FENCING FOR KIDS

MUSKETEERS FENCING CHAMPIONSHIP 2011


INTRODUCING THE SPORT TO PARENTS
The sport of fencing is a uniquely classic sport. It has history, drama, romance, style, art, plus all the advantages of an active physically demanding sport. Mentally it is mind consuming, allowing not a moment's break. Fencing is also fast and athletic, a far cry from the choreographed bouts you see on film or on the stage. Instead of swinging from a chandelier or leaping from balconies, you will see two fencers performing an intense dance on 1.5 – 2 meters wide and 14 meters long foot strip. The movement is so fast that touches are scored electrically - more like Star Wars than Errol Flynn.
Fencing is an exciting, wonderful, and productive sport that will give your child realistic life experiences, maturity, and physical and mental training for life! Come prepared, enjoy the process, and encourage your child to keep trying.

The mind is the most powerful weapon that any fencer can wield. The ability to control the mind and your body’s response to a situation is fundamental. Imagine standing there facing your opponent who is holding a sword just like you. Suddenly they dart toward you with the tip of that sword pointed at your chest. What do you do? How do you react? Tell your feet to retreat, your hand adjusts your grip on your sword tightly to block the oncoming attack, you tell your mind to stop racing and focus on what it’s going to take to stop this attack, and what you're going to do after that?

As a fencer, you will learn to have the self-control over your body to react to these actions all at the same time. (Now we're talking multi-tasking!) If you compare this to other sports where the child merely tries to kick or hit the ball, the strategy and self-control is an afterthought. In fencing, self-control and body-control come first. And most importantly, it’s what keeps you from getting hit by that attacker.

By fencing, your child will gain greater self-control and increase concentration. Soon enough, this self-control will begin to extend to other aspects of their life.

YOUTH PROGRAM
The youth program of the Penang Amateur Fencing Association (PAFA) is designed to provide an introduction for your child to one of the most fascinating, exciting and safest sports. Fencing develops discipline, balance, coordination, and sportsmanship. Fencing helps the youth develop quicker reflexes and an ability to make lighting fast analyses of tactical situations.
The youth fencing program has developed a very large foundation for our pyramid of fencers, the apex of which cannot be higher than the base is wide, meaning the wider the base the higher we can reach.
Fencing is fast gaining as an alternative to the all-time favorite sport in Penang and Malaysia. There is no predetermined method to pre-select great fencers so all fencers must be given equal chance and attention. Children develop at different mental, emotional and physical rates and their goals change accordingly. There are those who exhibit no talent during their first four or five years of fencing and then become dynamite competitors, while others may show the competitive spark from the first day.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS
There are many benefits to participating in youth fencing. Children learn good sportsmanship and self-discipline. They learn to compete independently as well as for a team; they learn to enjoy winning and profit from defeats, while becoming physically fit and healthy; and, most importantly, they learn to make complex decisions, analyze problems, and think fast. These ideals help children reach their potential in many areas other than fencing.
Remember that the primary motivating factor for entering sports, particularly among adolescents, is the desire to have fun. We will help you assist them in reaching this goal. Don't forget, Olympic Champions have fun too.

RIGHTS OF YOUNG ATHLETES
We believe youth have the right to:
Ø be treated with dignity by all involved.
Ø fence as a child and not as an adult
Ø fence regardless of skill level
Ø fence in a safe and healthy environment
Ø have proper preparation for fencing
Ø have qualified adult leadership
Ø share in leadership in fencing
Ø have equal opportunity to strive for success
Ø have fun fencing

Lim Peng Jin PKT, PJK
Hon. Secretary, Persatuan Lawan Pedang Pulau Pinang
State Coach, Majlis Sukan Negeri Pulau Pinang
Development Coach, National Sports Council. Malaysia
Development Coach, Malaysian Fencing Federation
Website: www.penangfencing.50webs.com
Contact: 012 482 3255

PENANG AMATEUR FENCING ASSOCIATION

PENANG AMATEUR FENCING ASSOCIATION

(PERSATUAN LAWAN PEDANG PULAU PINANG)

THE ASSOCIATION
Formed in January 2001 and registered with the National Sports Council of Malaysia (NSC) and the Malaysian Fencing federation (MFF), the governing body of fencing in Malaysia.

ABOUT FENCING
Fencing is an art of dueling swords. It has changes from a deadly combat to a complex sport. The speed, movements and intricate strategy of dueling are still very much part of this modern sport.
Fencing is a combat sport but differs from all other combat sports as no physical body contacts are made.
Elegance and courtesy are the required qualities for all fencers, which explains why the ritual opening and closing salutes before each bout is executed.
Fencing helps to develop our reflexes and keep our mind mentally alert and also our cardiovascular fitness and leg strength. Like other combat sports, fencing has physical and mental demands and can improve both your fitness and intellectual approach. That is why fencing is also referred to as ‘physical chess’. A probable advantage in fencing is that there is no age limit to the sport and both men and women can fence with each other.

