Not if done properly. Although executed with appreciable energy a good clean fencing attack hurts no more than a tap on the shoulder, the force of the blow is normally absorbed by the flex of the blade. Reckless and overly aggressive fencers can occasionally deliver painful blows however, fencing is a martial art, so you should expect minor bruises and welts every now and then. These are rarely intentional.

The most painful blows tend to come from inexperienced fencers who have not yet acquired the feel of the weapon. The primary source of injury in fencing (as in most sports) is from strained muscles and joints. Proper warm-up and stretching before fencing will minimize these occurrences. Here at Fighting Fit we ensure that a group warm up regime is followed by any fencer before being allowed to participate in any fencing.

Last updated on 2007-10-20 by Fighting Fit Fencing