Quick-thinking sport keeps mind and body in shape

It took just one decree from his instructor for Blake Alfson to become captivated by the art of sword play: It’s like chess at 300 miles per hour. Since taking up the age-old, multitiered sport, Alfson has joined a growing North Idaho group who meet throughout the week to stab, swipe, defend and deliver decisive counterblows under protective attire and trained supervision.

“That did it, he’s been hooked ever since,” said his mom, Beth Brubaker, as she watched from the sidelines of a recent Lake City group’s practice. On a snowy midwinter evening outside, Alfson and a handful of white-clad combatants, members of the group Coeur d’Escrime (escrime, pronounced e-scream, is French for fencing), took turns attacking, countering and jabbing each other in the group’s new practice arena on Northwest Boulevard.

“I love fencing,” the 15-year-old Alfson said as he took a quick break. “It’s a unique sport that not many people know about. I really enjoy it.”

One look around the open-air arena confirmed Alfson’s account of the sport.

“I’m going to attack,” a mesh-covered man proclaimed as he confronted another masked member, covered from the neck to the waist in the sport’s signature protective white suit. “You parry and riposte.”

As the aggressor lunged forward, the defender parried with measured steps, blocking the attacker’s blade, and riposted, thrusting his safety-capped sword into the other’s chest. “Good,” the instigator cheered, as the blade arched skyward from the point of impact on his chest.

While Coeur d’Escrime volunteer instructors Noah Buntain and Jessica Brower guided the introductory class at one end of the 12,000-square-foot building the nonprofit group shares with Bliss Gymnastics, upper-level swordsmen and women squared off in a nearby corner. Known as a quick-thinking sport, fencing in general is derived from European swordplay, when hundreds of years ago it was a common, and necessary, defense from sword-wielding attackers, and as a way to settle disputes. Elements of ancient martial arts, such as the on-guard stance, are also incorporated.

In its modern form, fencing is split between the Olympic-sport style, based on rules and sportsmanship, and the more raucous classical sort, where winning by any means needed is the paramount concern. To that end, rules go out the window.

The Olympic version is governed by a strict rule set and divided among three weapon types: foil, sabre and epee. In competitions, there are a set of laws for each sword, including a right-of-way that acts much like cars at a stoplight. Used for foil and sabre matches, the rule specifies the first to act, like the first car to pull up at an intersection, is given the go-ahead and a possible point of contact is made, while the opponent must parry first before counterattacking. Also, each weapon is restricted to certain parts of the body. Foil centers on the torso, epee covers the whole body and sabre – which unlike the other two’s thrusts is based on cutting actions – is awarded points for contact from the waist up.

“There are lots of rules and things to keep things safe. It has a low incidence of injury,” said Buntain, an instructor who, like Brower, was on the Northwestern University fencing team in Illinois, where the two met.

“It’s a very mental game, on top of being an active sport. It rewards tactical thinking,” he added. “It teaches discipline and it teaches good sportsmanship. Most of the rules are about being nice to each other while you are whacking each other.”

Beginners are taught how to handle the foil sword, which is the most popular form, before moving on to the other weapon types. A four-week introductory class costs $40, and a $30 monthly membership covers costs for the facility and equipment.

On the other side of the sword, Coeur d’Escrime offers classical style classes taught by Mike Winderman, the last active original member since the group formed in 1995.

“Three hundred years ago, it was a practical self-defense,” he said about the combative technique that includes punches, kicks and throws. “Your sword was your only means of self defense.”

Since Buntain and Brower joined the sword-wielding crowd, their collegiate training, and goal of expanding the sport locally, has added a sense of credibility and cohesiveness to the mix, Winderman said. Add to that recent Hollywood swashbuckling films, and the group’s numbers have grown from the initial eight members to around 30.

“It’s really nice having people that are that talented in our area to coach and teach,” he said.

Partakers at the midweek practice were drawn to the sport by a host of factors, from the physicality to the mind games required.

In between foil bouts, 49-year-old Bill Miller said he picked it up after a long hiatus from his college days. “Actually, it was just to get back in shape,” he said about joining Coeur d’Escrime two years ago and taking part in the group’s frequent regional tournaments. “It’s amazing. I’m getting back in shape, and the competitive aspect of it where we get to apply what we’ve learned is great. It’s every aspect of your body, from your muscles to your mind.”

Others have taken their participation even farther. Carolyn Travis, a 17-year-old senior at Spokane’s Oaks Academy, has parlayed her way into a college scholarship at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs next year. After seeing the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie more than four years ago, she decided to give sword play a shot.

“It was just like wow, this is my sport,” she recalled, adding that ever since she’s had the dream of becoming a collegiate fencer. “I like the personal, individual aspect, where I make the decisions. It’s also a really mental game; you kind of go around in a circle playing mental games. And it’s really physical.”

From a mother’s perspective, Brubaker said she hasn’t had to worry about her son’s safety while wielding, and dueling with, the nonsharp weapons. In fact, she said fencing has been very beneficial for him both on and off the sword-fighting stage. “I really like how it causes him to think while he exercises,” she said. “I like the focus and the individual instruction from Jessica and Noah. I like the confidence it builds and the camaraderie. I think it’s been very good for him.”