Fencing Class Experiment Termed ‘Successful’

[Craig]

Small Groups of Beginning Students Work on Skills and Concentration
By Star Traylor
The Winchester Star
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Eight-year-old William Wilfong has been taking fencing classes for about six months.

“It's given him motivation, and self discipline,” said his father, Phillip Wilfong of Frederick County. “His concentration is much better, even his school work.”

William takes fencing classes from Charles de Azagra at the Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy in Winchester.

The instructor and his father, Karl de Azagra, teach classes there for children and adults.

http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWin.../Life_FENC.asp

[lfortier]

Yeah, I've noticed that too when after I began my fencing- I even have better social skills. Kinda weird; Anyone notice the same thing?

[wflaschka]

For myself, my social skills have always been... ahem... variable, and fencing never improved them. However I have noticed that fencing gives people a group of friends & acquaintances, if only because they share common experiences. Notably, almost all my girlfriends were fencers, excepting my last one (we married), who still has no clue why fencing is interesting.

There's probably some focusing phenomenon at work when groups of people work together. You want to be the best one, or at least, not the worst. When by myself, I've always focused very intensely on things, to the exclusion of other things. I always thought it was me, and never thought to blame fencing. So, thanks for that.

[FoilyGeezer]

Actually, one of the main reasons for returning to the sport has been to provide my 7 year old son with a sport that combines large and small motor skills. He's had some neurological development problems from birth which we've always felt if left alone would probably blossom into full blown ADD or worse. Fencing has been good for him in several ways. Physical development of large motor skills (i.e. footwork etc.). Small motor skills (i.e. point control). And sequencing (Drills and tactics). Plus you get to play with swords!

[Gav]

In the BFA fencing magazine "The Sword" there was a recent 2 part article written by a teacher who introduced Fencing as a subject in his school. It was complete success. It allowed some toublesome youths to gain a measure of self control and respect as well as encouraging them to achieve goals. It was noted that these individuals in particular seemed to benefit the most from Fencing. I've often thought that introducing ANY martial art to the schools curriculum would bring about some benefits to kids. They get to interact in with each other in new ways, they get goals to achieve, they gain general physical fitness, they are exposed to sports other than the TV sports 'monoculture'.

[a517dogg]

lfortier - social skills improving is probably because you develope confidence in yourself from improving at fencing. that in my opinion is best thing resulting from kids fencing - self confidence and self control.

[lfortier]

Yeah 517dog, that's pobably it- You see, before fencing, I was really insecure about not having any friends from being, oh how should I put this? Unique, quiet. and different to the point where I was deemed "weird" by peers in my grade. But now, I've got 14+ friends from lessons, and am having a blast!

[cowpaste]

I definitely changed after taking my first Tae Kwon Do classes. My confidence level went way up. I wasn't afraid of bully types much anymore either. I'm not saying I became arrogant; TKD just taught me how to more easliy evade blows. I looked better physically too.
I doubt fencing would be any different. Well, there is that thingy where one of your legs gets about 23986345 times bigger than the other, but that I why I do equal footwork on each leg. (I don't care if it makes me "suck")
For some reason, fencing made me more insane. I can't cross my legs anymore either. I guess that's ok being a guy and all.