News - Local News

POSTED: Monday, Sep. 29, 2008

Bellingham Bay fencing club gains fans

BELLINGHAM - When 39-year-old Monica Angel brandishes a sword, it's in the name of fitness, feminism and just plain old fun. The Bellingham resident picked up fencing a month ago because she thought it looked like a fun workout.

"You're not able to show much aggression in life, especially as a girl, so it's a great way to learn that skill," Angel said. "Never in your life were you told that it's okay to be aggressive and play with swords, but you're completely safe while (fencing)."

Angel is just one of the around 30 people who practice fencing at the Bellingham Bay Fencing Association - which is settling into its permanent home at 311 E. Holly St.

The association held an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28 to spotlight its new location and to introduce the community to fencing, a sport in which two players square off using one of three weapons - a foil, épée or saber. The object is to thrust quick jabs at your opponent, while defending yourself from your opponent's attacks.

Between 30 and 40 people showed up for the 2 p.m. fencing demonstration, where Scott McEniry and Rance Bayman, co-owners of the association, gave the audience a taste of fencing using the three weapons.

The two started the association six years ago, renting gym space to hold classes or open fencing times twice a week. In August the association moved to its current location.

The sport's popularity in Bellingham is growing; Since last summer, the association's enrollment numbers have jumped from five to 30 fencers, Bayman said.

One theory behind the surge in membership is the sport's coverage during the 2008 summer Olympic Games, but movies featuring swordplay, such as last winter's "Spiderwick Chronicles," have also been known to pique people's interest.

"Most of our students are kids, so they've seen "Star Wars," and they think they're going to be dueling with light sabers," Bayman said.

Fencers, who use quick bursts of motion while exchanging jabs, break a sweat.

"You would not believe how tired your legs get by the end of the class," Angel said. "And it's not boring like the gym."

McEniry agrees, noting that much of the sport is played in the mental arena.

"A lot of people refer to it as physical chess because you're always having to think a number of moves before your opponent."

In the future, the association hopes to host fencing tournaments in its new space, with the first one tentatively scheduled for Oct. 18, Bayman said.

For a fencing class schedule or more information on the Bellingham Bay Fencing Association, visit bellinghamfencing.com.