Wednesday, January 09, 2008

From Tango to Fencing










We've been trying to cope with our post BsAs tango withdrawal. We figured maybe we just needed a little temporary distraction from tango. So Malena decided she would give fencing a try, while I would take up ballroom dancing again. I thought fencing was a great idea for Malena, because I could totally picture her as Catherine Zeta Zones in that fencing scene in the movie The Mask of Zorro. So this was the week she was going to start this new craze. Malena sent me the link for the fencing school. I told her it looked like fun. "Class starts tonight. Do you have plans tonight? Would you like to come with?" she asked. "Hmm, Moi? Fencing? " I thought. "I suppose I could go since I didn't have any plans, plus I'd do anything to work off the few extra pounds from the holidays." So off we went, from tango to fencing.

We walked into the class. Almost everyone was in full gear, white fencing jackets, knee length fencing pants, long black socks and dark sneakers. I was fascinated by the clothing. One guy actually had his pants custom-made to look exactly like the ones worn in the 16th century. He was an obvious fencing addict with very intense eyebrows. He must have thought I was a nutjob because 65% of my questions were about clothing and not fencing.

The fencing academy operates out of a great little studio near Chinatown. I was told by the maestro that no street shoes were allowed because the space is a dance studio during the daytime. "Should I wear my tango shoes then?" I asked with a straight face. He didn’t answer me but gave me one of those looks, "Did she really just ask me that? was she being funny or is she just plain stupid?" It was fine because Malena got it and immediately laughed out loud.

Maestro went over the proper attire for students in a fencing class. There are strict color rules. Rule #1. The maestro, and ONLY the maestro, is allowed to wear all black. The would-be-masters-in-training wear white jackets and black pants. All other fencers can wear any combination of white, black and grey. Newbies can wear any gym clothes (provided it's not all black). I luckily wore a grayish t-shirt and black gym pants, while Malena?... she wore head to toe all black. "I am sorry. I didn't know." she said to the maestro with a little smile.

There were so many styles. This academy specializes in Italian, French and Spanish. We were shown the following weapons, the Foil (technically not a weapon but a practice tool), the Epee and the Sabre. They all looked the same to me, except for the different blade lengths and size of the handle guard thingy. There are names for every part of the sword, even the sections along the length of the blade had a different names. It was overwhelming and intimidating; we were beginners all over again. I felt like a sponge trying to soak up everything thrown at me. Some students were very helpful, while others ignored us. I guess they figured we probably wouldn't come back. Everyone from different levels worked together in the same space. We started with a few different en garde positions. There were lots of turnouts and pliƩs, very much like ballet, except you don't lead with your toes. It definitely brought back memories of the couple of years I spent in ballet school back when I was in high school.

On our way out, we chatted with a ballet dancer who's been fencing for 14 months. She gave us the low down on what to expect as a beginner and told us about how much fencing has reshaped her body. Aside from the workouts she received with her already strong dancer legs, she couldn't believe how ripped her arms and upper body got. She even saw results after just one month. Those were the key words I needed to hear. I hate the gym and have been looking for an interesting sport to help tone up abit. Each class is three hours long and doing that twice a week? My body better show some changes. She also advised us to take the advil before the soreness starts. I must admit I'm really looking forward to the pain. Bring it on baby!

We promised to give ourselves one month to explore this further. It's only been one lesson and I am already loving it. I like the fact that fencing is just as much a mental game as it is a physical challenge. The art of it involves learning how to strategize your attacks, as well as learning how to read and understand your opponents. It's the perfect combination of chess, geometry and dance?... all wrapped up in one very sexy cool outfit!


* Buenos Aires to be continued...

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

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tangobaby said...

Dear Eva and Malena,

This post has been a breath of fresh air this morning while I am still getting over this rotten cold.

I was so excited to read about your exploration of fencing. My desire to learn fencing surely comes from watching Errol Flynn and The Adventures of Robin Hood as a kid.

A little over a year ago, I started taking fencing lessons at the Stanford Fencing Club and was really enjoying it. Our club was not as strict as yours, especially regarding the dress code, but it's run by a former Olympian fencer and my teacher was also a medalist. They were all business, but fun and encouraging as well. (As you know, fencing is harder than it looks!)

