Stowarzyszenie Idokan Polska

Summary

Human beings from prehistory times were forced to fight – against nature, animals, and other people. Hence, the necessity to have weapons and to know how to use them. The weapons change from very primitive ones (stones, pieces of wood) to more complicated (axes, arches, lances, swords, rapiers, epeés and so on). Humans had to learn how to use various weapons and this is the origin of fencing. Fencing is a bout between two armed men with the desire to hit one’s opponent and to avoid being hit oneself. So, it was necessary to develop energy abilities (strength, speed and endurance) and co-ordination abilities (motor learning ability, skilful execution of movements) and tactical abilities (appropriate choice of action). The ways of fighting and training today make fencing a very modern, complicated sport, developing energy abilities, coordination, speed and accuracy of perception, various aspects of attention, many sensory-motor skills (fencing actions), the appropriate kind and level of motivation and arousal. Fencing nowadays is only a sport and not a preparation for duel or war.