What is Fencing?
In the beginning, Men hit each other with sticks. That's about as much as you really need or want to know. To cut a long (but interesting) story short, fencing has developed from its origins as an offensive technique, via an honourable argument settler, to a fast and furious modern Olympic sport.
Fencing is an ideal sport for anybody. I can say that, as I took up the sport as a 7 stone, totally un-sporting weakling, and have since progressed to an above average standard, with only a modicum of effort. Honestly, fencing is a sport that anyone can happily pick up quickly and really start to enjoy, no matter how unfit or lacking in finesse they believe themselves to be. It does not involve getting hurt, bleeding or putting in more effort than you want to (though remember, you get out of it what you put in).
Fencing has been called 'physical chess' and 'violent ballet' - it allows the quick-thinking to beat the merely athletic, and with proper technique and a reasonable effort, you can soon be pulling off hits and movements with as much grace and agility as any gymnast - but with considerably less flexibility or endurance needed.
The basic premise of each of the 3 different weapons is to hit the other person before they have hit you. As it is a sport however, there are certain restrictions. The target areas are not necessarily the whole body, and certain rules have been introduced as to exactly when you are allowed to score - this prevents a huge free-for-all developing.
The Variations of Stick: Foil, Epee & Sabre
The Foil is the weapon which is introduced first. It developed as a pointed practice weapon for duellists, with a large rubber button on the end to stop people being hurt. When it developed into a sport, the target was restricted, removing the head, arms and legs from the valid target area to increase safety: Despite improvements in health and safety, this is how the target area has stayed. A simple right-of-way rule is also present, such that the person who initiates an attack has priority over the other fencer, and can score despite having been hit at the same time.
The Epee is similar to the foil, in that it is a pointed, stabbing weapon. However, it is much heavier, and less bendy, making it a more accurate and slightly slower weapon overall. The accuracy is needed, as the whole body is target area: - epee is the weapon which bears the most resemblance to its ancestor, the duelling weapon. As such, no right of way exists, and so it is possible for both fencers to score if they both land a hit at the same time.
Finally, the Sabre is the weapon least fought in clubs generally, as it is radically different from the weapon which most fencers learn with (the foil). The sabre is the only slashing weapon used in modern fencing, and has a much bigger target area than foil, covering the head and both arms as well as the upper torso: This is due to its historical ancestry - the sabre was developed from a cavalry sabre, so that people fought with it while on horseback. In this position, the only viable target which will cause real damage is the upper body.
Fencing at Warwick
Warwick University fencing club meets on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, at Westwood Games Hall. Training is run by our expert coach Pete Cormack. Pete has been in the sport for over 30 years having been trained by several national coaches and involved in national squad training. He now holds British Academy of Fencing diplomas in foil and epee and hopes to add the sabre diploma in the next year ... this will make him a full master and a professor of fencing. Most recently he has been asked to make himself available for selection to represent Great Britain in the 2006 Masters World Championship ... an honour indeed!
Novices are given the chance to fight each other from the off, and you can expect to reach competition standard of fencing within 2 months of starting. The national novices competition, begun in 2000 by Warwick University, is an ideal introduction to competition which it is highly recommended you enter.
The cost of joining is, as with most clubs, only £3 and then in order to cover the cost of equipment and coaching, we ask that you pay a further £22 per term. Given that the cost per session at other fencing clubs is £5, this is amazing value for money! Kit is provided, so there is no further cost to you, although if you wanted to invest in your own weapons or clothing then all of the team members or coaches are there to give advice.
For those of you who have done this before (and we know you're out there), the team trains alongside the beginners, with intensive sessions of fitness and footwork training, organised by one of the several qualified coaches in the squad. This is interspersed with bouts on electric equipment (the club has several electric boxes and full kit for those without), as well as individual lessons at your weapon of choice.
The club is run by an exec, which meets to organise how our money is spent, transport to competition, club and team clothing and most importantly, socials. All of the exec are keen fencers, most of whom started in their first year at Warwick. Look to them to see what you could become...if you are unlucky!
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