Behind the Mask Preface
Thank you for joining Dulwich Fencing to celebrate the first ever World Fencing Day on 9th September 2017 at Dulwich College Shanghai. The International Fencing Federation (FIE) set the theme for the 2017 World Fencing Day as ‘Solidarity’. “Solidarity among the strong and the weak is an undeniable reality whether between continents, federations, or athletes. This vision must become real, and our common, singular motto is ‘Fencing Together, Universal Fencing’”. “Behind the Mask” exhibition encourages young fencers from Dulwich College Shanghai and other cities to share their stories of “behind the mask”, their individual journeys, the highs and lows, and how they have experienced the theme of ‘solidarity’ from different backgrounds and cultures. We invite you to watch a fencing match online or watch our fencing training, ask your fencer friend a few questions, try the mask on, and get to understand more about this ancient sport, one of the five sports which have featured in every modern Olympic Games. Host: Dulwich Fencing Curator: Jing Shang Design: Alice Shi Video Editing: Alex Lefevre Duration: 4th - 13th September 2017 Venue: Sports Centre, Dulwich College Shanghai
Kevin L 13 years old 6 years fencing experience Fencer from Shanghai • Bronze Medal, National Championship 2017, U14 MF individual • Gold medal, Shanghai Fencing championships 2017, U14 MF individual and team • Gold medal, Shanghai Fencing championships 2016, U14 MF individual and team
Please describe your feelings when you put on the mask? A little excited. What is the best thing about fencing for you? Why? Fencing made me think very fast, because I have to think very fast in a match, If I don’t I will lose. If you could paint freely on your mask, what would you paint? The Five-starred Red Flag, because I want to fence for my country, China. How would you introduce fencing to someone a similar age to you who knows nothing about fencing? That it is a very interesting sport. It can make you stronger and smarter.
Xiaoyang L 14 years old 4.5 years fencing experience Fencer from Guangzhou • Gold, “Shenzhen-Hongkong-Macau” Championships March 2017, U14 MF individual • Gold, China Fencing Club League Match 2017 U14MF Team
Please describe your feelings when you put on the mask? I am happy and relaxed during training , and I am excited and nervous in the match. What is the best thing about fencing for you? Why? The fencing match! I usually get excited about a month before the match and I can always give my best in the matches. If you could paint freely on your mask, what would you paint? I am not interested in painting and I prefer to paint nothing. How would you introduce fencing to someone a similar age to you who knows nothing about fencing? I would tell him or her the basic rules of fencing and encourage him or her to give it a try!
Alex Ziwu W 9 years old 4 years fencing experience Fencer from Beijing • Top 8, China Club League, U10 MF individual
Please describe your feelings when you put on the mask? The smell is not so good. It is comfortable. It is special. It is beautiful. Could you share a challenging moment ? What did you do? At Polanica Zdroj, I lost to a big boy, I can hardly get one point from him. Meantime, I disagreed with the referee but didn’t adapt to the referee’s style, then I became emotional. It is a hard lesson learned that fencing is a three people’s game, i.e. two fencers and one referee. What is the best thing about fencing for you? Why? I can travel to a lot of places and make many friends. I am very happy when I am with my fencing friends. If you could paint freely on your mask, what would you paint? Map of China. How would you introduce fencing to someone a similar age to you who knows nothing about fencing? It is a cool sport!
Natasha C 9 years old 1 year fencing experience Dulwich Fencer • 1st Place in U8 Mixed Foil Category in 2016 DCS Winter Fencing Festival • 3rd Place in U8 Girl Foil Category in 2016 Shanghai Youth Foil Open Tournament • 7th Place in U11 WF Category in 2017 Dulwich Ziemek Cup
Please describe your feelings when you put on the mask? When I put on my mask, I feel ready, confident in everything I do. I feel something different is going to happen. I feel I’m part of a team,that people are relying on me and my friends. Could you share a challenging moment ? What did you do? In my last competition, I was fencing an opponent that was much younger and shorter than me and I thought I could easily beat her. Unfortunately, she was the one to win the match. So, never underestimate your opponent. What is the best thing about fencing for you? Why? The best thing about fencing is that it is fun and I enjoy it. If you could paint freely on your mask, what would you paint? If I could paint anything on my mask, I would paint what’s already on my mask, an American flag. How would you introduce fencing to someone a similar age to you who knows nothing about fencing? I would say that it is a fun sport, it could also sometimes come in handy. It’s hard at first, but once you get the hang of it, you start to get more and more victories.
