"Fencing has a way of instilling virtue in people," said Alexis La Joie, Fencing Club master and Marquette alumna who instructs members in the art of fencing. "It is a defense of and respect for life; a womb for tomorrow's leaders."
Charley Dobbs, a Marquette Fencing Club member and Marquette High School senior planning to attend Marquette University this fall, said some people compare the art of fencing to physical chess. Dobbs became involved with the group because his father teaches political science courses in Marquette's College of Arts & Sciences. He said fencing is graceful and has a lot of finesse, emphasizing balance and control.
The Fencing Club, which has nine to 10 members, practices every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the old Open Pantry building, 824 N. 16th St. Dobbs said the club hopes to recruit more participants this semester. At times, the club may have as many as 30 people involved or as few as half a dozen, he said.
La Joie came to Marquette as an undergraduate and said he found that the university, with no intention of facilitating a fencing organization, had disbanded the sport. While attending Marquette, he said he found it easiest to continue practicing the art of fencing in vacant hallways.
La Joie initially founded the Classical Fencing Society at St. Louis University 10 years ago, Dobbs said. In 2000, La Joie returned to Marquette and started a new chapter.
The club welcomes individuals who have not previously fenced and those who have had experience, Dobbs said.
"Anyone can learn fencing," he said. "With an accumulative wealth of skill even a younger fencer can beat someone older."
La Joie said fencing spans many eras and has several different types: historical, classical and sport.
Marquette's Fencing Club focuses on the classical fencing style, La Joie said. This style originated in France and is more conservative than other types of fencing. The classical style stresses the art and technique of fencing whereas sport fencing concentrates on the competition and athleticism of the activity, he said.
Fencing is not a seasonal sport, Dobbs said. The sport is year round and the training never stops. Ali Boyd, a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences, said practices involve learning footwork and sword work in addition to the opportunity for camaraderie.
Boyd started fencing this past semester. She said she enjoyed her first semester fencing experience and would recommend it.
"It sounded interesting and I saw an opportunity," she said. "So I said sure, why not?"
The art comes with old traditions and heritage. Fencing attracts all kinds of people, especially creative, artistic types, Dobbs said.
"People who fence are not easily typecast," he said. "People who are romantic fence. Good dancers make good fencers."
Dobbs has been fencing for five years and said he was first attracted to the idea of swordplay. Dobbs said there is a possibility of a collegiate league forming in the future. The league would be open to any school that has a fencing group.
"Hopefully it will continue to grow," La Joie said. "We have some interesting influences and a strong, broad spectrum of knowledge and multiple connections to masters."