BalanceOctober2016 - 9
guide
S
A
IR
R'
F
BE I NSP IRED
ST T I M E
TO...
Fencing
Jamie Glassman finds
becoming the new Zorro
is not as easy as it looks
photography by JACK ALEXANDER
BLADE S, G REAT
PORTLAND STREET
T
The pen is
mightier than
the sword...
sorry, foil
his may sound obvious
but fencing classes are
for people who really want
to fence. If you thought, like I did, that
it would involve a lot of mucking about
with swords, shouting 'en garde' and
'touché' you're in for a shock. For a start
they're called 'foils', you imbecile!
Fencing takes a lot of hard work and
dedication. This much I picked up in
my taster session with Blades Fencing
Club in Great Portland Street. You could
say I learned how much I had to learn.
FO I LS' WAR
Blades caters for all fencers - beginners,
intermediates and advanced - and it
was certainly welcoming to me and the
other two beginners, Arj and Jason, as
we were gently guided through foot
drills and hitting drills by our patient
instructor, while the intermediates
and advanced fencers battled nearby.
No foils for us, though, not until we
had destroyed our thighs by shuffling
our feet up and down, forwards and
backwards, again and again and again.
Only then was it time for some hitting
drills. Great! I thought. A chance to put
on a mask and pick up a sword, I mean a
foil, even a rubber beginners' one.
In fact, Arj, Jason and I took it in turns
to stand still while the other two hit us
repeatedly in the chest with their rubber
foils. It doesn't not hurt, shall we say.
ENJOY T H E I N T EN S I T Y
There was a strange privacy that came
from wearing a mask with a wire mesh
grate so you could see out but your
opponent can't see in. I could suddenly
imagine how exhilarating it would be
to be locked in combat as you try to
outwit your opponent.
For me, sadly, fencing came 30 years
too late. I reckon I would have loved it as
a 15 year old. If you are made of sterner
stuff, then give it a go. Just don't expect
to be shouting 'touché' any time soon.
What would you like Jamie to try next?
Tweet us @BalanceLDN B
HAVE A GO!
LEVEL
Suitable for
everyone
COST
Taster is £25
on the door
TIME
One
hour
Attraction without distraction
CALM
CO R N E R
Next time you are spending time with someone you love, turn your phone off. Really focus on them
and listen attentively. Look at them with fresh eyes, noticing the nuances of their mannerisms, the
tone of their skin, the light in their eyes. Give the conversation your total focus.
Calm by Michael Acton Smith is published by Penguin Life, £6.99
October 2016 BALANCE
9
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BalanceOctober2016
BalanceOctober2016 - 1
BalanceOctober2016 - 2
BalanceOctober2016 - 3
BalanceOctober2016 - 4
BalanceOctober2016 - 5
BalanceOctober2016 - 6
BalanceOctober2016 - 7
BalanceOctober2016 - 8
BalanceOctober2016 - 9
BalanceOctober2016 - 10
BalanceOctober2016 - 11
BalanceOctober2016 - 12
BalanceOctober2016 - 13
BalanceOctober2016 - 14
BalanceOctober2016 - 15
BalanceOctober2016 - 16
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BalanceOctober2016 - 33
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BalanceOctober2016 - 37
BalanceOctober2016 - 38
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BalanceOctober2016 - 40
BalanceOctober2016 - 41
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BalanceOctober2016 - 46
BalanceOctober2016 - 47
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BalanceOctober2016 - 49
BalanceOctober2016 - 50
BalanceOctober2016 - 51
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BalanceOctober2016 - 53
BalanceOctober2016 - 54
BalanceOctober2016 - 55
BalanceOctober2016 - 56
BalanceOctober2016 - 57
BalanceOctober2016 - 58
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BalanceOctober2016 - 60
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BalanceOctober2016 - 64
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