The modern sport of fencing for all participants of all ages. Anyone from 8 to 80 years can compete and enjoy the sport for recreational purposes. Agility, fast reactions, and tactical thinking are the prime requirements for fencers. Fencing training, private lessons, beginners course, competitions, lessons on line, team building events.
The modern hall is equipped with 8 fencing pistes, training devices and apparatus. The school is now the largest Fencing school in the country. It has the best facilities, as well as the only shop in South Africa. Beginners as well as champions are trained in a social but professional atmosphere.
What is Fencing?
Fencing is a popular modern sport, for all participants of all ages. This includes the disabled athlete. Anyone from 8 to 80 years can compete and enjoy the sport for recreational purposes. Agility, fast reactions, and tactical thinking are the prime requirements for fencers.
The sport evolved from the days of duels, fought to the death or first blood, and from the traditions of the sabre-wielding cavalry. From these origins, the use of lethal weapons in combat has evolved into the art of fencing, which comprises the 3 disciplines of foil, epee, and sabre.
Epee evolved from the duelling sword, favoured by duellists of the time. It therefore follows that in modern fencing, the whole body is valid target area for epee, and that the basic rule of engagement is that the first to hit his or her opponent, has scored. Training for sword fighting (for duelling or combat purposes) concentrated on thrusts to the torso, where hits would have the most lethal effect. This training led to the development of blunt safe weapons and protective clothing, which are now applicable to the sport of fencing.
The Foil, which is lighter than the epee, was developed as a training weapon so as to prepare the person for an encounter on the field of honour. The discipline for foil fencing was established, with specific rules of engagement which replicated the type of combat likely to be encountered, but still limited the chance of a serious injury occurring.
Sabre fencing evolved from swordsmanship on horseback, where cuts as well as point thrusts could be effective. The opponent’s body above the saddle was most vulnerable, and thus this part of the body evolved into the "valid" target area. Similar rules of engagement as for foil were developed, where a fencing phrase typically consists of an attack, a defensive action and counter-attack, with many variations around that theme
Beginners Course
The course lasts two months. It comprises 8 individual lessons with a professional coach as well as 8 group lessons. They will also supply you with all the necessary fencing equipment. You can come to the club to practice and fence as often as you like - they are open 6 days a week. After two months you will be ready to participate in local and provincial competitions, and they will be happy to develop a special program for you to continue fencing depending on your age, skills, physical qualities etc.
