The clash of cold steel. The thrill of the duel. Men in crisp white breeches prancing around on their tippy-toes. En-garde, pret, allez! Ahhhh… the romance of fencing. Makes one recall d’Artagnan and his band of Musketeers, penned by that swishiest of swashbucklers, Alexandre Dumas.
But wait! Hasn’t this sport of aristocracy gone extinct with the dinosaurs? With the modern era being pretty much dominated by high octane sports, how does the more dandy pursuit of fencing fit in? And more importantly, are there really men in breeches among us today who remain charmed by the fantasy of the foil and all that “knight-life”?
“Hahaha, yeah, it’s all that Count of Monte Cristo (also penned by Monsieur Dumas) and The Three Musketeers stuff that charmed me,” exclaims Badroel Rizwan Bahar, eyes dancing with mirth as he parries my badly concealed incredulity about the relevance of his favourite pursuit.
His eyes travelling beyond the glass window of the modest room that we’re in, eventually resting on his three young sons who are still in the midst of their training, the father of four adds: “I guess it’s just me trying to relive that romance through the kids!”
Chuckling heartily, Badroel confides that growing up, he remembers enjoying hours of fun swishing around sticks and twigs with his friends as they engaged in mock sword fights or “main pedang”. “And of course we used to read books about The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. I just thought it was so cool all that sword fighting stuff!”
The affable 43-year-old has been involved in the sport of fencing for about a year. But his three sons, Umar Zafran, 14, Uzair Zafran, 11, and Rayyan Zafran, 10, have been wielding the epee (light sword with triangular blade and large handguard) and foil (sword with a rectangular blade) for a lot longer.
His eldest, Umar, got into the sport at the age of six. He’s now 14. Elaborates Badroel: “When the younger brothers started to get involved, I found that a lot of my time was being spent at the club waiting for the kids to finish their classes. So rather than just sitting around and killing time by reading newspapers and talking to other parents, and more so when they started to do it competitively, I decided that I might as well join in.”
Badroel’s second son, Uzair got the fencing bug at the age of 7. “Rayyan was the late bloomer,” confides Badroel, before adding: “He didn’t really want to do what his brothers were doing. He was more into chess. But when he saw that they were travelling so much for tournaments, he decided that he also wanted to be a part of the scene!”
Today, thanks to fencing, father and sons bond through their shared passion.
LURE OF THE SWORD
The sport of fencing, which has evolved from the days of duels, first blood and the traditions of sabre-wielding cavalry, remains thrilling, exclaims Badroel, a senior technical sales manager for a Norwegian oil and gas company. “You get to dig into your inherent warrior spirit! But of course, it’s all acted out in a safe environment la… not like those days!”
Despite its rather blunt-looking tip, the sword is actually pretty lethal, he says. Pointing to his well-covered arms under his pristine white jacket, Badroel shares: “Despite having all these layers, I have bruises on my arms thanks to the (sword) tip. My kids have plenty on their arms too.”
Of all the sports that he could have gotten his children into, why did he choose fencing, I couldn’t help asking. “We didn’t actually plan for them to pursue it to this level,” replies Badroel, before explaining that his sons are actively involved in other sports too.
Eldest son Umar plays football for his school, while brother Uzair has represented the Bangsar district in handball. Meanwhile, only two months ago, Rayyan was a silver medallist at a football tournament for the Under 9’s. Youngest son, Rais, 6, adds Badroel, pride lacing his voice, has already started fencing classes.
Continuing, he shares: “When Umar first started school, one of the options for his extra-curricular activities was fencing. We thought it might be interesting for him to try something different.”
Today, Umar and Uzair (foil) are members of Blade Fencing club in Kuala Lumpur and train four times a week, while Rayyan (epee) has classes twice a week. Meanwhile, both high-flying dad and mum take turns to ensure that the boys are well organised, re-jigging their respective work schedules to accommodate their children’s fencing schedules.
“My wife Munirah and I have never forced them into this,” confides Badroel. “They wanted to do it. It was their coaches that encouraged us to consider getting them into competitive fencing rather than just do it for recreation. They told us not to limit ourselves to only Malaysia as the pool is very small. So we started going to Thailand, Singapore and even Hong Kong for competitions. Ultimately, we’re just here to support.”
Asked whether it has been taxing on the wallet to see through three children in the sport, Badroel smiles before replying wiltingly: “You see this blade? Uzair just broke it. So we’re going to have to get a new one. It’ll cost me RM200; cheaper because it’s a China-made one. For competitions, we need to go for higher quality swords. That might cost between RM600 and RM800 depending on the size.” (Incidentally, in case anyone is interested, a whole set, including gear and equipment, will set you back close to RM1000.)
