Taking the Blade

	Mariel Zagunis

It all started with the Olympics a few years ago.

In Athens in 2004, an American captured the gold in fencing for the first time in almost 100 years.

Fencing in the U.S. had already been growing in popularity, but the sight of Mariel Zagunis winning the gold medal in women's sabre caught the attention of enthusiasts nationwide.

Fencing has traditionally held its spot as an elitist sport.

But it certainly has broadened its appeal in the past 20 years -- although in the U.S., fencing has a long way to go before it can equal basketball or football as a sport of the masses.

Not only does fencing offer an incredible workout, but it truly is a sport to be enoyed by people of all ages.

Today, the Fencers Club -- the oldest continuously running fencing club in the country, founded by members of New York City high society 123 years ago -- has not only been joined in its ranks by organizations from unexpected places but has expanded and evolved its own membership, says club chairman of the board James Melcher.

Let's Get Physical

"It draws you in like almost nothing else does," explains Melcher. Both he and Ben Price, the coach of the Baton Rouge Fencing Club, tout the physical benefits of the sport.

Price took up fencing while attending high school in Switzerland. He was on the ski team, and in order to train in the off-season, he and his teammates were given a choice -- they could run up the mountain in ski boots, or they could fence.

Understandably, Price chose fencing, and while he no longer skis, the fencing has remained an integral part of his fitness routine.

Fencing is both aerobic and anaerobic exercise, it strengthens the back and leg muscles, and it increases agility.

"Fencers are among the top four or five conditioned athletes in the world," Melcher points out.

Mental benefits may be harder to measure, but fencing devotees swear by them.

Good fencers have to be able to make strategic decisions in literally thousandths of a second.

"Your mind has to be very actively engaged in what you're doing, while you're sweating bullets," says Melcher, who has been fencing for 47 years.

He claims fencing has helped him maintain not only physical but mental acuity. "I run a hedge fund. I've got to stay sharp," he explains.