No defense in this classroom

Eager to whack a classmate with a foam sword, kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach are learning the sport of fencing.

But the kids will be learning a lot more than how to hit someone, fencing instructor Otra Olver explained.”This is physical chess,” Olver said. “It’s about controlling your mind and body to focus your energy.”

Olver has been a student of fencing for 10 years and has worked at the Boys & Girls Club for seven months. He is the club’s first fencing instructor.

“I let the kids try the foam swords one day and they just went nuts,” Olver said.

The eight-week class is for kids in grades one through five.

Anxious to get started, the youths already have been practicing during the club’s free time.

“I love it,” 10-year-old Stephanie Sourp said. “It looks hard, but once you try it it’s kind of easy.”

“It’s like Star Wars,” Olver said to encourage a pair of young fencers.

Wearing protective gear that covered their eyes and ears, the youngsters took turns dueling each other as fans gathered on the sideline.

A score is made when a fencer can place a hit on part of their opponent’s body.

Individual styles vary with each fencer, but according to Olver there are only so many moves one can do.

Backing up, blocking and counter-attacking are the three key elements to the sport, Olver said.

“When you’re fighting someone, no matter what your style, there’s a pattern that nobody can escape,” he said.

In a practice bout, 11-year-old Alexandra Menkes said she felt her best strategy was to aim low.

“He was shorter, so I went for his legs and won,” she said.

For Tristen Ross, 10, lifting his sword to invite an attack from his opponent proved a successful deception.

“I would open him up so I could attack his side,” he said.

After experiencing a loss, 10-year-old McKenna Ryan felt she learned from the experience.

“”She was a bit taller and she’s probably done it before. I’m new here,” she said.

Effective mobility is critical to a good strategy, Olver said. The beginning of class time is devoted to cardiovascular exercises to maintain good physical condition.

“Maintaining control and balance and conserving energy are crucial to any success,” Olver said.

But maneuvering with a sword (or foil as used in advanced competitions) can prove tricky.

“This is a dis-coordinated sport,” Olver added. “Your feet do one thing and your hands do something else.”

Olver said that at some point his class will graduate from the foam swords to metal foils.

In the meantime he is as thrilled as his students that they are learning the craft. Credit: CHRISTOPHER WAGNER / COASTLINE PILOT Caption: Using a foam sword Tuesday, Laguna Niguel’s Jake Ryan, 8, left, battles Ben Siu, 9, of Mission Viejo, during their fencing class, which is being offered at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach. cpt.14-onbreak-1-BPhotoInfo3P1STNCU20060714j2bkmpncCredit: CHRISTOPHER WAGNER / COASTLINE PILOT Caption: (LA)