What Makes Fencing A Great Sport for All Ages?
A good fencing match is a high-intensity melding of combat and ballet. The warriors push each other up and down a fencing strip with light flashing off their blades as they thrust, parry, attack and evade. While nobody jumps over rocks or retreats up stairs a la the Princess Bride, there is a great, dynamic aspect to the sport. Coordination, speed, agility and self-assurance are just a few of the qualities this sport requires of its participants. Fencing’s intensity and demands for physical and mental acuity are a natural result of fencing’s violent history. And while fencing has morphed from combat to sport, these skills are a large part what make fencing such an exhilarating endeavor. A successful fencer must be capable of mounting powerful driving attacks or conversely, of making subtle and crafty defenses, all within the space of a few seconds. Speed and strength will only take an athlete so far in fencing: intellect is paramount. A good fencer must be clever and with unwavering co
