Krefelder Fecht Club offers martial arts with brains

Fringe sports in Krefeld
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Martial arts with brains and tactics

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At the Hannah-Arendt-Gymnasium, the club’s fencers train in duels.
Photo: Lammertz, Thomas (lamb)

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Serie Krefeld The Fecht Club Krefeld has been teaching children and young people the art of fencing for more than 50 years. However, this sport is more than just martial arts. It requires brains, perseverance and concentration. An overview.

When it comes to fencing, many people inevitably have to think of the three musketeers or the fictional pirate villain Captain Hook, who likes to raise his sword against his young nemesis Peter Pan. What looks so martial in films and may have been in the past, when swords were still part of the equipment of many gentlemen, is by no means so today, says Dirk Veltrup. He is the second chairman of the Fecht Club Krefeld and father of two sons who have been successfully practicing this sport for years. “Fencing isn’t about hurting your opponent, even though it’s considered a martial art,” he says. Rather, it is about tactics, brains, perseverance and concentration.

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The Union What is now a successful association started in 1970 as a working group (AG) at today’s Hannah-Arendt-Gymnasium. The then student fencing community was founded by Lajos Csire senior. Five years after it was founded, the club produced its first German champion and has been on the road to success ever since. “In 2004 there was a split. Preußen Krefeld has re-established itself as a foil club, and as an epee club we have become the Fecht Club Krefeld,” reports Veltrup. The Fecht Club currently has around 100 members, 70 of whom are active.

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The Art of Fencing There are three types of weapons in fencing, explains Veltrup. “Of course, the saber looks very martial and is out of the question for us. The foil is lighter than the sword, which is a little more stable and weighs around 750 grams.” Although fencing is a martial art, it is primarily a tactical form of sport, such as chess. “You don’t want to injure your opponent – and thanks to the protective clothing, you can’t. Instead, you have to analyze him and anticipate his steps.” The aim is to catch your opponent in the area between the toes and the neck – the so-called hitting area – with the sword. “With a real sword, a hit in the chest would certainly have been deadly in the past. With today’s swords, which the athletes use, the opponent also gets something, but without pain and injuries,” assures Veltrup.

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Elementary school students with a mini sword and a high frustration limit Anyone who now thinks that fencing is an adult sport is wrong. As early as six-year-olds can start fencing if their stature allows it, says Veltrup. The U9 children can then even take part in individual competitions, while the U11 members are already taking part in state competitions. The sport has a lot to offer for young fencers, Veltrup knows from his own experience: “You can achieve a high level of athleticism, speed, a very good sense of speed and concentration,” he says. In terms of fitness, it is a challenge, even if the youngest only fight twice for three minutes and the older ones three times for three minutes. What sounds like little demands both body and mind. “This ability to concentrate, which you learn while fencing, also helped my sons a lot at school,” says Veltrup.

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In addition, the athletes attached great importance to fairness and respect. “It’s not always easy to look the person who just defeated you in the eye, shake their hand and congratulate them on their victory. But that’s just part of fencing. Therefore, this sport is also suitable for children and young people who would otherwise find it difficult to subordinate themselves. “We often have inquiries from parents whose children have ADHD,” reports Veltrup. “These participants become more focused through fencing.”

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The ideal sport – but for whom? Size and weight are completely irrelevant in fencing, according to the 2nd chairman, since the sport can build on both speed and strength. “There are many different styles of fencing,” he says. “We had a 78-year-old who constantly tricked the children with his tactics because he was incredibly clever,” says Veltrup. And although the younger ones were sometimes faster and stronger, they were presented. So there is no age limit. “We have everything here between the ages of six and 60.”

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The club has no youth problems. Thanks to the fencing AGs, where fifth and sixth graders can get a taste of the sport, there are always new participants. Interested adults would be offered courses at the adult education center. If you like it, then join the fencing club.

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costs and achievements If you finally decide to play fencing, you first have to dig a little deeper into your pocket. The equipment including sword, protective clothing, chest protector, mask, gloves and so on costs between 600 and 800 euros. “But we also have a stock of used equipment. That comes to around 300 to 400 euros to get started,” says Veltrup.

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Membership for one year costs 300 euros. “The members have up to six trainers at their disposal for this purpose. The so-called lessons, i.e. one-on-one training with a trainer, which take place at least once a week, do not have to be paid for extra.”

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If you really put your mind to it, you have a good chance of success, says Veltrup. So far, the club has produced a total of 22 German champions. From the age group U17 the competition becomes international and you fight Europe-wide. Global tournaments take place from U20 upwards, the senior league even fights in cities like Tokyo and Vancouver, says Veltrup. “And we even had an Olympian at the 1980 Games in Moscow. These were then boycotted because of the Afghan war. In 2018 one of our fencers won the silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.”

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