Tried to find fencing equipment locally lately? Good luck! There are some great solutions online or through mail order, though. We can order equipment for you through the academy but if you'd like to do it yourself, we recommend Absolute Fencing, Blue Gauntlet or Physical Chess.

There are others out there, but we've been very happy with the equipment we've received from the vendors above. (If you know of someplace in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, or can recommended additional suppliers, let us know.)

Some gear is required, others are just nice to have. This lists will have more detail below. Bolded pieces are required.

• Mask
• Jacket
• Underarm protector
• Chest guard
• Glove
• Weapon
• Knickers
• Equipment bag
• Socks
• Shoes
• Lamé
• Bodycord

A mask is essential for fencing as it protects the face from sword touches. Regular masks work for foil and épée fencers. Sabre fencers require a sabre mask; foil and épée fencers may use a sabre mask but the extra metal could result in false scoring--for the opponent. Some masks have clear windows, some don't--personal preference.

Any new fencing mask will do for class work. The dealers that we work with sell reputable products that meet all performance demands.

If buying a used mask, check it for signs of tears, weakness or rust. The bib should stay down over the neck. Do not compromise on the mask.

Mask sizes are small, medium, large and extra large. Most of our preteen fencers wear medium, most adults wear large. If you're not sure of the size, ask to try on a particular size.

The jacket protects the chest and arms and will take most of the sword hits.

Jackets are sold for right-handed fencers, for left-handed fencers or for either. Right-handed jackets have a zipper on the front left of the jacket with a flap to divert the sword over the zipper, rather than through it. Left-handed jackets have a zipper on the right front. Jackets with a zipper on the back can be used by either fencer. Regular canvas jackets will require a plastron as well. Padded jackets may not.

Used jackets should be inspected for signs of wear and weakness. In particular, check the neck flap to make sure it's strong. The zipper flap should be in good shape. Any holes or wearing spots should be cause for concern.

When sizing a new jacket, you'll use the chest measurement. Order larger than you'll need as you'll be wearing a t-shirt underneath, a plastron, maybe a chest protector and you'll be moving around a lot.

A plastron looks like half of a padded sweatshirt. It is worn over the weapon side of the chest and helps to absorb any touches that the jacket cannot. Plastrons are recommended for non-padded jackets.

All of the touches for foil fencers, many of them for épée fencers and some for sabre fencers will hit the chest. Do not overlook the chest guard.

Chest guards are highly recommended for young girls and are required for pre-teen and adult women. Chest guards are available for young boys as well.

Although the hand is not a target in foil fencing, accidents do happen. Épée fencers (whose attention slips) will have their hand hit. Sabre fencers' hands are moving targets.

The glove is worn on the weapon hand. Sizes are pretty standard. Most middle-school fencers wear medium, most adults wear large or extra large.

Sabre fencers will need sabre gloves, while épéeists will want to avoid sabre gloves.

This is the big question. The weapon is the main part of fencing, right? After safety, of course.

Length. The length of the weapon can vary based on the fencer's size. Most fencers use the standard weapons. If your fencer is smaller, getting them a smaller blade will not compromise them as much as having to deal with an unwieldy sword will.

Grip. Grips come in right-handed or left and in several styles. The most common are the French grip, which is the grip that is long and only a little curved. The pistol grip is the one that looks a little intimidating and confusing. Which grip to use is a matter of personal preference, but the common school of thought is that a French grip promotes the more professional subtle sword movements and encourages proper technique while pistol grip users frequently find themselves using too much force and losing control of their weapon tip. The academy has both, give them a try. It's a matter of personal preference. Sabre fencers do not have a choice--there's only one sabre grip.

Actual weapon. We encourage our beginning fencers to start with the foil until they get the basics and then allow them to branch out. Below is a list of the three fencing blades.

Foil. The foil is the beginning fencing weapon. Learning to foil teaches strategy, tempo, point control and patience. Foil target area is the torso only. Learning foil is highly recommended and is one reason why our sabre students win against those who have not learned foil.

Épée. The épée is the next progressive step from the foil. Learning épée teaches everything the foil does, but the whole body is a valid target.

Sabre. The sabre is the most different from the other weapons. The sabre target area is from the waist up and the sides of the blade are used as well as the tip. Speed plays an important role, but the sabre fencer who neglects the sabre tip does fall.

Fencing pants are called knickers. Apart from covering the upper legs, there's not a lot very special about them. As a matter of fact, baseball pants work just fine, or any pants that allow full movement of the legs, especially during periods of prolonged squatting.

Knickers are sized for the waist and are available in different materials. Knickers usually have suspenders, which makes ordering a bigger pair less of an issue. (A tip for parents with growing fencers!)

When buying baseball pants or previously owned knickers, make sure they're in good shape and do not hider the fencer's movement. Most (nearly all) fencing knickers are white, so white baseball pants blend in better than colored ones. (Another tip!)

Carrying around keeping track of all of the fencing gear can be a chore in itself! Any bag will do, but swords are usually around 40" long + hilt but room to maneuver so make sure the bag is long enough.

The typical fencing bags will do fine, but if you're looking to add several weapons or share the bag between fencers, a larger bag might be a good idea.

Fencing socks are not required, but long socks will help épéeists who are prone to attacks on their leading foot and shin.

Any athletic shoe will do. Fencing shoes are not required and cross trainers or jogging shoes work just fine. Find the shoe you like best. Wear what you've got for at least a few lessons so you'll know what you're looking for when you go shoe shopping next time.

Some considerations are whether they cushion your feet well and whether they hinder a lunge or a quick retreat.

Fencing is scored electrically and foilists and sabre fencers wear metallic lamés over their jackets to score touches. Having your own lamé is not required until you're ready to compete higher than locally. While fencing in class or competing locally, RFA has lamés for fencers to borrow.

When buying a lamé, keep in mind which weapon you're using (foil lamés are torso only and sabre lamés have metallic arms as well), and that you'll be wearing a t-shirt and a plastron and/or jacket under it, buy it bigger than normal chest size.

Bodycords are the wires that plug into the weapon, run up the sleeve, down the back and plug into the score machine. RFA has bodycords for student usee, but fencers eventually want their own bodycords.

The only concern here is which weapon the fencer is using. One style of bodycord is good for foil and sabre fencers but épéeists have another.