En Garde!

Releasing the inner swashbuckler at The Fencing Center

Written by Samantha Mendoza Photography by Scott Mac Donald

Welcome to a sport where the first lesson requires stabbing the instructor in the chest with a sword.

The Fencing Center on Stockton Road in San Jose has been teaching students the art of Olympic-style fencing since 1981.

Peter Burchard taught an adult education fencing class at the Independence High School cafeteria, which was later formed into a club. Michael D’Asaro was the varsity coach at San Jose State University who trained the champions who started the club along with adult recreational fencers. Executive Director Scott Knies, along with Peter Schifrin and Greg Massialas, who had both been on Olympic fencing teams, also taught after-school outreach programs for youth and gave demonstrations.

In 1983, the first board of directors operated the club as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the name of Asgard Fencers, Inc., before the club officially became The Fencing Center.

Current head coach Mike Botenhagen says the 80’s were the club’s “heydays.” Some of the best fencers and fencing coaches came to The Fencing Center, making it a hub of talent.

As the number of students attending lessons began to grow, the former building of the San Jose Mercury News was donated to TFC. When the building was bought out by a ballet studio, TFC moved to 40 North First Street, where they were located for 11 years. The club would change locations once more to Brokaw Road before moving to their current home on Stockton Avenue in 1996.

TFC has students ranging from ages eight to 80 years old. From first-time students, to Olympic athletes, to veterans, the Center offers guidance for a variety of skill levels and experience. The only requirement for students is having an interest in learning to fence. One of the most popular classes for beginners is an introductory class that provides a basic lesson on the three types of swords used in fencing. One session is dedicated to foil, another to saber, and the last to épée.

Though TFC is crowded with fencers fighting at every corner, the group is tight-knit, and the staff immediately notices when new visitors arrive and welcomes them with open arms.

Heath Winer, the manager and a coach at TFC, describes fencing as a conversation between two people.

“I’m going to ask you questions with my body by either stepping close to you or far away,” Winer says. “The question is, how are you going to react to this? The heart of fencing is how we react and how we learn to train ourselves to not panic in extreme situations.”

According to Winer, fencing is a primal tactic used for protection, but one that has evolved into a sport. “We don’t have to worry about bad people attacking our homes or stealing our food and women,” Winer says. “It’s a beautiful art form and a great way to self-discovery and self-actualization. Everybody should try this.”

While fencing is a sport of swordfighting, it also encompasses respect, intellect, and strategy. From the moment fencers stand en garde on the fencing strip, it’s tradition to salute one another with masks removed.

Learning the basic moves in fencing requires strategic planning and technique. Engaging in a match is like dancing the tango; the moves of each fencer are simultaneous with one another. When one fencer advances, the other retreats in equal distance. As one fencer lunges to hit the competitor, the other arches back to avoid the strike. With swords being the primary weapon used, it’s important for fencers to consider safety first. Fencers wear protective attire to ensure their safety.

The history of TFC makes it unique from other clubs in the Bay Area, forming what Winer calls the “fencer’s mecca.” TFC is one of the few non-profit fencing clubs with a board of directors, elected by members who help preserve the club.

“We don’t just train fencers, we build new coaches,” Winer says. “The Fencing Center and our head coach Mike have been working with me and several other fencers who have aspirations to help train, study, and learn more.”

We’re coming to battle together, but we walk away as friends.

In December, Winer celebrated earning his first level of coaching expertise when he became a certified Moniteur d’Armes (which includes all three weapons) by the United States Fencing Coaches Association. It’s his goal to reach the next two levels of coaching: Prévôt, and then Maestro.

Winer says fencing brings together an intellectual group of thinkers. Whether attendees are fencing for the first time or training for an international tournament, fencing is for people who want to become in touch with themselves.

“We’re coming to battle together, but we walk away as friends.”

Terms

Advance: take a step forward (toward one’s opponent)

Beat: a sharp tap on the opponent’s blade to initiate an attack or provoke a reaction Engagement: contact between the fencers’ blades.

En Garde: position taken before fencing commences

Épée: dueling sword, heaviest of the three weapons, V-shaped blade and large bell guard for protecting the hand

Feint: false attack intended to get a defensive reaction from the opposing fencer

Foil: court sword, lightest of the three weapons and blunted tip

Guard: part of the weapon between the blade and handle

Parry: defensive action where a fencer blocks opponent’s blade

Piste: French term for fencing strip, the perimeter where actual fencing takes place

Recover: return to the en garde position after lunging

Saber: light and fast weapon, V-shaped or Y-shaped blade and used for cutting and thrusting

Scoring

Foil: fencers score points by landing tip of blade on area along torso from shoulders to groin in front and to waist in the back. Arms, neck, head and legs are off-target.

Saber: fencers score points by hitting with point or edge of blade on target area above the waist, excluding hands.

(Both Foil and Saber must follow right-of-way rule: the fencer who started to attack first will receive the point if they hit a valid target, and that their opponent is obligated to defend themselves)

Épée: fencers score points by hitting their opponent first on any part of the body. Source: Fencing.Net, LLC

Allen Luong started fencing at the Center in July 2012 and won a competition just three months later.

Fencing.com

1290 S 1st Street, San Jose CA 95110