Jon Willis

A lot of people ask me about what items and grades of fencing kit they should buy and, for that matter, what fencing kit I personally use and how it is set up. It’s difficult for me to answer what fencing kit any individual should buy because different people have such different ambitions, preferences and budgets. I’m always happy to explain about the fencing kit I use but again, just because a particular combination works for me, taking into account my style, build and idiosyncrasies, it doesn’t mean the same combination is going to be right for you (and it may be completely wrong for you). So lets talk it all through.

If there is any company instantly associated with British Fencing it is Leon Paul. Like so many kids, I used Leon Paul starter kit in the very first fencing session I ever had and I still exclusively use their range today. They have been quietly supporting competitive GB fencers for decades and I am personally very grateful for their support and advice. In my opinion, there is no other manufacturer in the UK offering a better range of quality products for such great value. And if you phone them up to discuss requirements, their excellent and knowledgeable advice is always free!

You need kit to participate in fencing but being a good fencer is not about splashing money on top of the range outfits. Get yourself to the best club you can find and decide what you might want from the sport before you spend anything. Do think about what your fencing kit budget is going to be but never feel that flash gear is going to get you competitive success on its own or is a necessary part of the process. Being a great fencer is primarily about technique, fitness and tactical awareness. Borrowing my épée is really not going to help (but might damage our friendship if you break it).

Safety

I’d always advise fencers to buy properly tested and certified kit; never compromise on safety, folks. The good news is that all of Leon Paul’s range satisfies this basic requirement so that’s one box ticked. In terms of ambition, the next thing you’ll need to consider is whether you are thinking of entering competitions in due course. If so, it’s a good idea to acquire kit that will be competition compliant. Many adult clubs and junior competitions, including the LPJS series, specifically require 800N plastrons so it is certainly worth getting one, rather than a 350N, if you can. Children’s competitions often also have specification for blade size in particular age groups. Check the requirements for the competitions you might want to do. If you do have the funds to buy a full set of kit all at once, the Leon Paul starter bundles offer terrific value and are well worth considering. I guess that for most people, and certainly for me as a youngster, it’s more likely about buying kit when you can afford it and/or when Christmas/Birthdays are coming round.
Weapon

I believe that the first bit of kit you should get is a weapon. It’s really important to get used to your own weapon. Using your sword is like using the clutch on your car, everyone is slightly different in feel so it’s good to set up your blade how you like and the get used to it so you know where the point is without having to look at it. I carry four weapons to competitions with me and spend many hours getting them all set up so they have an identical feel. If one breaks I can pick up another and I won’t notice the difference.

If you do want a weapon then Leon Paul offers a mind boggling range of choice. Don’t rush into it; before you buy politely ask around at your Club to have a look at other peoples weapons and take time deciding which combination of blade and grip suits you best. To start with I’d strongly favour a fairly neutral choice of components. For U9, U11 and U13 fencers the size 0 and size 2 ‘V’ épée blades from Leon Paul are a no brainer. The size 5 ‘V’ épée blades are also highly popular with the mainstream senior fencing community. Leon Paul pioneered the development of ‘V’ blades and their expertise still shows itself in a reliable and quality product.

For handles it seems to me that pistol grips are the only true way. Apologies to all you pommellers out there! I know that Leon Paul will look after you with their specialist carbon fibre grip.

As I say, the option to customise weapons from Leon Paul means you can get exactly what you want. I train and compete using weapons with BF white blades (my preference is for something heavier than the ‘V’ blade), a Titanuim guard (lightweight but solid to the point of being absolutely bombproof) and a standard pistol grip. The ‘set’ on my weapon is pretty straight and strongly down. This particular ‘set’ suits my style and it is what I am used to after many years of competitive fencing; it is not a ‘normal’ set and other fencers often wonder how I compete with it. You may well want to go with something a bit more ‘vanilla’ and see how you go. I’d strongly recommend asking Leon Paul for a medium set on your first weapon and not moving on from there until you’ve got intermediate skills and have discussed the pros and cons with your own coach. It’s also very important, in my opinion, that the set on any spare weapon you then buy is the same as the main weapon you use. Your brain will adjust to the set and if every weapon you have is different then it’s going to be a bad trip. After all that, if you are mad enough to ask for a set exactly like mine then Leon Paul can get you sorted if you ask them nicely and drop my name. Just don’t blame me if you go cross-eyed trying to work out where the weapon is pointing.

Finally for weapons, try and protect them when in transport. I use some simple plastic tubing as a sheath when they are in my bag. This stops them getting kinked and damaged when at the bottom of a pile of bags in a car or being thrown about at Heathrow airport. Leon Paul sell blade covers or I just cut down a 3m length of circular trucking pipe from B&Q.

