When you think of sports, have you ever considered that beyond football, there are elegant and individual disciplines like fencing, which carries a deep historical legacy? The sport of fencing has been a part of human history since 2000 BC.
Today, fencing is known as the art of swordsmanship, but for centuries, it was regarded as a protector of honor. Sword fighting created the very concept of “chivalry” before the advent of firearms changed the nature of combat. The honor of musketeers or samurais, often depicted in modern cinema, was symbolized by their swords. After the wars of the Middle Ages, swordsmanship continued through duels. Alexander Pushkin, considered the founder of modern Russian literature, died in 1837 from wounds sustained in a duel while defending his wife’s honor. It was only after World War II that the tradition of dueling completely disappeared.
The State of Fencing in Turkey
Today, swordsmanship is practiced strictly as a sport. Under the Turkish Fencing Federation, established in 1923, we have recently begun to see successful results in this discipline, which was overlooked for many years. We hope the “How to Start Fencing” page on the federation’s official website attracts the interest of the youth. Although fencing is a truly elegant sport where physical agility meets intelligence, it has never received sufficient attention in our country. While we have learned to answer “epee” to crossword puzzles, our interest in the sport hasn’t reached even a fraction of that for football.
However, many were moved by the news of Deniz Selin Üstündağ, our female fencer who won a gold medal at the tournament held in Sochi, Russia, last March—becoming the first champion in our sporting history in this field. This medal marked Turkey’s second major achievement in fencing. Previously, İbrahim Ahmet Acar won the World and European Championships in 2017 at the age of 17. His story later proved that sport is not just about winning medals but is a way of life and discipline. We also have high expectations for 16-year-old Nisanur Erbil, who won a gold medal at this year’s European Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships in Italy. (Interestingly, Nisanur Erbil started her athletic career with volleyball, a sport whose growing popularity among girls is evident in the success of our national teams). Supporting athletes like Deniz Selin Üstündağ and Nisanur Erbil beyond ceremonial welcomes is the primary duty of the Turkish Fencing Federation.
Benefits of Fencing
Beyond building strength and muscle, fencing is primarily considered a sport of defense and offense based on intelligence. It fosters speed, agility, concentration, sportsmanship, and flexibility. Fencing, which is very common in France, is now offered as an elective course in some schools in Turkey. Very soon, you will also be able to find fencing workshops at Complex Istanbul.