Ealing Fencing Blog1

After hearing all the usual puns including 'chain link' or 'traditional wood', I was en guard when telling people I was taking up fencing classes.

Last week I enrolled on a ten week beginner's fencing programme held at St Benedict's School in Eaton Rise, Ealing.

My neighbour, Rosemarie Cuss, who is also the secretary of the fencing club, thought I should give it a go as the classes have proved popular with people of all fitness levels and ages.

My mind was sharp but my body was rusty (especially judging after my legs ached from the lunges days after taking part) and I was surprised to see the class was dominated by 11 women, compared to three men.

Matthew Gale led the introduction to the fencing course and little David (Rosemarie's son who was all equipped and a pro compared to us mere beginners) was keen to help out.

After getting to grips with the layers of white overalls, the protective body armour and a few steps and stretches to warm up, we got stuck in to what seemed to be a clumsy kind of Waltz while pretending to hold our weapons.

Maybe it was just me who was the clumsy dancer and I did feel very conscious about my lack of co-ordination, especially when Matthew was barking 'forward' and 'backward' steps to which we had to march to.

We practised lunges with partners and the en guard position before an excitable frenzy ensued when the foil, epee and sabre were brought out.

We were given the foil to practise with and used the sports hall wall as the target of our lunges.

I was surprised to see the hour class had come to an end but not before the A-grade students practised to-ing and fro-ing , lunging and stepping while the shyer students watched on the sides.

Tonight's class will focus on the 'right of way' a system of rules to decide which person is awarded the point when both hit each other at the same time.

I'm just hoping my peers have the sense to stay out of my way once I'm equipped with a potentially lethal weapon.
For more information, visit www.stbenedicts.org.uk