Legends and stories are full of swords. King Arthur had Excalibur. Sir Lancelot brandished the Sword of Truth. King Peter in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe wielded a sword against a wolf, and later, in Prince Caspian, an evil king. Aragorn, the mysterious ranger in The Lord of the Rings, waved the sword of his fathers, the Flame of the West. A small, yet consequential hobbit handled Sting, a sword with an unusual power.

The modern world no longer uses swords in combat, but many thousands of young people train with them in a sport called fencing. Like basketball, soccer, and baseball, fencing is a challenging art that requires technique, conditioning, and practice. Many kids and teenagers participate in fencing tournaments, and some go on to compete in Olympic events.

Fencing clubs offer instruction and training opportunities. You can contact a local fencing club and schedule a training session if you like. Generally, sessions involve running, stretching, form drills, and sparing. A local club in my area provides all of the equipment: chest guard, jacket, mask, glove, and sword.

If you want to become athletic, improve your hand-eye coordination, make friends, and compete, fencing might be for you. It will boost your confidence, and it’s fun.