The UNM Fencing Club is a little known club on campus that practices the medieval art of fencing twice a week. While small, the club is dedicated and is always looking for new members.
“We are more than willing to come up and give you gear and teach you how to fence,” said Renee Reeves, a senior Liberal Arts major and member of the club. “It is free and there is no commitment.”
Reeves said that the people who show up come from all sorts of backgrounds, from newcomers who have never held a sword to people who have been fencing from a young age, like her.
“I just kind of liked swinging things around when I was younger,” Reeves said. “There was a fencing school in our area, and was like, ‘Mom, sign me up.’”
The UNM Fencing Club meetings provide opportunities for teaching, learning and practice, Reeves said.
“Usually we start with footwork, which is the basis of fencing. It is just how you move back and forth across the floor,” Reeves said. “Then we suit up and people who know what they are doing go and bout each other...and myself or one of the other people who know what they are doing pair off with the newbies and help them with the basics. Then we pair them off with other people.”
There are three main types of fencing: Foil, Epee and Sabre. Reeves said that the club focuses on whichever form people are interested in. Lately, that has been Epee.
“(In) Epee, you get touches with the end of the blade, so there is no slashing,” Reeves said. “The target area is anywhere on the body. And, in the other two forms, there is something called right-of-way, which basically says whoever starts the attack has priority. In Epee, there is no right-of-way. If you hit them anywhere, you get a point.”
Reeves said that the main problem most people face with fencing is actually the fear of getting hit. She said getting along with one another is really important.
“(Sportsmanship) is a really important value for lots of fencers, so as long as you are willing to get along with everyone and willing to try, you are pretty much set,” Reeves said.
The club’s goals right now mostly involve recruitment and setting up the club positions for next semester, Reeves said. Since it is Reeves’ last semester, the club will need a new president.
“I really enjoy it because I care a lot about fencing, I really enjoy teaching and I enjoy the people in the club,” Reeves said. “I like having the ability to help all of that continue.”
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Reeves has found the people involved in the world of fencing to be quite pleasant, which goes against what she said is a common misconception about fencing — that it is preppy and elitist.
“Fencers are on the whole a very fair and welcoming bunch, and it is a pretty accessible sport because it is pretty safe and you do not have to have a certain body type or anything,” Reeves said.
Reeves said there will be a few events in the future and to watch for some UNM Fencing Club posters. Practices are held in the upper racquetball courts in Johnson Center on Mondays at 7-9 p.m.
“You can pretty much just show up, and as long you are not in a dress or anything, we will just teach you how to fence right there,” Reeves said.
Ariel Lutnesky is a culture reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @ArielLutnesky.
