The Bowling Green Fencing Academy aims to teach the sport to community members of all ages
BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- In a sports town dominated by the likes of basketball, football, and baseball lies a fencing academy that has been teaching the sport for over a decade.
Since 2012, Stephen Fisher has been teaching fencing and sharing the knowledge he has gained over 30 years.
His fascination with the sport started at 12 years old, watching old TV shows and movies such as The Highlander and Zorro. And starting in 1996, he joined Western Kentucky’s fencing club.
Fisher has since put together quite the resume, serving as not only a competitor, but a coach, tournament chairman, fencing coaches association secretary, and is even a historian. He has donated many pieces of his collection to the “Agora” Museum of Fencing in Milan, Italy.
“I guess I’ve always had a knack for blades.” Fisher said, “It’s been a lifelong thing for me, this is 30 years now into fencing.”
The sport has fluctuated in numbers in the Bowling Green community over the years, but remains consistent and is able to be enjoyed by all ages.
In addition to teaching kids’ classes, there are classes for all ages to learn the sport.
Though it is a combat sport, fencing isn’t as rough on your body as others. With senior leagues reaching up to age 60, it is something to enjoy and do into your later ages, while not putting much strain on your body.
“It’s not as rough on you. You know, it’s not a high-impact sport, but it is still a sport that involves a lot of back and forth, you know, so it’s still a high-energy sport, but one that you can do up until older years.” Said Chris Bidwell, a student at the Bowling Green Fencing Academy.
Though basketball, baseball, and football may run the Bluegrass state, fencing has a big community as well.
There are clubs in Bowling Green, Louisville, and Lexington, with many universities having their own clubs as well.
Each club and team tries to compete and interact with each other while making trips out of state to compete in competitions, spreading the sports’ reach and influence.
“It’s for everyone. And it’s great to have all that in the community of Kentucky, to have all these different outreaches. You can go and fence within just the state of Kentucky as opposed to travelling anywhere else. Kentucky has a great deal of clubs, more than one would think.” Fisher said.
The sport of fencing is proof that you are never too old to learn something new.
And who knows, it may be something you find to enjoy. After all, who wouldn’t want to wield a sword like Zorro?
To learn more about the Bowling Green Fencing Academy, visit https://bgfencingacademy.com/
