Bounce Magazine October 2018

OCTOBER 2018 | ISSUE #72
FENCING CLUB
BY ROSS “ACTION MAN” WISHART
Fencing is one of only fivr sports
that has featured in every modern
Olympic Games since Athens
1896. it’s exciting, fast-paced,
swashbuckling action has always
enthralled me even though I had no
experience nor understanding of
the rules.
Based at the County Upper School, Bury
St Edmunds (IP32 6RF), they meet every
Tuesday evening from 7pm.
Now Action Man is normally ready to be
thrust (no pun intended), into the deep
end however on this occasion I didn’t
have the equipment but thankfully the
club has plenty of kit available.
This is where the workout began because
there are many layers and pieces of
apparatus required, the body wire runs
under the clothing connecting to your
weapon for scoring, the plastron is a one
armed garment worn under the jacket
on your sword arm for extra protection,
Breeches and long socks then there’s the
jacket and Lame (metal conductive jacket
for scoring) and finally the gloves and all
important mask.
Fully decked out and ready to go Owen
ran me through some movements.
Firstly the footwork, very similar to boxing
(as featured in last month’s Bounce),
with a slight squat your lead foot in front
at all times you shuffle forwards and
backwards, little sidewards movements
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