Olympics
En garde! Jeff Hogan learns fencing at Durham facility
WRAL anchor/reporter Jeff Hogan went to the only fencing facility in Durham to learn more about the unique sport.
If you previously used a social network to login to WRALSportsFan.com, click the “Forgot your password” link to reset your password.
WRAL anchor/reporter Jeff Hogan went to the only fencing facility in Durham to learn more about the unique sport.
HERE IN DURUM. >> WE GOT THIS NEXT STORY BECAUSE FENCING IS ONE OF THE SPORTS THAT THE DECEASED BITE IN INTEREST AROUND EVERYONE AROUND THE OLYMPICS. YOU MAY WANT MORE INFORMATION BEFORE YOU DECIDE ON A NEW HOBBY. >> SOLICIT JEFF HOGAN OUT TO GET SOME HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE. HE JOINS US LIVE FROM RESEARCH TRIANGLE FENCING, ALL GEARED UP AND READY TO GO. LOOKING GOOD THERE, JEFF. >> HEY, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION, AND SANG AS FELIX CAME AROUND. I WILL TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL AGES AND ALL OVER THE AREA COME TO THIS FACILITY IN DURUM TO LEARN THE SELECT EXPORT AND TO GET A LIMP BIG LEVEL TRAINING. THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SUCCESS OR FAILURE. ISN'T THAT HOW IT GOES IN AN INDIVIDUAL SPORT? REGARDLESS OF YOUR ABILITY, WHEN YOU FIRST START OUT AND YOU ARE LEARNING THE SPORT, EVERYBODY HAS TO LEARN FROM SCRATCH. EVERYBODY IS HOPING THAT THEY MAKE SURE TO GET THE POINT. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MASK UP. THIS MANDATORY MASK, WE DON'T MIND WEARING. >> THIS IS A RETREAT AND THIS IS IN ADVANCE. >> THE REMIT OF THE STANCES THAT NO OTHER SPORT COMPARES. >> AND FENCING, EVERY SINGLE BUT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IS AT THE BEGINNING. >> REALLY QUICK DECISION- MAKING. IF YOU ATTACK ME, I'M GOING TO DEFEND USING MY WEAPON AND THEN GO AND HIT YOU. >> I JUST CAME ON TWO FEET, BUT AT FULL SPEED AND WITH SWORDS. >> THAT'S IT. NOW YOU HAVE THE IDEA. >> VISIBLY INCLUDES THREE WITNESS, WE ARE USING A FOYIL. NFA, THE WHOLE BODY IS. WITH THE SABER, YOU CAN HIT THE HEAD. IN THE BATTLE, THE GOOD ONES MAKE IT LOOK EFFORTLESS. THEY ARE MOVING SO FAST IN THEIR TECHNICAL SKILLS ARE SO GOOD THAT WHEN YOU WATCH IT, IT LOOKS INCREDIBLY EASY. IT LOOKS INCREDIBLY ADAPTABLE. >> SHE GOT ME RIGHT THERE. >> THAT SAID, THE GAME IS ENDLESSLY HUMBLING AND CHALLENGING. >> YOU WILL SLEEP WELL TONIGHT. >> YES, I WILL SLEEP WELL TONIGHT. THE THING ABOUT FENCING IS IT IS SO INTERESTING. IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S POOL PLAY OR GROUP PLAY? YOU CAN WORK YOURSELF THROUGH. THIS IS NO SECOND CHANCES. YOU GET YOUR DOG, YOU PRESS AGAINST PEOPLE. IF YOU LOSE FIRST MAGIC OR ALL THE WAY TO GO, YOU GO HOME. I'M GOING HOME, GUYS. >> JEFF, I SAW YOU KICKER LET OUT A LITTLE BIT THERE. IS THAT A PENALTY? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT HAPPENS? >> LISTEN, AS LONG AS I STAY IN THE STRIP. THE GRACEFULNESS OF WHAT I AM DOING HERE YOU CAN'T LEARN IN ONE SESSION. I WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AND GET SOME MORE LESSONS. BUT THE RULES ARE SIMPLE. YOU MAKE A TOUCH WITH THE FOIL, IT LIGHTS UP AND YOU GET THE POINT. A SABER IS DIFFERENT, WE EXPLAINED THAT. IT IS SO FUN AND SO FAST. IT IS REALLY TIRING. >> JEFF, YOU PLAYED FOOTBALL IN COLLEGE WE HAD AT FOOTWORK GOING ALL THE TIME. WAS IT A LITTLE SIMILAR THERE? >> YOU HAVE TO BE NIMBLE. YOU HAVE TO BE QUICK ON YOUR FEET AND NIBBLE. MORE SO, IT IS HAVING A STRONG ROCK. THAT IS WHAT -- HAVING A STRONG TRUNK IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT. YOU HAVE TO BE SO PRECISE AND SO NIMBLE WITH THE SWORD, THAT IS HOW IT WORKS. IT'S A WONDERFUL SPORT.