Completed: 1. Learn How to Fence
I don’t know what made me feel the need to fence — maybe it is my love for Princess Bride or maybe it was from watching fencing competitions during the Olympics.
At the beginning of this year, I tried to find a place where I could take a single fencing class. Like so many of our goals we don’t want to commit to long term, it was difficult to find this option. But luckily I was recently shopping (because that’s what teachers do in the summer) and found a Groupon deal for Fencing Sports Academy. This deal offered a single class for only $12.
I arrived and the instructor explained the history of fencing and then went on to talk about the different types of fencing, a subject I know very little about. After the informational session, we were told to do quick jogs and other warm up routines before suiting up.
There are so many different articles of clothing you need to put on for fencing. I had a chest plate, protective sleeve, a jacket, and gloves. You are really weighed down. Then I was given my sword. At the tip of the sword is a button that when pressed down each time you score a point, which triggers a light to go off. I never knew that.
Being that there were three of us in the group, and I was the odd man out without a partner, I had to go against the instructor. Oh boy. She took an easy on me, but after the first two minutes, I was spent. Talk about a good cardio work out!
-Kris