Then, we moved to San Francisco and it was too far for me to commute just for fencing school, so I stopped (and of course, picked up more tango in the bargain). But my fencing mask, jacket, foil and glove sit unloved in my equipment bag in the garage.

Your post has inspired me to get out there again and get back into fencing. You're right, it is great exercise and a fun way to get into shape. Be warned that, although you do wear padding and protection, don't be surprised when you find yourself covered in small bruises. But at least if someone asks you, you can tell them you got them in a duel!

BTW, a really great book that discusses the history of fencing is The Art and Science of Fencing by Nick Evangelista. Funny enough, fencing, like tango, was considered quite scandalous and common for a long time!

Thanks for the inspiration this morning!

Malena said...

Dear TB!
It's really incredible that you have taken fencing! Eva was telling me the other day that tango and fencing seem to attract the same type of people and it certainly seems so! Please do keep us posted on what happens. We can all do this together :)
I will check out the book. We are fascinated by the history behind fencing as well and can't wait to learn more. I wish you can just take it all in at once... On the other hand, there is an exquisite pleasure in getting to know an art such as fencing - just like tango it could make for an unforgetable time in the process... I am just hoping it doesn't have the potential to be all consuming as tango does. I can use a reprieve...
Thank you, TB, for being so wonderful! Besos!
M

tangobaby said...

Hi M,

I was so inspired after your post that I contacted one of the schools here in SF. Their adult foil class is unfortunately on the same night as one of my milongas, so I'm going to look into the option of private lessons. I'll keep you up to date, to be sure.

I just posted a little present for both of you on my blog. I look forward to hearing about your adventures with fencing.

Have a great weekend. You made my day.

xo

Anonymous said...

Ah happy memories. I did somewhat the reverse from you. I started with fencing and the moved to tango. In the same academy as you though. I still remember Maestro R doing his funny impression of Catherine Zeta Jones fencing.

I found that having a background in fencing really helped me when I started tango (something which I still write about today).
Taking a three hour fencing class means that a one hour tango class is easy in comparison. It also help me develop my ability to remember sequences of movements. When people comment on the serious expression I hold when things are being explained I joke that I come from a background where if you didn't listen you would have several pounds of steel hurtling towards you. Interestingly it was also realising the parallels between fencing and tango that allowed me break down those patterns and sequences that I can remember so well.
But most importantly it was the ability to interact physically and non-nonverbally in very subtle ways. Maestro R's master, Maestro Rhodes, was known to declare that there were three was to get to really know someone: fence them, dance with them, or sleep with them.

Eva said...

Hello LT,

Thank you for visiting our blog. We unfortunately haven't been keeping up with our fencing. : ( Life, work and tango kind of got in the way of that.

We can definitely see parallels between fencing and tango. It was interesting that a few students asked if we're dancers on our first day... and we're just practicing a few engarde positions. I guess both sports require you to develop a strong command of your body.

I really believe that non-verbal conversations are really the purest form of communication between two human beings.

Happy fencing & happy dancing! (...not in any particular order.)

; )
besos,
Eva

Anonymous said...

I just want to give a shout out to Maestro Ramone Martinez. Please share other stories you hear about Maestro Rhodes.

I also want to say the fencing and tango complement each other. However, I would reserve fencing to refer to historical and classical fencing. Both considers leverage, distance, and time.

Unknown said...

Hello, I am one of the students at the Martinez Academy, though I'm sure I missed your visits last year. I'm on my way to Buenos Aires for a week. By any chance, did you come across any fencing while you were dancing?

And, indeed, everything you noticed were spot on. Certainly my dancing lessons helped my fencing very much.

Many thanks.

Malena said...

Hi Michael!
Actually, we didn't get to that while in BsAs, so I have no information, but I am pretty sure you can find out before your trip.
Have a great time and let us know how it goes. Happy dancing/fencing!!
Abrazos,
Malena

Sir Chawlz said...

My journey has been the opposite of yours: I began as a fencer in college and twenty-two years later began studying Tango. Later in my Tango class I met an old college classmate who had also been on the fencing team at school and was now commencing studying Tango. And there is a wonderful man on the scene who is a visceral tanguero as well as a fencer.