Swashbuckling fencers can now learn the competitive sword-swinging art form and hone their skills at the kingdom’s first academy dedicated to the sport.
The Bahrain Italian Fencing Academy, recognised by the The Fédération Internationale d’Escrime, commonly known by the acronym FIE, the international governing body of Olympic fencing, has opened its doors in Adliya to sportsmen and women of all ages.
Regular attendee Robert Jennings, 32, a former UK Adult Top 20 Epee fencer who was part of the U20 Great Britain Team Épée, is helping to promote the sport within the expat community.
“Fencing is a very exciting sport to watch and play,” he said. “It is highly-addictive once you start and is excellent mental and physical exercise. We are hoping to grow the fencing community and welcome newcomers to the sport.
‘My main message is that if you would like to try something fun and enjoy a great way to develop your fitness levels, control, balance, social and sporting skills then you are more than welcome to come and investigate these excellent facilities.
“In my opinion this sport also helps develop your tactical awareness, self-confidence and has many more benefits.”
Sport fencing involves two competitors using rapier-style swords with the aim of scoring points through contact. It is one of the original sports played at the Olympic Games and is based on the traditional skills of swordsmanship.
Bahrain has a successful national team which regularly competes in GCC tournaments and the Asian Games and boasts a developing youth team structure too.
The modern sport arose at the end of the 19th Century with the Italian school having modified the historical European martial art of classical fencing, with the French school later refining the system.
There are three forms of modern fencing, each uses a different kind of weapon and has different rules, this way the sport itself is divided into three competitive scenes: foil, épée, and sabre. Most competitive fencers choose to specialise in one weapon only.
Jennings added: “The sport is often described as chess at lightning speed and works out both body and mind. Pinpoint precision is required along with exact hand-eye co-ordination.
“Rounds last nine minutes and the aim is to achieve 15 hits against your opponent. Points are counted using a system of wires, computers and buttons on the swords.”
There are various styles of fencing including Hungarian which is more robotic relying on muscle memory while the Italian and French are considered more reactive, flowing and graceful.
The sport has gained popularity and a new wave of fans in recent years thanks to its presence in hit movies such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and James Bond.
The academy which opened in October came together under the patronage of Shaikh Ibrahim bin Salman Al Khalifa following a chance encounter and a meeting of minds. A keen Italian fencer was looking for somewhere to train and the Italian Embassy in Bahrain reached out to the Bahrain Fencing Association, which was founded in 2007, and together, the academy was formed.
It is headed by Bahrain national coach Captain Ahmed Alderazi, who has more than 48 years of experience under his belt and specialises in the Hungarian and French styles of the competitive sport. He is supported by former Chinese Number 1 Fencing Master Dong Wang, who boasts 10-years of coaching experience and focuses on the épée, the largest and heaviest of the three weapons used in sport fencing, and Frencesa Dalessandri, a former Italian national team member boasting 30 years of experience supervising the light, flexible foil.
“These experienced coaches will help develop rising stars as well as spread the joy and fun of fencing to all,” Jennings added.
l Membership costs BD40 and includes the use of equipment, training, camps and tournaments. The facilities are open on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 12noon.
For more details, visit the website www.bif-academy.com or call 17681389.
