CHESAPEAKE, VA (WTKR) – The recent Olympics opened some people’s eyes to sports they may not have been familiar with. The U.S. team performed well in fencing, so News 3 visited a local club to learn more.
“There’s nothing better than going out and stabbing people at night after working all day,” joked Tim Vincent, president and coach of the Tidewater Fencing Club.
Vincent spends his days at his desk at his day job, but uses his evenings to teach his fencing skills. He became interested in the sport during his college years, but like many of his students, his interest began as a child.
“Early age, Star Wars,” he laughed. “The lightsaber fights, stuff like that, early interest in swords from that and other movies, stuff like that.”
“I’ve actually always wanted to do this since I was 13,” added fencer Sarah Dickerson. “I first saw it at the Olympics at my grandmother’s house and I just thought it was so cool at the time. I mean, it was sword fighting, right?”
“I have observed The Prince’s Bride with my family and I was told that this is the only movie or one of the only movies that actually has fighting going on,” smiled 14-year-old Gidget Schlossberg. “I just thought, ‘Wow, that’s really cool!'”
Schlossberg is a student at the Tidewater Fencing Club. She, Dickerson and many others work hard to master the mental and physical aspects of the sport, techniques that make the sport unique. It’s an effort that can be very rewarding for those who learn the art of fencing.
“It allows you to deal with the pressure that is on you, but also knows that you are doing it for a team and representing other people,” noted the 14-year-old junior fencer.
“It’s basically work on every level,” Dickerson added. “It’s physical training, flexibility training, endurance training and, most importantly, mental training.”
“It’s often referred to as physical chess,” Vincent stressed. “You’re playing against another person and you have to see what the other person is doing and come up with a strategy and solution accordingly.”
Sabre, foil and épée are the three disciplines of fencing. The difference between the three disciplines is the type of weapons used and the type of contact with the opponent that earns the participant points. However, all three disciplines require strong footwork, concentration and flexibility.
Attention to detail is crucial and there is a lot to consider, especially when the competitor is attacking with a weapon. But at the end of the fight, whether winning or losing, having fun is the main factor that keeps these fencers coming back.
“It’s just a lot of fun to get out and do something you can’t imagine doing in any other activity,” Vincent said.
“I feel like people think it’s a lot easier and they haven’t tried it yet,” Schlossberg added. “I feel like you can’t judge something if you haven’t tried it.”
For more information about the Tidewater Fencing Club, click here. The club welcomes fencers of all ages and skill levels.