If you do buy a weapon then pick up a couple of body wires as well. After that I’d take up a mask, plastron (chest protector for girls) and a glove.

Mask

So, the second main piece of kit I would buy is a mask. Smelly fencing kit is an occupational hazard but the fusty masks and gloves in some fencing club cupboards are terrible. Get your own if you’re sensitive to hygiene. My Mum even says it’s a wonder I ever had a girlfriend when she once smelt my training mask (although my sister says it’s just a wonder I ever had a girlfriend and any sort of mask is an improvement on my looks).

I use a contour fit FIE mask with ultra thin mesh coating for improved visibility and comfort, though the new X-change design form Leon Paul comes with internal components which can be precisely adjusted to fit, stripped out to be washed and replaced as required. In every sense they really are cool masks to wear and much more convenient to keep fresh than anything else out there. It's also available with coloured mesh if you want to make a statement.

Clothing

These days I am very fortunate to be using the made to measure light weight London Range fencing clothing, which is at the top of Leon Paul’s range. The London Range doesn’t make me a technically better fencer but it is extremely stretchy and comfortable and comes fully lined with a Transpor® "dry layer" fabric which it has an inner transport layer and then an outside wicking layer bonded into one thin lightweight material. The inner layer transports the moisture away from your skin to the outside layer where the wicking material quickly spreads it out so it has a large surface area and can evaporate quickly. If you have the budget to buy top of the range kit (and have stopped growing!) then it is worthwhile thinking about the Leon Paul bespoke service; in my opinion, it is basically the best in the world and does wonders for the contour of my surgically enhanced hip. Don’t worry though. The Leon Paul product range offers you real choice and value across different fabric specifications and performance. I think the Club and Phoenix ranges are ideal for fencers looking towards any domestic competition. The Spartan range is smart and ideal for club use starting out on a budget.

For the young first time international fencers out there who are still growing I recommend getting your name printed onto a piece of material at Leon Paul and sewn onto the back of your jackets so when you do out grow it can be removed and placed onto you next set of kit, allowing the older kit to be sold or given away. I still have my first ‘ WILLIS GBR’ patch from when I was selected for my first Junior World cup when I was 15 years old.

As I have already said I’m in a very fortunate position to be sponsored by Leon Paul and I have a set of competition kit and several sets of training kit. My competition kit is top of the range Leon Paul London range but my training kit is made up from old sets of competition kit and the Leon Paul budget ranges. If finances allow it’s worth thinking about having some less expensive training kit and a set of Sunday best whites for competitions.

Footwear

Fencing shoes? Well, yes, I use them. Squash shoes are fine for performance (my first pair of shoes for fencing was the now retro ‘Hi-tech Squash’) and court shoes seem to be the general fashion right now. But for international playboy good looks I like the lightweight, limited edition, white Adidas D’Artagnan II. I also like the Nike Air Ballestra design and will be giving them a good test drive when my current supply of D’Artagnan II runs out (they don’t make them any more). Don’t forget your socks, which must cover the lower leg and be pulled up when fencing. A little tip I picked up from a cricket coach when I was a budding fast bowler is ‘always wear two pairs of socks to protect your feet and prevent blisters’. It also helps me hide the fact I have girl calves!

Bags

All you kit needs to be carried in something. When I was a young club fencer, only taking my kit and a few swords to club session I found a ‘guitar style’ fencing bag perfectly adequate. Nowadays, Leon Paul offers the Latitude bags or FreeRunner bag for club kit. For a competition going fencer who is going away for weekends or longer you will need bigger bag and I think a ‘wheelie’ nice one at that. It you are going to invest in a larger fencing back I think you need one with wheels and a removable top section like the Leon Paul Team Bag. My final tip is for the international fencer when flying, grab yourself a holdall from Leon Paul for hand luggage and pack everything but your swords in it just in case the airline loses your main fencing bag. This happened to me 6 times in one season connecting through Heathrow T5.

Repair Kit

Owing to the nature of the sport, your weapons occasionally will need repair/maintenance or you might need to carry out fine adjustments to the travel or weight spring. Unless you want to build up and carry round a full on armory I recommend the following bits and bobs in a repair kit, all of which can be purchased from Leon Paul with a nifty little tool bag; test box, test weight, feeler gauge, Allen key, point screwdriver, epee IGS screw driver, glue, 6mm spanner, adjustable spanner, point applicator, pocket knife, small magnet, cotton wool buds and a shoelace. Throw in a pack of grub screws a few spare complete points and a blade wire or two and you will have everything you will need to strip, build and repair your weapons.

Advice

Finally, if you ever need advice with your fencing kit don’t be afraid to give Leon Paul a call. They are very friendly and have generations of experience. Or if you would prefer, drop me an email via the website and I’ll see if I can help.