Benefits of Fencing
Classical fencing is a Western martial art that focuses on the practical application of the sword and its use in preparation for self-defense and personal combat. It differs from modern fencing in which the martial aspects of the weapon have been largely forgotten.
As a student of classical fencing, you will learn to use a sword as it was used in the 19th century when fencing was practiced as an art and science, as preparation for a duel, and as a recreational pasttime.
While the focus is on realism, all modern safety precautions are used; weapons are blunt and students wear protective gear (glove, jacket, and mask). Classical fencing stresses control, both of yourself and of your weapon, and it is this focus on self-discipline and awareness which makes it similar to Eastern martial arts.
WHY FENCING...?
Are you, or a family member looking for a new or alternative sport?
...Fencing may be just what you have been looking for!
PHYSICAL & AEROBIC FITNESS...STRESS RELIEF...COMPETITION or RECREATION...A NEW CIRCLE OF FRIENDS...POTENTIAL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP...ENHANCEMENT OF LIFE SKILLS...PURE FUN...!
The elegant sport of fencing, always popular in Europe, is now gaining phenomenal popularity in the United States.
More Americans are discovering the the benefits of fencing range from providing one a life-long sport in which physique and age are not limitations, to gaining admission and scholarships to prestigious colleges.
What Makes Fencing a Good Sport?
Fencing is potentially one of the most enjoyable of all exercise forms. Most importantly, fencing is good exercise both for the body and the mind. It is very challenging as well as fun.
Fencing is an all-year-round activity: ideal for the wet, cold days of winter when outdoor sports are not so popular.
It's open to anyone who welcomes a challenge both mental and physical. People of all ages, from 7 to 70 and beyond, can enjoy the benefits of fencing. Improved coordination, great cardiovascular fitness, sharpened reflexes, muscle tone, poise, and confidence all develop quickly with a good fencing program. Regular fencing training provides an interesting aid to improve general fitness suitable for people of all ages.
To many, fencing might seem a wild and furious activity. In fact it is a sport that requires a good deal of control and discipline. To be effective a fencer must master very specific rules and techniques. Sometimes called "physical chess", fencing is largely a contest of mental agility. While physical ability is important, its mental aspects make it a sport suitable for a wide range of ages and physical abilities. Just about everyone can exploit some personal characteristic to her or his advantage.
"Physical strength does not ensure victory -nor does speed, height, or intelligence. The winner will have used the tools he/she knows better than their opponent; psychology and mental games, cunning and craftiness, distance and timing. This is a fight that requires your whole body, mind and spirit! Everyone faces the opponent on an equal level. Men compete against women, kids against senior citizens, tall against short. There are no requirements or advantages for a particular body type in fencing."
Physical strength does not ensure victory -nor does speed
Fencing can benefit people in many different ways, depending primarily on how seriously the student commits to its study, and what they are trying to learn from it. Many people who are reluctant to take part in team games enjoy the individuality of fencing.
Just as there are countless personal characteristics that contribute to becoming a good fencer, so are there countless aspects of fencing that appeal to nearly every individual. Some individuals may seek to compete, and success in competition will be due solely to their own efforts: matching their own skill, speed and intellect against those of an opponent; female competing equally with male. Other individuals enjoy the aesthetic pleasure of perfecting and performing disciplined movements correctly and studying the theory and language of fencing as pure recreation.
Fencing is also a SAFE activity. Unlike football, a high contact sport, fencing is listed by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a moderate contact sport (the less contact a sport has, the lower one's risk of serious injury). Further, safety takes a high priority in the fencing world. Many of the sport's rules are designed to protect its practitioners. These elements, combined with careful design of equipment and uniforms, have resulted in a low occurrence of serious injuries.
Whether as a fitness regimen, a recreational hobby, or a serious competitive sport, fencing is suitable for every active person.
PHYSICAL BENEFITS
Would you like your fitness regime to be ...
more exciting than lifting weights in the gym to the sound of music you don't like and with people you never get to know?
more stimulating and sociable than jogging around the park alone on a rainy day?..
