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Clash! Clang! Aaack!
It's just another regular night at the Letterman Fencer's Club.
Excuse me, did I just say something about a FENCING club? That's right. The
swashbuckling pirates and fearless musketeers have handed down the art of
dueling in the form of fencing. Considered by many as physical chess, it is a
sport the public often overlooks.
Fencing isn't just about "swordfighting." I have heard it
described as an intricate dance between two people, or a psychological
struggle. It uses no blind slashing and attacking; it is a battle of wits, a
mental challenge. Of course, when I say this, I don't mean that one doesn't
need muscle or speed, but that one can not survive with brute force alone.
Tricks must be used in order to defeat the opponent. These consist of feints
(a false attack; making the opponent think you are going to hit them in a
certain area, but at the last minute, hit in another), body feints (quick
whole-body movements to freak out the other person), and whatever else comes
to mind and is legal. Speed, distance, and the right timing are other
elements of a successful fencer.
When most people hear the word "fencing," they think of
the musketeers and battles to the death. There are actually three weapons for
fencing. The musketeers would have used what is called the epee (pronounced
epay with a short "e"). This blade is stiffer and heavier than the
other two blades: saber and foil. The blade is grooved to "let the blood
drain away." The whole body of the fencer is a target, even down to his
shoelaces. The "Duel of Honor" is simulated by epee fencing and
it is very much like a duel to the first blood.
Pirates, on the other hand, would have used the saber. This is the
lightest modern fencing weapon. The target is everything from the waist up,
including the arms and mask. Most people use a slashing and cutting motion to
land a hit. I think this is the most entertaining to watch.
Foil, the weapon I am currently using, was used at first only for
practice in epee. This weapon is used to simulate a duel to the death. Only
the fencer's front and back torso are a target because of the vital organs in
the area. Both foil and saber use the right-of-way, which means that if both
fencers hit at around the same time, it will determine who will get the touch
(point).
This sport is one of the safest modern sports (although I have heard
stories). Even though there are no swashbuckling pirates today, one can feel
very much like the knight who saves the damsel in distress, or one of the
three musketeers outwitting the enemy, or even the masked legend,
Zorro.
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