Fencing for many people evokes scenes out of romantic or action movies. Great ones include Captain Jack fighting the sword-maker's apprentice in Pirates of the Caribbean and the light-saber duels in Star Wars. Actually, dueling with swords, which dates from the Middle Ages, has been practiced ever since, even in America. The popularity of martial arts training has brought fencing Lancaster PA back into fashion.
The Spanish get the credit for formalizing the science of sword play in the fifteenth century. Spanish prominence faded as the Italians and French perfected the skill. It became more of a hobby and less war-like when the English aristocracy took it up in London in the mid 1700s. Every Olympic Summer Games has had fencing contests since they began in 1896.
Today it's a little confusing for novices, because there are two types popular in America. One is called 'classical' and focuses on self-defense. The main objective in this method is to avoid being touched by the opponent's weapon. Olympic-style is based on the skill of penetrating the opponent's defense. The object is to get more hits in with the point of a sword than the opponent does. Scoring is done electronically, with special vests recording each touch in the allowed areas of the body.
There is, of course, debate about which style is better and more competitive. Scoring points is the goal of the Olympic style; the person with most hits on an opponent wins the bout. However, the classical duelist says that any hit might be lethal, and that the 'life or death nature' of classical fencing, even though it is mainly defensive, is most competitive.
There are many things that both styles have in common. One is the protective clothing duelers wear. This includes hand, sword arm, face, and body protectors. In both styles, many safety and procedural rules govern a bout. Instructors say that both styles develop character and self-confidence, improve balance and coordination, increase endurance, and foster mental focus.
Modern fencers use the same weapons used in former days, which are the foil, the epee, and the saber. When using the lightweight foil, all contact is to be done with the sword tip. Any blows made using the side are illegal. The same is true for the heavier epee. The saber, in contrast, is both a thrusting and a cutting weapon. Both the tip and the side of the blade are used during a duel.
The sport is open to men and women and also to children. Part of its appeal is its historic nature and its formal terminology. The attack, the riposte, and the parry are fencing terms that have found their way into the language. Many people love being part of the heritage of dueling like a pirate or a Musketeer, or leading a cavalry charge with up-raised saber.
It's easy to find local lessons by going online. Lancaster has several lesson sites within easy driving distance. All studios will let prospective clients view classes, which can be helpful when deciding which style appeals most or choosing the type of sword to use.
The Spanish get the credit for formalizing the science of sword play in the fifteenth century. Spanish prominence faded as the Italians and French perfected the skill. It became more of a hobby and less war-like when the English aristocracy took it up in London in the mid 1700s. Every Olympic Summer Games has had fencing contests since they began in 1896.
Today it's a little confusing for novices, because there are two types popular in America. One is called 'classical' and focuses on self-defense. The main objective in this method is to avoid being touched by the opponent's weapon. Olympic-style is based on the skill of penetrating the opponent's defense. The object is to get more hits in with the point of a sword than the opponent does. Scoring is done electronically, with special vests recording each touch in the allowed areas of the body.
There is, of course, debate about which style is better and more competitive. Scoring points is the goal of the Olympic style; the person with most hits on an opponent wins the bout. However, the classical duelist says that any hit might be lethal, and that the 'life or death nature' of classical fencing, even though it is mainly defensive, is most competitive.
There are many things that both styles have in common. One is the protective clothing duelers wear. This includes hand, sword arm, face, and body protectors. In both styles, many safety and procedural rules govern a bout. Instructors say that both styles develop character and self-confidence, improve balance and coordination, increase endurance, and foster mental focus.
Modern fencers use the same weapons used in former days, which are the foil, the epee, and the saber. When using the lightweight foil, all contact is to be done with the sword tip. Any blows made using the side are illegal. The same is true for the heavier epee. The saber, in contrast, is both a thrusting and a cutting weapon. Both the tip and the side of the blade are used during a duel.
The sport is open to men and women and also to children. Part of its appeal is its historic nature and its formal terminology. The attack, the riposte, and the parry are fencing terms that have found their way into the language. Many people love being part of the heritage of dueling like a pirate or a Musketeer, or leading a cavalry charge with up-raised saber.
It's easy to find local lessons by going online. Lancaster has several lesson sites within easy driving distance. All studios will let prospective clients view classes, which can be helpful when deciding which style appeals most or choosing the type of sword to use.
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