Bunting! Banners! Bouts! Fencing gala July 4

Wanna bout? Wanna feel that rush as you beat your opponent's guard and your blade bends as the tip makes contact?

Wanna know why there's a picture of a pie crust on this blog?

Let's start with the bouting - we'll get to the pastry later.

Saturday 4 July is our first Saturday back with unrestricted fencing activity. That's such an exciting thought that we've decided to have a fencing party!

First, everybody can come and fence from 9:30am until 1pm and we encourage everyone to come for the whole day. There won't be any age-based sessions. Come! Fence till you're exhausted, eat some sausages and drink some fizzy drink and keep fencing! And if you can't make it at 9:30 or stay the whole time, that's ok too. The team structure (see below) we're using for the day is flexible.

Second, we just going to be bouting. Bouting, bouting, bouting and then more bouting! Training is great and it's own kind of fun of course. But at some point you just want to do the thing. We're at that point.

Third, we'll be fencing in teams. All our fencers will form a team with at least two other fencers. The teams will be mixed age, weapon and gender and the bouts have a cumulative scoring system that means each team always has a chance of winning a match. It means more fencers can be directly involved more of the time since you'll be supporting and talking tactics with your team the whole time. And as teams is going to be part of how we go about fencing in the future it's a great introduction idea.

Fourth, exhibition matches. In line with the idea of the fencing teams being mixed weapons we're going to hold exhibition matches for each of the fencing weapons and (serious?) Joe will give some info about each of them. Everyone can have an opportunity to explore each of the fencing weapons.

Fifth, fencing like an Olympian. Our Olympics-bound member, Marina, will be joining us and we'll have a special round of fencing in her Olympic format - one-touch épée. Yes, you'll get to take her on!

Finally, fencing for honour. Marina has challenged Joe (her coach and the head coach at the club) to a public match, for honour and dignity. That's going to be fun to watch!

And that pie crust? What's that all about?

Well, it's an artistic representation of an (unnamed) fencing coach dressed as Napoleon leading an army of fencers into battle. Obviously! One of our other members was so excited about the coming fencing gala day that they decided to give physical form to that excitement in pastry (no, it wasn't me). However, the identity of the coach with the desire to dress up as Napoleon and lead an army of fencers shall remain mysterious...
(Hint: some say he's serious)

See you Saturday, 9:30am. No registration necessary, just come ready to celebrate fencing.