En garde for some cut and thrust

Every second counts for menbers of the fencing club of the University of Thai Chamber and Commerce (UTCC). Every move they make has to be carefully thought out, and their training in fencing can help them cope better with their everyday lives as well.

"You will never win by strength alone. You also have to use your brain. This is not very different from how we lead our lives," says Suppakorn Sritang-orn, 22, a first-year student at UTCC.

"While on the strip, we have to think continuously. We have to plan each move. If we don't we will be easy targets for our opponents," says Natamon Akkaramaythayut, a Mathayom 5 student from Samsen Vithayawai II. "You will lose if you make a false move for even a second," says the 17-year-old fencer.

In this sport, you can score a win over your opponents in a few seconds. The instructors have to teach the pupils to meditate so they can concentrate well.

"I start by teaching my pupils foot movements, or footwork. This is different from others, who begin by teaching the students how to hold the weapons and use their hands and wrists. It is more difficult to get the foot movements right than it is to use the hands," says Santi Phatanaveerangkol, UTCC coach and a national referee.

"I must emphasise here that the coach devotes his life to teaching us. He tries to find out new techniques," says Natamon, who has been fencing for two years.

Even though most participants are Mathayom or undergraduate students, the coach says fencing is not limited to them. The youngest participants are only nine years old. You don't have to have any background skills or a prior knowledge of fencing.

"For beginners, I want their parents to observe the class. Before their children make a decision on whether they wish to learn fencing, their should know what it involves. A student's wish to learn how to fence is not enough, the parents should support them as well," says Santi.

Clothing and equipment for the sport are quite expensive. UTCC lets the beginners borrow equipment and protective clothing from the club until they decide they really want to continue with the sport.

Equipment and protective clothing start from as much as Bt10,000. But the coach first suggests you buy gloves for between Bt300 and Bt1,500, and a sword - a foil, epee or sabre - for Bt1,000-Bt6,000.

Besides a coach, the club has four or five national fencers to help out in the practice sessions and pass on their experience. Wanchai Rattanawong, supervisor of the club, says it's a win-win situation.

"If we have to pass on knowledge to anyone, we have to have a good basic knowledge. So national fencers and university fencers who teach here keep fit by participating in the practice sessions, and the beginners get direct experience from the national-level fencers," says Wanchai, dean of UTCC's School of Engineering.

Most participants start fencing because they hope to become competent athletes and not just for the love of the sport. The coach, moreover, is happy to prepare his pupils for competition.

"I believe in hard work rather than talent as the key to success. We practise six days a week," says Santi.

The fencing club is open each Monday to Saturday from 5.30pm to 9pm. It is located on the sixth floor of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's book centre. Membership is Bt400 a month.

For more information, contact the University of Thai Chamber and Commerce fencing club at (02) 435 6099.

Suwicha Chanitnun

The Nation