A challenging sport for youth - fencing
By: Ariel Vang 12/01/2014
Fencing is a sport that
requires high skill and concentration. The easiest description: “it’s the sport
of fighting with swords, especially foils, sabers and épées.” You must play by
a set of rules while trying to score points against an opponent.
My interest in the
sport started when I watched the women’s foil games on TV in 2011—during the
World Fencing Championships in Catania, Italy. I found it hard to watch both
people fencing, so I watched one person at a time. At times, the “attacker” was
the first to strike so she was the best to watch. Her sword would be parried
and the defender would strike back immediately. I watched the indecision in
each footstep, how they would keep their distance, whether to lunge with their
purposeful attack or stay back for defense. I noticed the tiny, controlled
movements of each fencer’s hands. It wasn’t merely the simple interest that
attracted me, but the love in watching the critical movements and fluidity in
each action.
When I first started
fencing I learned the techniques which would help me: the basic stance, the
tilt of the blade and the structure of each sword. The different groups and
advantages of each sword came next; the most commonly used being the épée and
sabre. I was given private lessons from my family friend so I couldn’t start
with other novice fencers. But it gave me the chance to work one-on-one with my
best friend and mentor. I believe the foil was the easiest to use since it
would later help in developing my skills and senses for the épée.
The lessons gave me
questions in which I could ask myself and try to answer. How would I develop
the focus to watch my opponent? How would I develop the lightning speed
responses in the moments they stuttered, those oneminutegonethenext
openings? How could I help myself in controlling the adversary to hit targets,
so small and narrow? How could I add in strategy after taking the physical
approach?
Within two years I
began to train four times a week in the afternoons, improving on my distance,
timing, point control, focus and strategy. Many times I was frustrated when my
electric scoring gear would beep in defeat due to my mentor. But the sport
helped me to transform myself. My self-confidence grew, my discipline became
more pronounced, my coordination became more accurate. It gave me both mental
and physical gains. Overall, I learned that perseverance and dedication for my
sport gave me the best gifts in life.