Why take up fencing?

Ever watched an Erroll Flynn movie and wanted to join in? Fancied yourself as Zorro or d’Artagnan? Reckon you could wield a sabre like Wednesday Addams, defeat Darth Maul or out-fight the fencing villain Gustav Graves like James Bond in Die Another Day?  Take up fencing and turn a swordfighting daydream into an exciting reality.

If that hasn't convinced you... why take up fencing?

• It's fast and exciting
• It can help keep you fit
• It's based on skill, not strength, and will test your mind as well as your body
• women can compete against men on an equal footing at club level
• it’s rich in centuries of history, yet a modern, technologically advanced sport
• above all, it’s fun!

Fencing - one sport, three weapons

The modern sport of fencing developed from the study of swordplay in Europe over hundreds of years.  Fencing now includes competition with three different weapons:

• the foil – smallest of the three, this is also the most popular and the weapon all beginners learn to fence with. The rules of modern foil fencing relate to the requirement to protect yourself – you must deal with an opponent’s attack before you can launch a counter-attack of your own; the target is the torso.
• the epée – a slightly heavier weapon. In epée fencing you can hit any part of the body, as long as you hit before your opponent hits you. 
• the sabre – this, unlike the other two weapons, allows the use of the edge of the blade as well as the tip. The target is the body from the waist up; and sabre has a ‘priority’ rule like foil – if your opponent attacks you first, you must defend against the attack before launching your own – to replicate the importance of self-defence in a real swordfight

Learn fencing in Thame at Thame Duellists Fencing Club, Thame Leisure Centre, on Thursdays during term from 7pm.