"It was my first time fencing, but my dad dabbled when he was younger, and I had always been curious about the caliber of workout. When I noticed fencing gained more visibility during the 2024 Paris Olympics, I had to try it. Fortunately, the Fencing Center of Chicago warmly welcomed me, along with one other novice in the group. So I put on a chest protector and suited up for a mentally and physically exerting experience."
"For my beginner class, I used an epée, a French sword with a larger guard compared to other swords. Castellanos-Brandon explained that the guard acts as a shield. I held the epée in my right hand using a French grip. Each sword has a handle beneath the guard, where you place your dominant thumb on top and index finger underneath."
A 73-year-old coach frames fencing as an intellectual sport grounded in physics. Regulars arrive early to perform conditioning drills such as jump-squats across the pistes. Many participants include engineers and chess players who prioritize both mental and physical fitness. Beginners wear protective gear, including chest protectors, and use weapons like the epée, which features a larger guard that functions as a shield. The French grip places the dominant thumb on top and the index finger underneath, with the remaining fingers providing support. Recreational epées include a cord plugged into the handle that runs through the jacket sleeve.
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