Club Spotlight: Fencing Club
November 18, 2015
Among the myriad new clubs at Diamond Bar High School since the beginning of this school year, Fencing Club has provided a different experience for students. While straying from the standard club goals such as community service, the club allows students to explore their interests without having to apply or try-out.
“Fencing Club has a simple mission of bringing awareness and knowledge to the students of DBHS about the art and sport of fencing,” vice president junior Zachary Ding said. “We want to inspire them to go out and compete in local tournaments or find a club in the area.”
After being approved on August 27, the club has started off its freshman year with a bang.
Fencing Club kicked off with attendance of over 60 members at its first general meeting, where the officers informed members of the basics of fencing, citing that fencing is a game of physical agility combined with adaptability and mental ability rather than a simple sword bout.
However, due to the liability issues that fencing may cause, the club is still waiting on the district’s approval to become an authorized club that will have a safe environment for students.
If denied, the club cannot be situated or hold any activity on DBHS campus, but if approved, the club will have some limitations and restraints to the actions they can perform.
“We want to show people what fencing truly is because it’s such an unrecognized sport, and it definitely isn’t just stabbing people in their chests,” treasurer junior Leslie Sim stated. “We also want to teach people who are interested how to fence so that they can get involved with a unique sport too.”
In order to put these lessons into practice, the officers have reserved the gym on several occasions during lunch and held their first practice in September.
During this time, the three officers with the most knowledge about fencing guided the members to a level where they were able to bout with each other, allowing members a chance to try this new sport.
The club will provide the gear including the mask, suit, and rubber foil rather than the metal foil in order to decrease possible injuries. With a few officers currently in competitive fencing, the club was able to kick off their lunch practice by teaching members the basic footwork of the sport.
Outside of school, the club plans to offer opportunities to participate in small tournaments, showing them what the world of fencing is like. If the members remain interested in the sport, officers can also refer them to one of the many local competitive organizations in the area where they can learn from professional coaches.
“It’s another opportunity for students to make a connection at school and for them to enjoy the school experience and have it broaden their perspectives,” advisor Dena Lordi said. “We have a few students at school that are really interested in fencing and have been involved in it and want to bring [the sport] to other students in the school.”
