Fencing by definition is : "The art of skillfully using a sword or foil in attack or defense." Webster's definition, at best, is a sententious one for such an exhilarating game. Fencing is still referred to as an "Art." Yes, it is an art. But the sport of fencing is a martial art, not an art form.

Although one may say that "there is an art to fencing well," the sport of fencing is a demanding personal combat sport. Not a game of jab and stab. Good fencing is an exciting science. It is an excellent physical exercise that accommodates boys and girls and adults of all ages. A study of fencing by the former Soviet Union states "Fencing is the best sport for women."

An excellent physical and mental exercise, fencing seeks out all the physical attributes of the composite athlete. The player, who is competitive and who aspires to reach the heights of greatness, will find that he/she must have the endurance of the gymnast, the heart and lungs of the swimmer and the courage of the boxer. The control of the blade must be with the swiftness on precision of the of the skilled surgeon, tempered with the patience of the chess player. The far reaching aesthetic values attributable to the game of fencing cannot be easily categorized, as the values are the personal feelings of the individuals.

The value of the exercise, mentally and physically, that one derives through the sport of fencing, has long been applauded by World Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association. . . justifiably so. Fencing has had its senior citizens in competition for many, many years before other sports. The age span in fencing is wonderful in itself. . . from the bright young age of five to eighty, the game goes on. It is not uncommon to find that most fencing masters teach actively, and on a one to one basis, into their eighties and nineties. . . and still creating champions!