Alexander T 10 years old 1 year fencing experience Dulwich Fencer • Silver medal, Beijing International School Tournament, U10 MF individual
Please describe your feelings when you put on the mask? When I put on my mask, I feel like a warrior in training. Could you share a challenging moment ? What did you do? Last time at the Beijing International Fencing Tournament things didn’t go well at the beginning and I lost a match. I kept my mask on and calmed myself down. Then after 3 matches I won SILVER! I am glad that I overcame that difficult moment. What is the best thing about fencing for you? Why? You get to use a sword. I’ve always wanted to know what swords feel like to use. If you could paint freely on your mask, what would you paint? I would paint the legend of Zelda Tri Force between Lin and Ganondorf’s portraits. How would you introduce fencing to someone a similar age to you who knows nothing about fencing? I would start by what kit you wear and why you wear it. Then I’d move on to priority and how to tell that someone scored. Then lastly the 3 values: 1. Respect – respect your opponent 2. Skill – learn new moves 3. Excellence – be happy with the place you get and try your best.
Sophia G 9 years old 3 years fencing experience Dulwich Fencer • Gold medal, Paris Fencing Mini-Marathon June 2016, U10 WF individual • Gold, Australia Koala Cup International Competition Nov 2016, U9 WF individual • Silver Medal, Dulwich Ziemek Cup All Asia, April 2017, U11 WF individual • Silver medal, Korean National Tournament, Oct 2016, U10 WF individual • Bronze medal, China National Club League, Nov 2016, U10 WF team
Please describe your feelings when you put on the mask? When I put on my mask I know who I am and I feel ready to win. I feel like me and I tell myself it is time to show who Sophia G. really is.
Could you share a challenging moment ? What did you do? Last summer I was in Paris where I joined the Fencing mini-marathon and fenced all the way to the final. I was exhausted, my opponent was winning 4-1 then I burst into tears. But, quickly I told myself to get back together because I had been training for one year for this competition. I did not want to give up so easily, I toughened up. Finally, I won 7-6 and was the first Australian fencer have the Australian anthem played in the Paris Fencing Marathon venue. I was very proud of myself.
What is the best thing about fencing for you? Why? It is a very unique sport! I have to use my brain and it involves strategy. When I am under pressure (during the bouts), the challenge makes me feel excited and when I control it, it makes me feel like I am the queen of the world.
If you could paint freely on your mask, what would you paint? I would like to paint a trophy on it to show how much I like to win and how hard I try.
How would you introduce fencing to someone a similar age to you who knows nothing about fencing? I would like to encourage him or her to have a go and dare to try something new. You never know who you might end up fencing. I also recommend this sport because you make lots of new friends and it contains a lot of thinking under deep pressure when the score is 9-9.
Serena L 14 years old 5 years fencing experience Dulwich Fencer
Please describe your feelings when you put on the mask? When I put my mask on, I feel like I am ready for my next round of competition.
Could you share a challenging moment ? What did you do? During my last national competition this year, my ankles hurt and I was losing. My parents noticed my feelings, so they talked to me during the one minute break. They said there was no pressure to win because I had injuries. As long as I do my best, they would be proud of me, but crying behind the mask is not the solution. After hearing that, I stopped crying and tried to get as many points as I could. I lost, but I am happy with my results.
What is the best thing about fencing for you? Why? I gained friends through this sport. I have been fencing for 5 years, some of my friends stopped fencing but I think it’s a good thing to continue fencing. I am stronger, physically and mentally. This is the sport that I love and the sport that I will continue loving.
If you could paint freely on your mask, what would you paint? I would choose to paint nothing on it.
How would you introduce fencing to someone a similar age to you who knows nothing about fencing? I would show them some clips of fencing completions and tell them what are the strengths of fencing.
