by William Menna

Created on: April 21, 2010

Fencing is a brilliant sport.  It’s sword-fighting without the risk of severed limbs, massive blood loss, and death.  The sport of fencing has a long and storied history, dating back to before the Elizabethan era in Europe.  It’s a competition of athletic ability, hand-eye coordination, and strategy, giving a workout to both the body and the mind.  The martial art of fencing can provide several health benefits, exercising the body through physical exertion and the mind through hand-eye coordination and strategy.

The most direct health benefit of fencing is the exercise component of the sport.  The art of fencing requires quick responsive movements to counter attacks from an opponent and to place the opponent on the defensive.  It emphasizes agility, alertness, and endurance with a format in which the first to 15 wins the competition.  Fencing is a great cardiovascular exercise, using several sets of muscles at a demanding intensity level over an extended period of time.

Aerobic exercise provided by fencing can be beneficial to the body’s heart health, endurance, and lung capacity.  This can help to regulate cholesterol levels, improve circulation, and reduce the risk of heart disease.  According to WebMD, this type of exercise can also be effective at lessening the risk of developing osteoporosis.  Getting about half an hour of this aerobic exercise a day can help to fully realize the health benefits of fencing.

The physical health benefits of fencing also include increased flexibility.  Fencing requires the use of a wide range of motion to respond and deflect opposing attacks.  The core, arms, and legs all develop a good deal of flexibility in regular fencers.

In addition to the general exercise health benefits, fencing is a fantastic activity for honing hand-eye coordination.  Parrying an opponent’s strikes requires swift movement, mental anticipation, and of course accuracy.  Practicing fencing regularly can sharpen reaction time and accuracy, benefiting both the body and the mind.

Fencing is a game of chess played with a physical aspect.  As such, the health benefits of fencing include mental exercise.  Competitive fencing demands analysis of an opponent’s patterns, strengths, and weaknesses in order to find an advantage.  It also requires that thought and analysis be paid to one’s own defenses, preventing the opponent from scoring.

The health benefits of fencing include both physical and mental gains.  Fencing is an intense aerobic exercise that can help to promote improved physical endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular health.  It also hones hand-eye coordination and gives the brain a workout in strategy.  Regardless the variety, fencing is a great activity that can be highly beneficial to overall health.

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