Every four years, the world comes together to celebrate the summer Olympics. I've been watching for as long as I can remember, and I get just as excited each and every time. As someone who's tried as many sports as she could get her hands (and feet) on, the Olympics is really something special, and fencing will always have a special place in my heart.
I started fencing when I was 12 at the Peter Westrbook Foundation in lower Manhattan, and took to it immediately. It wasn't a sport I was going to give up on like many in the past. There was something about the feel of the sword in my hand that was unlike anything I'd ever done. Peter Westbrook, the head of the foundation, fenced at the 1996 Olympics and won bronze. At the very same Olympics, my parents were in the stands and my mom pregnant with me, so you could say that maybe fencing chose me.
Every Saturday I would make the hour and a half trip with my dad, lugging my equipment onto the train down the crowded streets of the city rain or shine. Trained by Olympians, the workout was intense, but it really got us into shape and prepared us in ways we wouldn't fully understand until much later. One of the things they would always tell us would be "when it came time to compete, we should never lose a bout because of a lack of stamina. Training is one thing, but we should never lose because we got tired."
During my second year at PWF, I began to train at the Fencer's Club twice a week after school for a minimum of two hours. I fenced in a few tournaments and ended up loving it, but I had to stop competing because it began interfering with my school work. Although I stopped, I continued to go to PWF not only for the workout and bouts, but for the coaches. Being trained by people who not only have experience but who genuinely care, isn't something you can find everywhere.
Two of the coaches and mentors I had the privilege of working with are Ibtihaj Muhammad and Nzingha Prescod, both fencing in the Olympics this year. Nzingha fenced in London 2012 as well, and you might know Ibtihaj as the first American woman to compete in hijab. Both are two powerful, smart, humble and kind Black women who have the honor of representing our country (among many other athletes) in the 2016 Olympics.
One of the things I remember most vividly about fencing in 2012 was that I had to watch it online. None of it was televised as the sport wasn't as popular. As we go into Rio, I hope to see it on NBC as I watch eagerly rooting for the USA. If you get the chance, whether it be on TV or online, I highly recommend watching the fast-paced and highly exciting sport of fencing. Below are the different weapons and basic rules and terms of the bout.
Definitions:
1. Advance: fencer moves forward
2. Retreat: fencer moves backwards
3. Lunge: fencer lunges
4. Parry: fencer blocks opponent's blade; the basic parries are 4, 6, and 8, but there are more and they vary based on the weapon
5. Repost: fencer blocks opponent's blade and strikes
6. Single Touch: only one fencer gets the touch
7. Double Touch: both fencers get the touch- only applies to Epee
8. Right of Way: fencer who is leading the bout; if both lights flash in either Sabre or Foil, the fencer who has Right of Way gets the point
Weapons:
1. Foil:
Foil is known as a training weapon, but is in no way being fenced by beginners in Rio. Nzingha fences foil, and the basic rules are as follows:
- Only the upper body is a target
- Thrusting weapon as opposed to slashing
- No double touches, only singles
- The person who is leading gets the touch if both people touch at the same time
2. Epee:
This weapon is my personal favorite as it's the one I fenced for six years.
- Full body as a target, including feet and head
- Thrusting as opposed to slashing
- Double touches allowed
- No "leader" - if both people hit at the same time, both people get the touch
3. Sabre:
This is Ibtihaj's weapon, and although I love Epee, Sabre is probably the fastest weapon. It is aggressive and if you blink you'll miss a touch.
- Upper body as a target
- Slashing as opposed to thrusting
- No double touches
- "Leader" gets the touch if both lights flash
As we go into Rio 2016, I highly encourage you to watch fencing. It engages you quickly and no bout is exactly like another. Support the mentors and coaches I'm lucky enough to know and work with, Ibtihaj Muhammad and Nzingha Prescod, and cheer on Team USA!
