RIGA - Originally, it was the stuff of legends and fairy-tales, the bread and butter of pirates and ninjas. Today, fencing has evolved into an Olympic sport with a complex set of rules and modern day sports stars to fill the role of swashbucklers of old.
In my younger days, I was an avid fencer. Over the past few years, however, I have fallen out of it and it was only just recently that I decided to try my hand at it once again.
Tracking down fencers in Latvia was no small feat. Latvia is a small country, and not one well known for its swordsmen. While there is a full time fencing salle (a club which is focused solely on fencing) in Daugavpils, Latvia's second largest city, there are none in Riga.
I have so far been able to dig up two clubs which offer the sport, one in Jugla on the outskirts of town and one right in the center, both of which have good beginner-level courses. The crowd is still relatively small, but they are passionate about the sport.
Fencing is hugely popular in Russia but has yet to really catch on in the Baltics. I am confident that it soon will, however, as the undeniable appeal of the sport 's not to mention the good workout it provides 's will have any first-timers coming back for more. Part of the appeal of fencing is that it exercises both the body and the mind, as it is absolutely necessary to understand an opponent in order to beat them.
Since most people aren't familiar fencing, I will explain a bit about how it works.
Nuts and Bolts
There are three different styles of fencing, each using a slightly different type of sword and each with its own history and set of rules. All three styles are fenced within a long rectangular set of boundaries known as a strip.
While fencing has now grown into a modern sport, a little knowledge of the three weapons' histories can make the rules easier to comprehend.
Foil is the weapon that most people traditionally learn to use first. It was originally meant to teach the student to compete in a duel to the death with a rapier. Hence, a fencer can only use the tip of the blade to score a point, and can only poke their opponent in the torso (the vital organs but not the face 's fencing is a gentlemanly sport after all).
It is wise to keep in mind that while hitting an opponent is of the utmost importance in a duel, it is even more important not to be hit. If a fencer is being attacked, they must first parry (block) or move out of the way before returning the attack. This rule is called 'right-of-way.'
The foil is a flexible rectangular weapon with a button at the tip used to help keep score. It has a small circular hand guard and either a straight wooden grip or a metal one molded to fit the hand.
Epee is the most popular in northern Europe, and some of the best fencers in Latvia are epeeists (mainly in the pentathlon). It was first used to teach fencers to fight in a duel to first blood, and as such the whole body counts as valid target area and there is no right-of-way rule.
Slightly heavier than a foil, the epee has a triangular blade and a much larger guard protecting the hand.
Sabre, my personal favorite, is unfortunately rather rare in the Baltics. Originally designed to teach swordplay from horseback, it is only valid to hit an opponent above the waist. Moreover, sabre fencers are allowed to score with the edge of the blade, and nearly every point is scored with a slashing motion. The right-of-way rule also applies to sabre fencing.
The most distinguishing feature of a sabre is the large hand guard, which wraps all the way around the knuckles. The blade can be either rectangular or triangular, and is the only one with no button on the tip.
Though the days of duels are long gone, modern fencing preserves all of the mystique, flare and sheer thrill of the ancient contests. Anyone who is interested in an intense workout for the body and the mind is sure to find fencing exhilarating and well worth the while.
Blaumana 5a
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