"Yeah, but when will I use fencing in real life?"


Brilliant stuff today, great for the novice and experienced fencer alike.Occasionally, when I talk to someone about fencing the conversation turns to applicability outside the salle. "It's just good for killing people with a sword. What are you going to do when you don't have your sword?"There's so much wrong with that (besides the grammar).We practice a martial art and the teachings of that art can inform and improve our lives in just about any way that our bodies are involved. Academie Duello co-founder and friend Randy wrote a post on his blog recently that inspired me to talk about how swordplay has enriched my life (outside of pure fun).

Certainly the biggest change has been in my body-awareness - in my posture in particular and how it needed to be improved (and continues to improve). I find myself relying on that awareness everywhere, from reading, to riding on the bus (porta di ferro is great for that), to riding my bike, to screaming down a mountain on skiis.

It's also taught me to look approach problems challenges that occur in my life. How to exam them rationally and develop a way to overcome them.

That's only 2 things it's done for me.

How has the art we practice affected you? Leave your comments or just think about it in your head.

Clint
Having joined Academie Duello in 2004, Clinton achieved his Provost rank in August of 2015. He's been teaching since 2008. Clinton's expertise centers around Italian rapier, longsword and sidesword.
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