To fence, you’ll need speed, agility, cat-like reflexes, precision, and maybe some high-tech equipment. Do you have what it takes?
You’ve read about fencing and seen it in movies. But how did a dangerous weapon become popular sporting equipment? Don’t pick up your lightsaber yet! First, check out these historical highlights about fencing.
Swordplay began as a skill of war. Ancient people and tribes from all over the world—including Persia, Babylon, Egypt, and Greece—used sword fighting to survive. Rome’s army took things to the next level. They made sword fighting a fine art. Gladiators learned the skill in schools with professional teachers. But Rome fell, and so did sword fighting. It became a skill mostly criminals wanted to learn. But fencing stayed popular even though it was outlawed in cities. Secret schools of fencing survived.
And fencing stuck around. Swordfighters in the Middle Ages wore bulky armor for protection. They carried heavy swords to pierce armor. But the invention of gunpowder made armor useless. A bullet could easily put a hole in it! People still carried swords for protection. But they had to develop smooth swordsmanship skills again since they had no armor to hide behind. Gentlemen studied swordplay—in times of peace and times of war. People created secretive fencing moves so they could surprise opponents. And fencing style developed differently in different places. English knights fenced to protect honor. Italian gentlemen fenced with speed and accuracy, using the point of the sword instead of the edge. French swords were shorter and lighter. This made fencing moves much easier and faster.
In the late 19th century, fencing became a sport. People fenced for fun. Competitions began. Fencing is complicated to score. But a change to fencers’ uniforms in 1936 made scoring easier. Uniforms started carrying electric pulses. Cords connect the sword, scoring box, and clothing. When the tip of a sword touches a fencer, a message goes to the scoring box. This records the hit. Now fencing swords are digital. That settles scores and cuts out arguments.
In fencing, a violent weapon turned into game equipment. An art of war became an art of athletes. Rome’s gladiators fought to the death with swords. Modern Olympians fence to win gold medals. And now, lightsaber dueling is lighting up France. Fencing is an example of how something that can be used for evil is used for good instead. The Bible tells us about the end of war, when weapons will be turned into useful tools. A lightsaber is a useful tool—for having FUN!
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. ― Micah 4:3
