The Beginnings of my Fencing Career

On Monday January 27 2020 I attended my first meeting of the OSU fencing club. I was more than a little intimidated at the prospect of meeting a new group of people who’s common interest I know next to nothing about. However I found the group to be very welcoming and when the topic finally rolled around to why I’d chosen to join fencing club, I explained my H&S spring project situation. The club’s leader seemed more happy to have another physics major in the group, then annoyed at the prospect of teaching footwork. But footwork I was taught beginning with the en guard stance (feet in an L shape about shoulder width apart), and then working on advances, retreats and lunges. After thirty minuets of footwork drills it was time for me to suit up. I greatly underestimated how much fencers wear, one half jacket (to protect the dominant side of the body), one full jacket with a less then comfortable strap between the legs, a body wire to register hits, a glove and a mask. Once I was suited up I was taught how to hold a blade, I chose to learn épée. One might expect that holding a sword would feel fairly natural but the handle of an épée is quite unique, if not a tad odd. Once my grip was correct, I began to learn basic steps first working on advancing and retreating again but this time while holding the blade at the proper level, then thrusts and lunges with the blade. After all that it was time to learn some “fancier” moves. I was drilled on three basic types of parry, parry six (turn your blade in a tight clockwise circle and push the opponents weapon aside then land a hit) , parry eight (turn your blade in a tight circle counter-clockwise and catch your opponents tip with your bell guard then thrust at an upward angle for a hit), and parry four (push your opponents tip aside with the mid region of your blade then thrust forward with your tip angled towards your opponents chest), as well as how to “beat” an opponents blade (knock their weapon aside with the mid region of yours and quickly land a hit). After my training montage was done I was ready to compete. I learned the rules of engaging an opponent and what the different calls of the referee meant, and then everyone wanted a turn whooping the new kid. I played several bouts, and while I didn’t expect to win any on my first day my goal was to score at least a point/bout which I was able to do. I have a fairly aggressive play style and was able to score three or four points in our five point bouts.

At the end of the two hours I helped the club clean up their equipment, removed my 13 tonnes of gear (yes metric), and spoke with some of the members getting names and learning majors. The fencing club meets twice a week in the RPAC multipurpose room #3, each time for two hours, and this is how I will meet my ten hour minimum.

My Other Portfolio

For more information about my academic life and professional skills take a look at my handshake profile which is still under construction.

https://app.joinhandshake.com/users/19881995

Spring Project

I am enrolled in the Honors and Scholars program at the Ohio State University, as you dear reader may know. On top of this I am carrying sixteen, credit hours, an internship and a part time job. I am very busy, which is unfortunate because all of this leaves me little time to be a normal human with normal human interests. However, this Spring Project gives my an opportunity to explore new hobbies and learn a new skill.   

Throughout all of High School and Middle School I enjoyed playing tennis, and was fortunate enough to be the captain of my varsity team two years in a row. While I did love tennis I often wondered about a sport that would require an even greater reservoir of skill, and even faster reflexes. I was and still am a huge fan of Star Wars (this is related) and often as a kid would violently swing a blue lightsaber around breaking valuable things in the house. This project gives me the chance to marry these two loves into the competitive sport of fencing.

The sport has three types of play depending on which sword you use (foil, épée, or saber) and each type has different rules. While I am uncertain about the type of fencing I will take up I look forward to a return to competitive sports and to mastering my inner jedi.