Ok, let me take a breath before I tell you…HOW EXCITING IT WAS TO TRY FENCING!!! lol Who am I kidding? 🙂 There’s no way to hide my enthusiasm, and there’s no need to, because the latest episode of HealtiNation‘s TryOut Workout is here! And this time, I suited up in my fencing finest, for an awesome day at Manhattan Fencing Center.

Watch Episode »

Manhattan Fencing boasts world-class coaches, and classes for all ages. Proudly displayed trophies and awards commemorate past victories, and the spirit of sportsmanship is always in the air. As a lifelong fan of films featuring swordplay (Admittedly, I got started on swords watching the irreverent Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but don’t worry — I know you can’t go around cutting people’s limbs off hehe ;-)), I’ve ALWAYS wanted to swing a sabre at an opponent, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to gear up in some serious fencing wardrobe, and learn how it’s really done.

My instructor, Slava, broke it all down for me; from the rules to the moves — and there was quite a bit to remember! Keeping it all together was an exercise for the mind as well as the body, but don’t be mistaken: This was definitely a physical endeavor! By the end of the class, my back was soaked in sweat, and that epee seemed to weigh about 9,000 pounds :-). Yet you won’t hear me complaining; between the adrenaline and the sheer joy of learning this super-cool new skill, I was all smiles!

Watch me take out my “opponent” in this fun Vine–>

Once the lesson was over, Slava invited me to my very first fencing match – against my teacher of course! He definitely let me get a few jabs in, but overall I think I did a pretty good job for my first day.

Check out the lesson and the bonus match footage here »

I had a great time trying fencing, and I recommend it to anyone who’s looking to get a great cardio & strength-building workout, but doesn’t want to hit the same boring old gym machines. I can’t wait for my next lesson, and if you try it out, lemme know how it goes in the comments below!

Hugs,

Desi