His dream for his children is simple, adds the doting father. “We want to take them as far as they can go. Perhaps one day they can emulate the successes enjoyed by their own coaches, i.e. go to the Olympics.”
Umar and Uzair have been actively competing in various tournaments – both at home and abroad - and enjoyed numerous successes, shares the proud father. Meanwhile, Rayyan, the so-called late bloomer has been doing well too despite having just entered the sport a mere eight months ago. In fact, his recent tournament in Singapore saw him come home with a bronze medal.
Continuing, Badroel, who also serves as the vice president of the Federal Territory Amateur Fencing Association (FTAFA,) tells me that some competitions are organised by the Malaysian Fencing Federation as well as state associations. Unfortunately, he adds, it’s still not enough and the pool of fencers remains small.
“People get the impression that it’s an elite and expensive sport. But it’s not. Myself personally, via the association, and others are trying to remove that stigma,” he shares, continuing: “At this club we have a CSR programme where we tie up with an orphanage at Paya Jaras, Sg Buloh. The kids come here once a week and we teach them fencing for free.”
Also, via FTAFA, fencing gears which have been outgrown by the members are collected and subsequently donated to the orphanage kids. Explains Badroel: “The programme has been going on for more than a year. And we’re starting to see progress. Some of the kids from the orphanage have reached a point where the coaches feel confident enough to send them for competitions. So we at the club chip in for their expenses.”
BONDING WITH FAMILY
Travelling together for competitions is great opportunity to bond with the children, confides Badroel.
Although it’s not always possible for the whole family to go all the time, one of the parents will always be there.
“Sometimes the mother will go, sometimes I will. Or we both will, work permitting. We take the opportunity to get to know them better and at the same time teach them good values. Especially when they don’t do well.”
Taking his eldest son Umar as example, Badroel shares: “Umar is stubborn. When he loses, he takes it really hard. He might throw a “tantrum” initially, like maybe throw his equipment. How we console him is based on our understanding of his character. And that’s applicable to our other children too as everyone has their own character traits.”
Whatever the case, Badroel, the third of seven siblings, shares that it’s through their participation in these tournaments — and losing — that they get to learn about the reality of life. That it can sometimes be unfair.
Voice low, he says: “It’s unfortunate that we have to share this reality with them so early in their life but they need to learn to accept that you can’t control everything sometimes. You just need to do the best you can within your own capabilities.”
If there’s one thing that Badroel (and wife Munirah) emphasise most upon when it comes to their children, it’s the value of respect. “Whether it’s to your elders, your family, your coaches, your teachers or friends. And from my own father, I learnt the importance of really knowing who your family members are and ensuring that bonds are strengthened and renewed always – and that includes extended families. I remember my father used to (and continues to do so) drag all of us kids to visit ALL his family members, even those living in the nooks of the kampung!”
Modern day fatherhood isn’t easy, surmises Badroel, wistfully. “Back then, the only distraction we had was our friends asking us to go outside to play with them in the padang (field) or something. We had our own small world, protected from the reality of life. And it was a safer world.”
Brows furrowing, he laments that with technology at their fingertips, kids today have been forced to grow up too fast. “And without yet reaching the maturity to handle all these issues,” says Badroel, before concluding softly: “But you know what? We do what we can. Being able to be a big part of our children’s world, like through fencing, has definitely brought us closer together as a family.”
DEVELOPMENT OF FENCING INTO A SPORT
FENCING was a popular form of staged entertainment in 16th- and 17th-century England. It was also considered a fashionable form of martial art.
The shift towards fencing as a sport rather than as military training occurred from the mid-18th century, led by Domenico Angelo, who established a fencing academy, Angelo's School of Arms, in Carlisle House, Soho, London in 1763.
There, he taught the aristocracy the fashionable art of swordsmanship which they’d previously had to go the continent to learn, and also set up a riding school in the former rear garden of the house.
He was fencing instructor to the Royal Family. With the help of artist Gwyn Delin, he had an instruction book published in England in 1763 which had 25 engraved plates demonstrating classic positions from the old schools of fencing.
His school was run by three generations of his family and dominated the art of European fencing for almost a century.
Angelo established the essential rules of posture and footwork that still govern modern day fencing, although his attacking and parrying methods were very different from current practice.
Although he intended to prepare his students for real combat, he was the first fencing master to emphasise the health and sporting benefits of fencing rather than just as a killing art.
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Angelo was the first to emphasise fencing as a means of developing health, poise, and grace. As a result of his insight and influence, fencing changed from an art of war to a sport."
(Source: Wikipedia)