Xianglong H 13 years old 8 years fencing experience Fencer from Beijing • Bronze medal, National Fencing Championship Final 2016, U12 WF individual • Gold medal, Beijing Cadet Fencing Championships July 2017, Cadet WF individual • 5th place, National Youth Sports Club League Fencing competition July 2017
Please describe your feelings when you put on the mask? Exciting, happy and hopeful.
What is the best thing about fencing for you? Why? I made a lot of friends through fencing. I have participated so many fencing competitions and made friends around the world. Also, I have been training for years and I become stronger and stronger physically and mentally.
If you could paint freely on your mask, what would you paint? The Chinese national flag.
How would you introduce fencing to someone a similar age to you who knows nothing about fencing? Fencing is a kind of confrontational sport which requires wisdom, speed, strength and skills. Trust me, it is fantastic!
Joseph G 11 years old 5 years fencing experience Dulwich Fencer • Gold medal, China National Club League May & Nov 2016, U10 MF individual • Gold Medal, Dulwich Ziemek Cup All Asia, April 2017, U11 MF individual • Silver medal, Paris Fencing mini-marathon, June 2016, U12 MF individual • Silver medal, China National Club League May 2017, U14 MF team • Silver medal, All Japan Elementary Tournament, Sept 2016, U12 MF individual
Please describe your feelings when you put on the mask? When putting on the mask, I imagine that there is only me and my opponent in the entire universe. All my attention is directed to the movements of myself and my opponent. I am no longer aware of all the distractions happening around me.
Could you share a challenging moment ? What did you do? Earlier this year, in the U13 North American Cup (NAC), in which I finished in the top 16 (one of my best results in USA), in the match I lost, and I thought the referee was favouring my opponent. I cried a little towards the end of the bout because I had given it everything. Not be given a fair opportunity against a fencer who was quite talented, but I knew I could more than match in ability, was very emotional. I learned from that experience that the bout involves adapting to the referee and scoring more single lights in order to reduce the opportunity of others to influence the outcome.
What is the best thing about fencing for you? Why? What I love about fencing is how strategic and technical it is. Yes, I know that physicality and size is important but you see fencers like Ota and Le Pechoux medalling at World Championships who aren’t tall. But they do have endurance which is a very important part of fencing because tournaments go on for a very long time. For example, I started fencing above my age group this year in the China Club League events and I lost some bouts. I could not win because I couldn’t last long enough fencing against fencers that have such physicality and speed. I know this will improve in time and the bouts will become more technical, strategic and mental.
If you could paint freely on your mask, what would you paint? If I could paint freely on my mask, I would paint what I enjoy or like in life. For example, I would paint chess pieces and an AFL (Australian Football League) ball and my family, who have dedicated a lot towards my fencing, around a painting of my face. I would also add other things that are important in my life like some of my close friends or my school or maybe subjects/sports that I enjoy playing.
How would you introduce fencing to someone a similar age to you who knows nothing about fencing? If I were to introduce fencing to someone who knows nothing about fencing, I would tell them about how strategic and technical it is so if they aren’t that physical, it doesn’t really matter that much when you begin. I would also tell them that once you get through the basics, you would be able to start fencing with real swords but I will assure them by telling them that it’s safe and you will wear lots of gear to protect you.
Video stories by:
Amelia L 9 years old 1 year fencing experience Dulwich Fencer • 4th place, Dulwich Ziemek Cup, April 2017, U11 WF team
Paul Shay S 10 years old 1.5 years fencing experience Dulwich Fencer • Gold medal, Fürth Shamrock Tournament, Feb 2017, U10 MF individual • Bronze medal, Korean National Tournament, Oct 2016, U10 MF individual • Bronze medal, Silicon Valley RYC USA, April 2017, Y10 MF individual • Bronze medal, Australian Koala Cup International Tournament, Nov 2016, U9 MF individual • Bronze medal, Beijing Vango Championship, Oct 2016, U9 MF individual
Zarina B 9 years old 1 year fencing experience Dulwich Fencer • Top 32, China National Club League, Mar 2017, U10 WE individual