On Saturday, November 22, East Carolina University hosted their 12th annual Adapted Sports Day. Fortunately, I was in a position to add a wheelchair fencing clinic to their schedule. I offer here a synopsis of what we did to assist any clubs that may want to do the same.

We provided the following equipment:

• 1 scoring machine, 2 reels, and 1 extension cord
• 4 masks (2 for display)
• 4 right-hand jackets in various sizes and one left-hand jacket
• 4 plastrons in various sizes
• 3 right-hand gloves and 2 left-hand gloves
• 4 dry sabres
• 2 foam sabers
• 1 electric foil, 1 french epee, 1 dry saber (for display)
• 2 fully-dressed electric epeeists
• Foam display board and literature
• Duct tape (for attaching the weapon to anyone with a weak grip)

The organizers supplied us with:

• 2 wheelchairs with brakes
• 3 tables
• 6 chairs

One table was used for the display and literature, and another to put the equipment to be used by participants. We used the last table to set up the scoring machine and reels. The weapon-side armrests of the two wheelchairs were removed and the brakes locked, to simulate fencing while locked in a frame. The two epeeists were hooked up and fenced several five-touch bouts (with myself as referee) at the beginning of our timeslot until we had drawn a small crowd of onlookers. I then took a moment to introduce myself and explain what we were doing.

With the 6 chairs set up in pairs, participants could choose to bat each other with foam swords without dressing up, or to give “real” fencing a try with the assistance of the two other volunteers. The fencers would give their students a brief lesson (from the seated position) in attacking and defending, and then give them the chance to fence a three-touch bout with their teacher. We used saber for its easy grip and light weight, but right-of-way language was left out for simplicity. The event was a success, and it exposed fencing to a diverse group of students, participants, and onlookers.

My great appreciation is extended to Salle New Bern and the ECU Fencing Club for their material support, as well as volunteers Kyler Zary and Philip Allen. I also had long-distance assistance from Gary Vanderwege of the USFA Wheelchair Fencing Task Force and Jim Murray of Johns Hopkins Fencing. Last but not least, thanks to our host Dr. Jim Decker of the ECU Department of Exercise and Sports Science. I would encourage every club to give consideration to wheelchair fencing and perhaps even to give seated fencing a try sometime. While the regulation equipment such as the wheelchair frame is cost prohibitive to most clubs, this is a simple way to give athletes with a disability a place to practice.

MDR

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