THE WEAPONS
There are three (3) weapons, namely:

FOIL – This is most commonly used in fencing, especially for beginners. Its blade is rectangular in cross-section. It is a trusting weapon. Fencers score “hits” when the tip of the blade touches the opponent’s torso, including the groin. Chest and back but not the arms, hand, leg and head.
The total weight of a foil is 500gms and is 110cm in length.
EPEE – This is the descendant of dueling swords, like the rapier as used by the Musketeers. It has a large hand guard and a V-shape (triangular) cross-section blade. It is also a trusting weapon like the foil but “hits” are scored at any part of the opponent’s body from head to toe including the arm, hands and legs.
It is similar in length as the foil but weighs slightly heavier – 700grms.
SABRE – Unlike the foil and epee, sabre is more a slashing weapon and had a different style of fencing. It is also the fastest of the three (3) weapons. It has a basket-shaped hand-guard that completely covers the hand and a blade which is V-shaped in cross section. Sabre fencer can score with the tip of the blade (trust) but more commonly use the edge of the weapon to make a “cut” to the target. “Hits” are scored when any part of the opponent’s body from the waist up is touched or cut.

WHY WE FENCE?
Endurance – Your first defense is an intelligent use of distance, so you will learn footwork, lunges and
escape moves.
Dexterity – Your opponents can be good in footwork, lunges and escape moves, so your hand and point
Control must be dexterous.
Tactics and Strategy – You will learn how to defend against attacks and how to penetrate your opponent. You will
gain satisfaction with each skill mastered and thrill of swashbuckling.
Competition – Like all sports, the end goal of fencing is to win tournaments/competitions be it local, national
or international.
Confidence – Put it all together, you will be surprised what you learn and what you can do.

IS FENCING DANGEROUS
Every sport is dangerous depending on how we put it. If it is done properly i.e. wearing proper clothing and follows the rules of the sport, fencing is not dangerous and does not hurt. Although execute with appreciable energy, a good clean fencing attack hurts no more than a tap on the shoulder. The force of the blow is normally absorbed by the reflex of the blade. Reckless and over aggressive fencers can occasionally deliver painful blows. However, fencing is a combat sport and one should expect minor bruisers and welts every now and again. There is a risk of being injured by broken blades but if a fencer wears proper protective gears, changes of serious injuries are slim. A fencer must check his/her weapon regularly. Avoid using rusty blades and mask. Fencing is an extraordinary safe sport considering its heritage and nature.

HOW FENCING IS PLAYED
The object of the game is to score touches (hits) on your opponent. They are scored only when the touches landed on the target area (depending on the weapon used). Off target touches does not score but the bout is stopped. The first to score five (5) touches (in the Preliminary Round) or fifteen (15) touches (in the Direct Elimination Round) wins the bout. Due to the speed of fencing, touches are registered electronically. When a valid touch is scored, a colored light (red for fencer on the right and green for fencer on the left) will show. It the touch is off target, the white light will show. With such designed system, fencer need more than physical speed to score touches. Video referring is also being used nowadays. It is a matter of tactics based on the fact that every attack can be parried, but every parry can deceived. Therefore, a split second attack or defense to out smart your opponent, is the name of the game. It is this uncertainty that creates the challenge and the excitement of this combative modern Olympic sport.
This is also played by a system of priority. To score a fencer must first obtain priority. The first fencer to extend the arm straight while threatening the target has the priority or ‘Right of Way’. When two touches are scored at the same time, regardless of who touched first, the fencer with the priority scores the touch. When you are attacked, you must defend or parry the attack. The parry gives you the priority to hit back, called the riposte.

COURSES AVAILABLE
Courses are drawn up to suite individuals on the three (3) weapons – Foil, Epee and Sabre, be it for sport, fun or competition. Training courses consist of:-

Ø Theory – Characteristics of modern foil, epee and sabre fencing. Concept of priority of attacks. How priority is gain and lost during a bout.
Ø Technical Preparation – This include basic fencing movements, technique of handling the weapon. What is change of lines, flicks, prise de fer and simple attacks, parries and ripostes.
Ø Tactical Preparation – How a fencer gain ground, establishing priority, continuation of attack etc.
Ø Free fencing and refereeing.
Ø Selective Test

CONTACTS
MR. LIM PENG JIN PKT, PJK
Hon. Secretary – Persatuan Lawan Pedang Pulau Pinang
Executive Committee – Malaysian Fencing Federation
Penang State Coach – Majlis Sukan Negeri Pulau Pinang

SUKAN MALAYSIA XIV 2011 KUALA LUMPUR

Huam Hooi Ming Coach PJ with the Women's Sabre Team

The 14th edition of Sukan Malaysia or Malaysian Games was held in Kuala Lumpur from June 01 to 12 2011. Fencing was one of the 16 sports selected for this Game.

A total of 12 States comprising of 36 Officials (Team Managers and coaches) and 204 athletes competed in 12 events over 5 days competition.

The competition was held at Gim 3, Komples Majlis Sukan Negara, Bukit Jalil.

Penang team comprise of 1 Team Manager, 2 coaches and 20 athletes competing in 10 events.

Ms Huam Hooi Ming won a bronze medal in the Women's Foil Individual event and our Women's Sabre Team (Ms Jaslyn Saw, Sheue Ru, Ong Kher Nee and Tan Xin) also won a bronze medal.

A good outing for a up and coming team.