Being a top-class fencer is as demanding as being a gymnast or a track athlete, even though all the action takes place on a 46ft x 6½ft strip. Forget the wild slashing seen in Hollywood films: the aim is simply to touch your opponent with the tip of your foil – the action is so fast that it’s measured electronically rather than with the naked eye. British Fencing, the sport’s umbrella body, has 400 clubs and 9,000 members (up from about half that in 2001) and says getting started is easy.

The most important skill to learn, before you even hold a blade, is footwork, for which you will need to join a club. British Fencing lists its clubs on its website. You will be taught how to walk, stand and move correctly. Normal footwork exercises involve taking up the en garde (starting) position and going through a series of forward and backward moves and occasional lunges.

It’s crucial to position your body weight centrally between the feet, which must never cross. Racket sports will bolster your aerobic fitness, balance and hand-eye coordination. Joining a club will ensure you learn to wield the three types of weapon safely and teach you the rules. The weapons are foil (for light thrusting), épée (heavier thrusting) and sabre (for thrust and cutting).

Jes Smith, a master of the British Academy of Fencing, recommends starting off doing two hours a week, then moving up to four hours a week after six months. Within a year most people are ready to enter novice competition.

1 Lunge Stand with feet hip-width apart. Lunge forward with one leg so that your front knee is above your toes. Push back up using your front foot to the start position. Perform 10 times on each leg, and repeat twice over

2 Triceps dip Line up two flat exercise benches so they are parallel to each other 3ft apart. Lower your body slowly by bending your upper arms so that your arms are almost at right angles. Then slowly return to starting position. Three sets of 10 reps

3 Bicycle manoeuvre Lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed to the ground. Put your hands beside your head. Bring your knees up to about a 45-degree angle and slowly go through a bicycle pedal motion. Touch your left elbow to your right knee, then twist your upper body and touch your right elbow to your left knee. Three sets of 25 reps

TAKING IT FURTHER

www.britishfencing.com The website of the sport’s governing body in the UK carries news, information on training camps and a club directory

www.fencingmaster.co.uk The site of Jes Smith, a fencing master, has handy animated sequences showing fencing’s main moves

www.fencing.net Comprehensive resource contains training tips, coaching drills and message boards

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