\The Mask of Zorro,"" ""The Princess Bride,"" ""Star Wars"" and ""The Three Musketeers"" have more in common than undisputed popularity. Each of these films contains scenes in which characters duel with swords and use elaborate weapon techniques.
""A lot of people think fencing is one of those anachronistic sports that they see in the movies ... but it is also a really good athletic sport, too, and it takes a lot of endurance,"" said UW Fencing Club President Stacy Shumacher. ""It improves agility and endurance.""
UW-Madison freshman Laith Al-Shihabi, president-elect of the UW fencing club, first picked up a fencing sword at the beginning of the fall semester.
""I just find it very enjoyable,"" Al-Shihabi said. ""I haven't been able to take any of the fencing classes, but with respect to the fencing club I have learned a lot... and it has been one of the main places where I have met people.""
The UW Fencing Club offers lessons and practices for those who are interested in taking up the sport and for those who may have had prior involvement with fencing in high school or other associations. The UW Fencing Club, which is classified as a club sport and is in the Division of Recreational Sports, is also a registered student organization. The club welcomes all students interested in the sport, from beginners to experts.
""Most people [in the club] have not fenced prior to college, "" Schumacher said. ""I started out fencing at the university. I took one Union class and one of [the university's] classes.""
The club provides protective clothing and weapons for the fencers. The $30 dues go toward purchasing new equipment and compensation for the cost of tournaments.
""We have complete sets of loaner gear which people can borrow,"" Schumacher said. ""We encourage people to buy their own gloves at least, and generally one can get a basic starter set with weapon, jacket, mask and bag for $100.""
The club's three volunteer instructors teach the three fencing styles: sabre, foil and epee. The combat methods differ with the use of each sword. While it is not unusual for fencers to master the skills of all three weapons, they generally develop proficiency in one rapier.
The sabre is a thin, light, perfectly straight weapon. In a sabre ""bout"" (an individual match), the target area is anywhere above the waist, and its de-emphasis of point attacks makes sabre fencing ideal for beginners who do not yet have great point control. Foil fencing is also good for beginners because it is an abstract form of fencing that emphasizes defense. Lastly, the epee, which is a descendant of a dueling sword, is similar in length to the foil weapon, but is heavier and has a larger guard and thicker blade. In epee fencing, the entire body is the valid target area.
Each time a fencer scores a touch, he or she receives a point. The goal is to score 15 points in direct elimination play or five points in preliminary pool play before the opponent does.
""In the club, we start out with basic footwork drills and basic weapon drills,"" Shumacher said. ""We divide up and free fence. We break up into small fencing pools consisting of five to eight fencers in each group and practice with each other. We basically do drills and free fencing in practice.""
""Fencing is unique among sports, it's one I can get into,"" said Al-Shihabi. ""It is an individual sport when you are in a bout, but when practicing it is very much a team sport.""
UW-Madison sophomore Cameron Beman, who has been fencing for about six years, has become a more proficient fencer through membership in the UW Fencing Club.
""[I have learned a lot] through Mike Garrison, who is a volunteer coach for us,"" Beman said. ""I have improved under him. He shows up pretty regularly for the club practices and offers free personal lessons. For me, [it is fun because] ... it is not really a team sport, because I never did well with working with a team. It's not just physical action but it really is a mental sport too.""
