SWORDFIGHT IN FARGO

Fm Fencing Club Offers Unique Form Of Exercise

BY JANELLE BRANDON 5 FOOT 20 DESIGN LOUNGE

Enrique Alvarez, an electrical engineer at North Dakota State University in Fargo, first tried fencing when he was 14 in his hometown of Oviedo, Spain. The rest was history.

Now the FM Fencing Club Coaching Director and Fargo resident since 2006, Alvarez has the benefit of 16 years of experience to offer Fargo’s youth and adults. In fact, he is one of only 100 maestros in the U.S. This means he has the highest level of coaching certification to teach beginners through high-level fencers that are training to fence competitively.

The FM Fencing Club began as a nonprofit public charity focusing on youth development and has quickly grown to offer a unique physical and mental workout for area youngsters and the young at heart. In the three years since the FM Fencing Club opened, it has grown from 20 to 50 fencing members.

“When we started, we had about 20 kids in the all-school program,” said Alvarez about the students ages 12 to 18. “Now we have kids as young as seven on up to adults.”

In the movies, fencing is depicted as a highly artistic, choreographed sport. That’s not all there is to it.

“Fencing is more than a sport,” said Mason Tacke, 15, a member of the FM Fencing Club’s High School Team. “It’s a puzzle that involves both mind and body and figuring out how to solve it is the best part.”

Fencing does indeed prove to be a unique sport that fits any age or size. Both epee (classic swordfighting) and foil (a lighter sword with a more artistic fighting approach) are taught at the club. Contrary to popular belief, fencing is tremendously safe and students wear full protective gear.

“Mason seems so much more focused now,” said Beth Tacke, Mason’s mother. “Whether he’s playing music, working on a project, or finishing homework, he doesn’t distract as easily. I attribute a lot of that focus to the two years he’s been fencing.”

Some of the benefits for kids and adults in the fencing program include endurance, flexibility, heightened reflexes, and mental agility. Fencing creates a great sense of responsibility in one’s self to continually improve form and performance. It’s also a great way to release aggression in a safe, calculated, intelligent way.

“We’re an entirely volunteer-run organization,” said Alvarez. “It’s been so great to see the look of accomplishment on the faces of the kids as they grow ready and then place in competitions.”

This year, the club placed three finishers at the Minnesota High School Fencing Championships and are training for the 2014 USA Fencing National Championships.

Alvarez and the other coaches also hope to soon offer Paralympic wheelchair fencing for adults in the Fargo area, especially wounded warriors.

The FM Fencing Club is located within Grace Lutheran School at 1025 14th Avenue South in Fargo. Rates for classes vary, but all new members must take the Intro to Fencing Class which is $65 for six weeks.

To learn more about signing up for a class, or to make a donation to this charity dedicated to youth development, visit www.fmfencing.com. [AWM]