World fencing day

It’s world fencing day! Huzzah!

Yes, I know that today may not feel very fencing-ish. After all, today was originally planned to be the third and final MFC competition of the year. Things don’t always go the way we expect.

What then does world fencing day mean for us right now? Is there more to fencing, more to being a fencer, than attending training and entering competitions?

Yes! Emphatically yes!

Fencing is many things and different for each of us. For me, fencing is a complex and sophisticated  theoretical world as much as it is a collective physical enterprise. There is so much to read and study and learn! For some (many I expect) there’s also a romantic swashbuckling vibe, imaginative adventures swinging from chandeliers, feats of daring and a general sense of rakish flair. Perhaps world fencing day this year is a good moment to connect with that inner (or outer?) adventurer in whatever way would make you smile (I’l be re-watching The Princess Bride for the millionth time and maybe reading that fencing theory book I have).

But above all, today is a day for hope. Things are changing, vaccinations are happening, plans for reopening are being put in place. Rules permitting, there will be a third competition this year. There will be a winning Grex team. There will be training and learning and excellence and fun and probably shenanigans.

And there are new things to look forward to as well. Joe Raciborski is back from his Olympic adventures with new ideas and new connections to the world of high performance sport. New scoring gear has been ordered and hopefully we’ll also be bringing on some new coaches later this year. MFC hasn’t stopped growing yet and our future will be even better then our past.

World fencing day definitely deserves an huzzah!

 

Image © FIE