Profile: an exert from:

‘Blade Runner’

Gordon Beveridge takes on a martial arts fencing master and narrowly escapes with his life.

‘David Lloyd Lifestyle’, Summer 2000

Salle d’Armes… is a form of fencing with its roots in a period of French history when gentlemanly disagreements and point of honour were settled with a duel to the death… A course of lessons begins with familiarising yourself with the feel of the foil in your hand before moving on to more complex bladework.

And although no-one is suggesting that you actually use what you learn at the Salle d’Armes school for the purpose it was originally intended, it does give it a satisfyingly genuine feel.

It’s not just the realism that appeals; fencing is a surprisingly physical pursuit — and it sure beats hours on the treadmill. After only a few minutes of bladework I am sweating heavily as Erez effortlessly pursues me, inflicting strike after strike on my goatskin body armour. If this had been a real duel, my participation in it would already be over.

"There are three types of fencing," asserts Erez. " The most popular is sporting fencing — what you see in the competitions. Then you have those who teach what they think was taught in the old days for performance — for theatre and cinema. What you see in the cinema is more like choreography than anything else. And what do I teach? It’s a martial art."…

So, it is the spiritual side to fencing which interests Erez, its habit of forcing you to look at yourself, and he acknowledges the skill of his ancestors. "At the beginning of the century, fencing was about strategy and psychology, using strategy to outwit an opponent. The sport of fencing has gone the same way that tennis has gone, it’s just very powerful, very fast."

As a result, Erez feels that "most masters today have lost the vocabulary, the complexity and strategy", and his brand of fencing aims to revive those core values.

But what of his students? What do they gain from his classes? "People get into fencing for different reasons," he says. "Perhaps they want more confidence, or more graceful movements. I have a student who came initially to keep fit and to clear her mind. And she gets that. She travels here from the city and she’s tranquil, she gets fit."

Another student… is clear about why he practices the art. "It’s a physical challenge and also one of wit. In trying to master such a complex system you are working on two levels: the physical and the mental — it teaches self- discipline."

The Zen-like design of the school makes for the perfect backdrop to the mental and physical exertion required to practice this unusual martial art, the deft flashing of blades contrasting with the serenity of the surroundings… try it if you dare.