I could go all night. Limber, breathing evenly, she looks as if she could, too. At UMass, fencing is a club sport, and one of the rare ones with little if any precursor at the high-school level. But when you put on the mask and pick up a weapon, you really gain an appreciation for the sport's intelligence and athleticism. Whether you're interested in its artistic mystique or athletic challenge, swords and fencing are pretty cool, and anybody can do it.
Swords are cool, at least in the hands of the skilled and nimble.
Positions are held and broken, held again. Once the dueling starts, they coach from the sidelines, critiquing, pulling students out for individual lessons. It's a grapple instead of clean action. Some positions, such as basic position in fencing and first position in ballet, are identical. The team can win or lose, but when you're out on the strip, it's you.