"Through fencing you can acquire the reflexes and timing of a boxer, the muscle tone of a gymnast, and the strategic abilities of a chess master"... all while having fun !
Fencing Can...
• Provide a fun way to stay or get in shape
• Improve speed, agility, flexibility and reflexes
• It encourages good posture and balance
Everyone who fences regularly can expect to experience physical benefits. As a fitness boost, the fast, intense pace of fencing provides an excellent aerobic workout. Its fast pace, including intense footwork, exercises the cardiovascular system.
The pace is also a good way of burning calories. It is estimated that a 180-pound man will burn about 380 calories an hour fencing. It is a solid workout - working the buttocks, stomach and thigh muscles in particular, while increasing the fencer's stamina and coordination. And of course, the more dedicated you are, the sooner your endurance and stamina will improve.
All types of fencing develop strength, suppleness, and agility in the legs. Since fencers follow strict rules for warming up and stretching, it improves overall flexibility. .
Over a period of time. fencers become swift and agile, develop balance and learn to concentrate and make snap decisions in the heat of the moment. Bear in mind that if you are to reap the maximum benefit from fencing, it is a sport that requires a certain amount of dedication . You should look to attend one class a week.
Fencing shares some basic foundations with some of the martial arts (or even dance and music for that matter!). Some examples of these: measure, tempo change, timing, velocity, and proper execution and simplification of technique. Therefore, students can associate the learning from one subject or skill set to another--linking the common ground in order to help hasten the learning, and broaden their life perspective.
MENTAL BENEFITS
• Increase focus and concentration
• Hone strategic thinking and decision making skills
Fencing is an excellent mental exercise, often likened to chess. It helps relieve stress, which can have health benefits such as lowering blood pressure. It is also a great way of countering stress. Anyone who's ever wanted to let off steam and frustration will know that an act of controlled aggression is often the best way of releasing pent-up tension. Fencing provides that outlet as it allows aggression to be taken out in a safe, controlled environment.
Any fencer who makes a serious effort to learn the art cannot help but develop greater powers of observation and a greater understanding of strategy. This development of strategically thinking can be applied not only to fencing and other forms of combat, but to any situation of conflict or competitive interaction with other people- even in business and politics !
A fencer, to become a good fencer, must learn to develop a complete understanding of a system, and learn how to judge and determine their opponent’s thoughts and character so as to anticipate their actions. This ability is essential in life, and the fencer must learn not only this skill of prediction, but also how to take advantage of the knowledge it produces and move into what fencers call ‘second intention’. The fencer must learn to use this ability to yield to the opponent, letting them think they are in control of the bout, meanwhile the fencer already knows everything that the opponent will do, and is in fact setting them up, controlling all their actions without appearing to.
SOCIAL BENEFITS
• Enhance integrity, sportsmanship and the desire to excel
• Bring opportunities for competition in sports
• Offer a dynamic circle of peers and mentors
• Lead to scholarship, Olympic and international opportunities
• Be used in theatrical pursuits
Fencing offers the opportunity to travel both domestically and abroad to those who become proficient and seek competition. Very skilled fencers may have the opportunity to compete in prestigious tournaments including the Olympic Games.
The social rewards should not be overlooked. Club members often become friends and competitors find themselves meeting hundreds of people over the years as they travel to competitions locally, nationally, and internationally.
The sport of fencing has a long tradition with colleges and universities across the country. The first college trophy ever given was a fencing trophy that we call the ‘Iron Man’, which is given to top Men’s Fencing Team at the Intercollegiate Fencing Association's Championships. Fencing was one of the first sports that women performed at an intercollegiate basis.
Given this longstanding tradition, nearly all colleges and universities have either a NCAA program or a competitive club program. If you take the U.S. News and World Report top 20 Universities, 14 would have NCAA programs and the other six would have club programs.
