Animated chatter filled the Keene Family YMCA second-floor studio Monday evening as fencers prepared for class. Sneakers shuffled back and forth across hardwood floor as about a dozen participants warmed up in pairs practicing parries and feints.
At the fencing class on Summit Road, kids and adults alike gathered for two hours of socialization and sword fighting.
Before long, instructor Kevin Keane split the group in two. Beginner fencers followed him into an adjoining studio where he walked them through the basics of the sport while more experienced athletes held bouts next door. Between classes on Mondays and Thursdays, Keane said he has about 18 regular attendees.
Keane described fencing as “physical chess.” He said the martial art requires total focus and engages both the mind and the body. Keane, now 61, has fenced intermittently since college and took over as the YMCA instructor a few years ago.
“It is something you can basically do your entire life,” he said. “Skill and judgment and perception offsets loss of speed or strength as you age.”
Casey Schmidl-Gagne, a 26-year-old fencer who started in September 2024, said the combat sport has helped him both mentally and emotionally. “You’re always trying to find ways to keep yourself in the moment, not be caught up in anxieties,” he said. “And, for me, fencing is a good way to do that.”
At 64, Craig Fulton was the class’ oldest participant. He started fencing about a year ago and said the sport is “so much fun, even for the old guy.” Fulton said the younger athletes keep him on his toes. Fencing requires him to think strategically while also improving his reflexes, stamina and balance.
“It’s great for older folks like me, especially when going against high school kids and beating them. It’s a good feeling,” Fulton said. “It’s a great two hours just to get away from everything else in the world.”
People 13 and older can sign up for fencing classes through the Y. In Keane’s experience, every strength can be a weakness in the sport, and each disadvantage can be turned into an advantage. For example, a taller fencer may have a longer reach but could be more vulnerable to close proximity hits, especially when facing a shorter opponent.
One of the more experienced fencers, 15-year-old Norah Corindia, said she’s been practicing the sport for about 2½ years. During bouts, she helped referee, call touches and award points. Fencers alternated among using three types of weapons: foils, sabres and épées. Keane said different weapons employ different strategies. When fighting with a foil or saber, the referee had to decide “right of way,” determining which fighter initiated an attack first. Épée uses a first-to-hit system rather than right-of-way.
“My favorite part is probably the community and getting to really be friends and interact with people outside of my usual bracket,” Norah said. “I can interact with people who are 8-year-olds. I can interact with people who are 60, and we’re all still laughing at around the same jokes.”
Marina Perrin, whose 13-year-old son Olen recently joined the class, said she appreciates the supportive environment and is glad he can learn alongside people of all ages. “It’s very reflective of the good Keene community,” she said.
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