Sample+Interest

=Fencing=

Fencing, one of only four sports that has been part of the modern Olympics every year since its inception, is a fast-paced game of coordination and tactics. The physical skills needed to wield the weapons and move effectively up and down a narrow strip to attack an opponent and to defend oneself are so different from those of other sports that people of all shapes and sizes can succeed; determination and dedication are far more important to success than physical attributes on all but the national and international levels.


 * Like other martial arts, fencing revolves around complex strategic thinking. The fencer alone makes split-second decisions in response to her opponent's actions and movement. No coach on the sidelines sends in plays or calls out formations. No teammates shout instructions as one prepares to attack. In fact, coaching is permitted only during breaks. Not only must a fencer diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of her opponent, but she must fence for the director as well, executing moves properly so that the official can interpret the action correctly. If a particular director consistently sees a beat attack as the opponent's parry-riposte, for example, the fencer has to make adjustments. In addition, the psychological element of the game has considerable impact. A fencer needs a disciplined mind to stay focused on the moment, to ignore past touches, questionable calls, or opponent's intimidation tactics. For these reasons, fencing is often called "physical chess." || [[image:fencing3.jpg]] ||

The modern sport of fencing bears little resemblance to Medieval swordplay in terms of the equipment, rules, and players. However, the emotional highs and lows are the same - the exhilaration of defeating a skilled opponent, the devastation of losing to a less-skilled opponent, and the utter physcial and mental exhaustion at the end of the day.