On Taking up the Sword

Why do perfectly ordinary modern people take up the ancient discipline of the sword? Everyone has her or his own reason.

My reason—yoga is boring. Oh, it’s very good for the body and soul. I practice it regularly. But, really, it’s boring. So, when I refused to succumb to middle age and was looking for a new sport, I looked for something with challenge and excitement. And fencing absolutely delivered on the challenge and excitement.  

Claire started fencing in high school. “I started fencing because Sherlock Holmes fenced and I wanted to be just like Sherlock Holmes (minus the drug addiction).”

Alison “got bored with the repetitive nature of exercise and I'd always thought fencing looked cool.” She’s still at it a dozen years later. Guess it hasn’t gotten repetitive.

Eric recently started fencing. He said, “Got to keep up with my 10-year old son.” His son, Conlan, tried a variety of sports before finding fencing. “He liked it right away. He’s a little shy. With a sword in his hand, he’s a different person.”

Just as we take up the sword for different reasons, fencers start at different ages. These fencers began as kids, teens, young adults, and in middle age. There’s no wrong time to pick up a sword and learn to  fence. Interesting, the coaches tell me a beginner is a beginner no matter what age. Most make the same classic beginner mistakes. But we all (mostly) get past them. And we all (mostly) love the sport.

Next beginning fencing classes at Rockville Fencing Academy (urfenicng.com) start the week of April 7^th. Maybe we’ll see you there.