From sticks to swords

Wyatt Chavez, a fourth grader at St. Catherine’s Montessori, has always been fascinated by swords. Now he’s learning how to fence.

For as long as I can remember, I have been interested in swords. Now I am mastering the sword because I am learning to fence with Houston Sword Sports at the Bellaire Rec Center.

As a young child, I would find sticks that I thought would make good swords. Then one day my dad bought two wooden sticks at the hardware store, and we would pretend to be swordsmen and have sword fights with each other. I traded the wooden swords for plastic swords. Sometimes I got carried away swinging them in the house, so my grandmother made me take my swords and imagination outside.

Then one day I saw a poster for a free Houston Sword Sports fencing class. At the class, coaches Dan Gorman and Liz Mayerich told us about the history of fencing. We learned advance, retreat and lunge. Afterward we played a game called capture the mask. We divided into two teams, and you had to capture the other team’s mask using foam swords to defend yourself and attack the opponents. I knew I wanted to sign up for more lessons.

Classes begin with drills. The first drill is usually how to move. This is followed by practicing attacks, parries and ripostes. Sometimes we play a game similar to Simon Says, but it is with Coach Dan calling out fencing moves. When he calls out one, we advance, when he calls out two, we retreat. Eleven is double advance, and twelve is advance and retreat.

After drills, we suit up with protective gear. We put on plastrons (Coach Liz calls them armpit protectors), jackets, masks and gloves. Sometimes the equipment can get pretty hot, but it keeps us safe. While we are practicing, I am thinking: Will I do it right? Can I defend myself? Can I score a point? My mind is concentrating on techniques, anticipating what my opponent is going to do and defending myself.

I really enjoy fencing. It is harder than I thought it would be, but it is a lot of fun.

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