Lessons In Fencing Lancaster PA

It might surprise some people that the art of dueling with swords has come back into fashion. Lessons in fencing Lancaster PA and other areas are offered in many venues that teach other martial arts. Although it may seem that only romantic fiction or movie characters really care about the skill, people have engaged in it since its development during the Middle Ages. It became an obscure Olympic and intramural sport in America, but it's now practiced by men, women, and children.

The Spanish get the credit for formalizing the science of sword play in the fifteenth century. Spanish prominence faded as the Italians and French perfected the skill. It became more of a hobby and less war-like when the English aristocracy took it up in London in the mid 1700s. Every Olympic Summer Games has had fencing contests since they began in 1896.

Two types are most generally taught today, the classical and the Olympic style. Classical dueling focuses on self-defense, with the objective being to avoid the opponent's blade while perhaps scoring a hit. The Olympic style is more about how many hits a duelist can score. To win, a contestant must score the most hits, while being hit carries no penalties. Scoring this kind of bout is done electronically, with each contestant wearing padding which records every touch from the sword tip on an allowed part of the body.

Olympic style is thought by many to be more competitive, while classical is believed to focus more on form. However, fans of the classic style say that their contests in reality would be life or death, that every hit could be dangerous if not lethal, and avoiding any thrust from the opponent's sword should be the goal. In this case, parrying a thrust, which is a purely defensive move, takes precedence over scoring a hit.

Both styles are fun ways to attain physical fitness. Like other martial arts, they develop focus and concentration, as well as character and self-confidence. In addition, they are both great for promoting agility and endurance. Both styles have protective gear, like hand guards on the sword hilts, padding for chest and arm, and face guards.

There are three types of weapons in modern fencing: the foil, the epee, and the saber. The foil is the lightest in weight, with all contact being done with the tip. The heavier epee is also a thrusting weapon. The saber is the heaviest and is both a thrusting (with the point) and a cutting sword. Points may be scored with either the tip or the edge of the blade when using a saber.

Part of the fun is the terminology. Many of the terms are used in everyday language, and it's interesting to see their origin. Today the parry, the riposte, and the attack are often verbal, but fencers know what the words really mean. There's also a lot of romantic as well as actual history to the sport. People may have dreamed about being a swashbuckling pirate or musketeer, or leading a cavalry charge with saber held high.

Go online to find lessons at studios or clubs in the Lancaster area. It might be helpful to watch a class or two of each style to see which appeals the most.