Fencing is the sport of swordsmanship. In modern sport fencing, opponents try to score "touches" against each other by hitting a specific part of the body (usually the torso) with the tip of their weapon. As you can see from the above picture, fencers wear a lot of protective gear, and the tips of the weapons are blunted.
An individual sport, fencing is often called "physical chess" because fencers use their mind as much as their body to defeat an opponent. Women can compete on the same level as men, and often do compete together. You can be a competitive fencer from age 8 to age 80. In fact, the United States Fencing Association has a Veteran league for competitors over 40 years old. A typical practice at a fencing club, usually lasting 2-3 hours, consists of:
- Footwork -- to build technique and strengthen muscles
- Bladework -- focusing on fine motor control
- Bouting -- practicing your skills with an opponent in an aerobic workout
Believe it or not, there are several fencing clubs in Montana. Here is the contact information to a club in your area:
Helena -- Helena Fencing Club
Butte -- Butte Fencing Club
Missoula -- University of Montana Fencing Club
- Kole Fosse Phone: 406-660-0998 Email: k_fosse@hotmail.com
Bozeman -- Montana State University Fencing Club
- Michael Holland Phone: 406-587-1815 Email: mholland@montana.edu
Billings -- Big Sky Fencing Association
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Here is the link to the Butte Fencing Club's website: http://www.buttefencingclub.org/
We always welcome new members. When the treadmill is no longer a worthy opponent, come join us--you'll get all of the sweat, none of the boredom!
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