in any sport e.g. sprained ankle.

Fencing is designed to be safe. The weapons are all blunt with large rubber buttons on the end and they are not stiff rods of steel, they're bendy. You will wear fencing clothing and masks, designed to prevent damage. It's actually quite hard to get hurt or for those bullies out there, to hurt.

But here are a few guidelines below to follow, for your safety, the safety of others and most of all - your enjoyment.

When in practise

• It is not the done thing to fence your opponant when he / she is unarmed and unprotected (no matter how good they say they are)
• Equipment and personal possesions must be kept at the side of the piste.
• Once you have finished your bout, never put down your mask / weapon or anything else in the practise area. It'll only end in tears.
• If you are not fencing, we recommend not standing inbetween others who are.
• If you want to horse-play around, go to a stables
• If you break a weapon, we won't be angry, it does happen, but do inform the instructor.
• The magic word is ' HALT' - hear it and stop
• Also, if you hear 'Aaagh, you've punctured my lung' or words to that affect, immediately stop what you are doing and do not re-start until you are told to do so.
• Use a bit of the old grey matter and you'll be fine, honest.

Before practise:

• Warm up - the instructor will take you through an extensive (potentially painful - but hey, no pain...) warm up and stretching session.
• Sober up - Don't drink and fence (?) - anyway you'll never balance a pint when fencing
• NO DRUGS - An absolute no-no! You'll be asked to leave, probably not very politely.

You must^(x10) have when fencing:

• Mask ( with out a weapon still in your hands)
• Jacket ( which fits!)
• Plastron
• Glove ( prefarably on your sword arm)
• Breeches ( tracksuit at your own risk & you won't be insured)
• Long socks
• Suitable footware ( non-marking)
• Weapon

Weapon 'must's:

• Not be broken or fractured
• Have a rubber tip and not have been worked to a fine point
• The guard must be smooth
• It must not be deformed or look like an E.C.G
• Only have one weapon when fencing, two is cheating.

REPORT ALL ACCIDENTS & BREAKAGES

In an emergency contact Sports Service staff