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Darien woman turns fencing into fun

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Photo by Lukas Keapproth

From left, Caleb Blankenbaker, 16 and Arie Harmann, 19, fence at a new fencing club in downtown Darien

If you're a little short on confidence, Sabine Harmann has you covered.

If you're short on enthusiasm, she's got some of that, too.

She also has foils, masks and jackets.

Really, all you need is a willingness to try something new and a pair of shoes that won't scuff her new floor.

Harmann this summer opened Allez Fencing Group in a restored storefront at 31 N. Wisconsin St., Darien. The location is new to Harmann, but the sport certainly is not.

Harmann in the early 80s was ranked among female fencers in the Midwest while she was a student and fencing club member at UW-Parkside. Starting in 2001, she ran a fencing group in Delavan at the Flying Dragons martial arts school and later in her own space in the city's industrial park.

In 2007, Harmann chose to take time off from fencing to work and take care of her family.

This spring, Harmann first stepped into the dark, dusty space that was once a hardware store in downtown Darien. Despite the appearance, Harmann said, she knew right away she'd found "home."

After weeks of work, the long, narrow studio, or "salle," is bright and cheerful. It glows in the evening sun. The honey colored hardwood floor is smooth so fencers won't trip. Tape marks the alley for combat.

Along the white walls are pads and mirrors for practice as well as weight benches and other exercise equipment.

A rack of epees and foils takes up much of the storefront window.

Along one side of the room, racquetballs and tennis balls hang at eye level. Harmann demonstrated how to spin the end of a fencing sword in circles around the racquetballs.

It's not an easy thing to twirl the long foils in small circles, Harmann said.

On the opposite wall is a red metal box with orange and green lights. Two long, retractable electric cords stretch along the walls and up to the ceiling.

The end of each cord fits into a harness worn by a combatant and plugs into a foil. When the tips of the foils are depressed during play, the box buzzes and helps the referee, or director, know how to score the duel.

The number of people participating at the new facility is small, but it's an enthusiastic group. On a recent Thursday during open fencing, Harmann took turns practicing with her 16-year-old daughter, Natalie; a 10-year-old student; and an experienced fencer.

Two at a time, they dueled while a third person kept score.

The pairs moved up and down the floor. Harmann simultaneously coached and competed.

She enthusiastically complimented 10-year-old Will Holmes of Darien, who started learning to fence this summer.

While they fenced, she pushed and pushed, trying to get Will to make a misstep. Their foils rang as they blocked each other's thrusts.

Holmes twice defended himself perfectly, and Harmann was thrilled at his progress.

Learning to fence is a slow process. Harmann remembers her first year as a fencer at UW-Parkside, where she won only 22 percent of her bouts.

"Seventy-eight percent of the time I went down in flames," she said.

The mental effort of combat is a great way to battle daily stress, Harmann said. As fencers improve, they can achieve the sensation of responding without thought during a duel.

Fencing that well is a rush, Harmann said.

"It's a great thing," she said. "A great thing to fly."

FENCING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: What is fencing?

A: A combat sport with a long history. Modern fencers use one of three weapons.

The foil is a light, thrusting weapon that targets the torso. Only one fencer at a time may score points, so the referee must keep track of which fencer has the right of way.

The epee is heavier than the foil and also is a thrusting weapon. The entire body is a target in epee combat.

The saber is a thrusting and slashing weapon.

In most modern fencing competitions, the weapons are connected to an electric circuit. When the tip of the weapon is depressed, a buzzer sounds. This helps referees keep score in the fast-paced competition.

Q: Do I need my own equipment to fence with Allez Fencing Group in Darien?

A: Probably not, said owner Sabine Harmann of Elkhorn. She has epees, foils, helmets, gloves and protective vests in many sizes for adults and kids. On occasion, she asks an oddly sized fencer to buy his or her own equipment.

Other than fencing gear, you will need long athletic pants and athletic shoes you will wear only at Allez.

Q: Is it dangerous?

A: No. The equipment is not sharp, and fencers are well protected under helmets with full facial coverage and vests that protect from the poking tips.

The greatest risk is from rolling an ankle or a similar self-induced injury, she said.

Will Holmes, a fifth-grader at Darien Elementary School, started fencing in the spring. The 10-year-old has practiced mostly with adults this summer. He said he was surprised to find out that despite the swords, fencing practice is safe.

"I thought it would be more dangerous, but it's not."

Q: How fit do I have to be to get started?

A: Fit enough to move around on your feet for a short period of time. As a person gets better at the sport, he or she naturally works at a faster pace so that the athletic challenge matches a person's ability, Harmann said.

One thing Harmann loves about fencing is that the intellectual challenge distracts a person from physical fatigue, Harmann said.

"You push yourself to your limits without having to agonize over it," she said.