Fencing is a fun and challenging game of physical and mental agility, but the lessons of fencing go beyond the strip. As coaches, one of the questions we hear most often is ‘Can fencing help my child get into college?’. The answer is ‘Yes!’. However, the benefits of fencing go far beyond college admission. Fencing provides unique opportunities for individual growth. Through the sport of fencing children can learn techniques and develop habits that will help them achieve success in all aspects of their lives.
Fencing instills values of hard work and dedication. It encourages tenacity and rewards courage and well thought risks. It also develops respect for one’s self and one’s peers. It teaches children that hard work and perseverance matter. And while success is what we train for, fencing forces children to handle defeat. It teaches resilience, patience, and fortitude. It builds focus, responsibility, and encourages goal setting.
It is an individual sport, but it is also a team sport. Victories and losses are individual. But club and team aspect provide camaraderie and socialization and create an opportunity for lasting relationships.
Most importantly, fencing builds confidence and instills pride in one’s self. The ability to understand that one is capable of achieving, all one has to do is be willing to work hard and apply oneself. Commitment, dedication, effort, and attitude are necessary for creating the right outcome. Fencing is challenging but rewarding. It teaches children that they have the ability to overcome obstacles and that they are in control of the bout outcome.
It is humbling, it is rewarding, and it is fast paced!
But most of all… it is fun!
