Thursday, March 28, 2024

Join our email blast

Your Neighbors

Sword artistry, blade skills… En garde!

8/4/2021

Jon Greising is a volunteer fencing instructor.

Des Moines Fencing Club members spar during a recent practice session. Photo submitted

In most athletic endeavors, the bigger and stronger competitor possesses an advantage, but that’s not so in fencing, according to Jon Greising, one of four volunteer coaches for the Des Moines Fencing Club (DMFC).

“You can’t bully your way,” he explains. “It’s all finesse.”

Fencing is essentially like a big game of tag, he adds. But in this game of gotcha, combatants are armed with giant knives and bound within a pre-determined area.

“You’re trying to hit without being hit,” he says.

CNA - Stop HIV Iowa

As such, gauging the distance at which you can tag your opponent is critical, as is attention to detail, understanding angles and precise footwork.

Jon Greising owns an impressive resume in the sword arts, and he also volunteers as a coach for the Des Moines Fencing Club. Photo by Jeff Pitts

“People argue about whether footwork is half of fencing or most of it,” he says, adding that fencers also need an acute ability to concentrate their focus, fine motor skills and the ability to cope with frustration. This is the main reason Greising advises parents to wait until their child is at least 7 years old before beginning in the sport.

Originally from Chicago, Greising now works locally as a data analyst, but he first arrived in the Hawkeye State after enrolling at Grinnell College. It was during this time that Greising unsheathed the sword for the first time.

“I was never really athletic in any traditional way, and I didn’t really go in for team sports,” he says of his athletic prowess during his formative years. But the sport’s novelty appealed to his curiosity, as did the sport’s individual nature.

“Your success or failure is entirely your own,” he says.

Greising owns an impressive resume in the sword arts.

“Jon is one of our best coaches and has had an amazing resume in the sword arts,” says Jason Reis, DMFC president.

As a coach, Greising touts the club’s guiding principle, “that we learn from each other and teach each other whatever we can.”

Bouts last roughly 3 minutes. The first swordsman to notch five touches upon his opponent’s eligible target space wins.

“What’s kept me so engaged with the sport is that it’s challenging for both the brain and the body,” says Greising. “I really believe this is a sport for everyone,” he says. ♦


Des Moines Fencing Club

Since its founding in 1997, the Des Moines Fencing Club (DMFC) has served Iowa as a nonprofit and a member club of the United States Fencing Association (USFA). Members of the DMFC participate in local and out-of-state tournaments, as well as perform demonstrations in the Des Moines metro. The public is invited to come observe and participate in DMFC’s 60-minute practices. The club currently has four USFCA certified volunteer coaches. Fencing classes are currently held at Fairmeadows Elementary, 807 23rd St., West Des Moines, but the group is actively looking for a permanent home. Visit www.desmoinesfencingclub.org for more information. ♦

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*