If a college applicant has fencing experience, this would certainly be a plus on their college admissions. The colleges and universities need people who can fence to participate in their NCAA teams or in their club sports activities. Many fencers believe that fencing has made the difference between them going to a ‘good’ college or university and a ‘great’ college or university.
What Will Fencing Do For Your Child?
• Non-violently appeal to the child's sense of play
• Promote discipline, self assurance, and responsibility
• Develop coordination, strength, and decision making skills
• Provide positive interaction with peers and adults
Also of great import, fencing has much to offer in life lessons: thinking on your feet, dealing with a problem right there in the moment, thinking tactically to surmount that obstacle (which is usually presented in the form of another fencer). Then again, the astute fencer will often learn that they are their own obstacle at times (i.e. improper technique, timing, tenseness, 'robotic' reactions, etc.) - a key realization in preparing a future adult. And of course--fencing requires one to be responsible for his or her own actions, as no one can score a point in fencing... except the fencer! No amount of coaching--no matter how well done--can score a touch for a fencer. They must accomplish this on their own. This concept is paramount to the success of a young person blossoming into a stellar adult !
What Qualities Make a Good Fencer?
On the athletic side, speed and cardiovascular fitness rank foremost. Other traits that can be exploited are strength (for explosive power, not heavy handedness), manual dexterity, and flexibility. Quick reaction time is extremely important. On the mental side, a fencer must be adaptable and observant, and have a good mind for strategy and tactics. Psychologically, he or she must be able to maintain focus, concentration, and emotional level-headedness under intense conditions of combat.
As far as body type is concerned, it is always possible to adapt your style to take advantage of your natural traits.
How Long Does It Take to Become Good?
There is a saying that it takes two lifetimes to master fencing. By the time anyone has come close to "mastering" the sport, they are long past their athletic prime. Some may feel that this is a drawback to the sport, but most fencers see it as a great strength: fencing never becomes dull or routine; there are always new skills to master, and new grounds to conquer.
Some students may start competing after about 6 months, however one shouldn't expect to be beating all opponents! Serious attempts at competing are generally possible after 2-3 years, when the basic skills have been sufficiently mastered. Then the mind is free to consider strategy. A proficient level of skill can take a few years of regular practice and competition. Penetration of the elite ranks (eg. world cup, international 'A' level) demands several days per week of practice and competition, and usually at least 5-10 years of experience.
Progress can be fast or slow, depending on the fencer's aptitude, dedication, quality of instruction, and the age at which they begin. Rapid progress normally requires at least two practices per week, and regular competition against superior fencers. With the increasing emphasis on athleticism in the modern sport, fencers are getting younger, and the champions are getting to the podiums faster.
WHY FENCE ?
Finally, should all of the above fall to the wayside--fencing is always FUN!
Fantastic in bridging gaps between sexes, sizes, ethnicity and personality (as is when seen both young girls and boys defeat an opponent--with technique and timing--when confronted with brawn and bulk !). Fencing is a great solution to balancing a student's mind, body and spirit in order to temper--a successful adult!
The Twin Dragons Fencing School Philosophy
We recognize that people join our classes for reasons other than the desire to wear an Olympic gold medal. This includes students whose primary goal is to maintain or develop physical fitness, while enjoying the unique excitement and challenges offered through the sport of fencing. Fencing is one of the most aerobics sports available, but one that can easily accommodate the individual needs.
We are particularly aware of the role that young people have in the growth and development of the Twin Dragons Fencing School . Likewise, we recognize the opportunity we have in the growth and development of young people. In addition to the mental and physical benefits inherent in the sport of fencing, we also strive to develop self-esteem, personal responsibility, confidence, teamwork and the ability to set and achieve goals.
The Twin Dragons Fencing School will remain flexible enough to adapt to changes in the composition of our classes and to the personal goals of each student. We understand that everyone has different goals. We respect your goals and aim to help you be the best you can be while working with you at your individual pace.
Whether you just want to try out the sport of fencing or are an international competitor, we can meet your needs and offer:
• Instruction for all ages and all levels
• Serious training for the competitive fencer
• Recreational fencing for all