Points West Fencing Center

After an unpleasant rail journey with a carriage of football supporters returning from a match and a conversation with another female fencer prompted the subject of ‘toxic masculinity’!

As female fencers we agreed we had developed a confidence via a sport that placed us in a position to train and compete with male fencers. We recognised we had to use tactics and skill over strength and size to win but why do clubs and their coaches still embed a culture of power play and ego rather than skill and tactics? What tools are female fencers gaining to survive the toxic masculinity in and out of the salle?

But how can this negative experience as a female opponent be of benefit to the men?

This is On-Guard Sister’s guide to self defence for better training of male fencers!

The sport of fencing and martial arts in general, have good models of strength, authority and confidence. This can help all participants psychologically, socially, and culturally.

1. Redefining what “strength” looks like.

Toxic masculinity often equates strength with domination, aggression, and emotional suppression.
Fencing:
• Value control over brute force
• Reward timing, precision, adaptability, and intelligence
• Show that effectiveness ≠ size, loudness, or intimidation
This allows women to demonstrate that competence and authority can be calm, skilled, and measured.

2. Embodied confidence (not performative confidence)
Many women are taught to look confident without being allowed to feel powerful.
Through physical practice:
• Confidence becomes felt in the body, not just spoken
• Women experience what it’s like to set boundaries and have them respected
• Authority is earned through skill and consistency, not permission
This kind of confidence is hard to undermine.

3. Normalising women in leadership and authority
Toxic masculinity thrives when leadership is seen as inherently male.

In fencing:
• Female coaches, referees, and instructors’ model non-dominant authority
• Respect comes from expertise, not intimidation
• Girls and women see themselves as legitimate leaders early on

This cultural shift needs embedding in all those who govern the sport with practical delivery and not hollow strategies!

4. Healthy confrontation, not avoidance
Toxic masculinity often frames conflict as either:
• Violence
• Or total avoidance

Combat sports teach a third way:
• Boundaries, rule-based confrontation
• Mutual consent and respect
• Clear consequences and accountability

Women learn they don’t need to shrink or explode—they can engage directly and safely.

5. Reclaiming salles without apology
Women are often socialised to:
• Minimise their physical presence
• Talked over by male colleagues
• Be “nice” rather than assertive

Fencing:
• Require occupying space intentionally
• Reward assertive movement and decision-making
• Teach women that presence is not aggression
This directly counters the narrative that women must be small to be acceptable.

6. Breaking the myth of male physical superiority
Toxic masculinity leans heavily on the idea that men are naturally better fighters.
Skill-based combat sports show:
• Technique beats strength
• Training beats entitlement
• Adaptability beats ego

When women win exchanges—especially against male opponents—it exposes that myth without needing argument.

7. Teaching emotional regulation, not suppression
Toxic masculinity often suppresses emotion until it leaks out as anger.

Martial disciplines teach:
• Managing fear, frustration, and adrenaline
• Staying present under pressure
• Recovering after mistakes without shame

Women gain emotional resilience without becoming hardened or disconnected.

8. Empowerment without becoming “masculine”
Crucially, fencing and martial arts do not require women to adopt masculine behaviours to be powerful.

They allow:
• Feminine, neutral, and nonbinary expressions of strength
• Compassion and competitiveness to coexist
• Power that is relational, ethical, and skilled

In short:
Fencing can help women challenge toxic masculinity by not fighting it but transforming it!

And how does this help the guys?
Simple – RESPECT YOUR OPPONENT AS THEY WILL BE YOUR GREATEST TEACHER!

This Girl Can British Fencing England Fencing

We're back at the Cliffs Of Insanity for our third and final look at fencing references in the beloved classic, "The Princess Bride"!

Man In Black: But I find Thibault cancels out Capo Ferro, don't you?

Inigo Montoya: Unless the enemy has studied his Agrippa, which I have!

Camillo Agrippa (1520–1600) was a noted fencer, architect, engineer and mathematician of the Renaissance, credited with being one of the greatest fencing theorists of all time. In his treatise "On the Science of Arms with Philosophical Dialogue", he proposed dramatic changes to the way swordsmanship was practiced at the time. He emphasized the effectiveness of holding the sword in front of the body, and simplified the eleven guard positions down to four: prima, seconda, terza and quarta. These roughly correspond to the hand positions still used today in the Italian school of fencing.

Agrippa emphasized defensive tactics and logic above techniques that he deemed over-stylized. Since he was a master of the short sword, it's reasonable to believe he was quite knowledgeable about “closing distance”.

Agrippa was a contemporary of Michelangelo, and the two may have been acquainted (or so Agrippa claims in his later works). Some of the copperplate engravings for Agrippa's book have been attributed to Michelangelo, but this is disputed by modern-day art historians.

So there you have it! Our breakdown of the famous movie duel from The Princess Bride. If you haven't yet tried fencing, we'd love to get you started! ! Text us at 704-207-3339 or email [email protected] to reserve your FREE trial class today! We can't wait to share our love of the sport and make victory against you..."inconceivable!" 😄

Let's return to the Cliffs Of Insanity to explore our next fencing reference from the movie, The Princess Bride:

Inigo Montoya: Naturally, you must expect me to attack with Capo Ferro.

Man In Black: Naturally. But I find Thibault cancels out Capo Ferro, don't you?

"Capo Ferro" refers to the Italian fencing master Ridolfo Capo Ferro da Cagli, best known for developing a linear style of fencing. He's credited with popularizing a powerful attack still in use today. But these days, we simply call it the lunge.

His treatise "Great Representation of the Art and Use of Fencing" was printed in 1610, and is divided into two parts: Art and Practice. Appropriately enough for Princess Bride fans, it also includes tactics for fencing a left-handed opponent.

"Thibault" refers to Gérard Thibault of Antwerp, whose 1628 manual "Academie de l'Espée" advocates the use of upright postures, walking steps instead of lunges, and non-linear footwork.

So would Thibault cancel out Capo Ferro? Clearly the Man In Black believed his use of higher ground and angulation on attack gave him an added measure of protection against linear thrusts like a lunge. This might be helpful atop a cliff, but is more limited in effectiveness on today's regulation strips.

Next time, we'll explore the reference to "Agrippa" as the battle atop the Cliffs rages on. Until then, study and practice to make victory against you "inconceivable!" 🙂 If you haven't tried fencing yet, we'd love to get you started! Text us at 704-207-3339 or email [email protected] to reserve your FREE trial class today!

Ever wondered about the fencing references in the movie "The Princess Bride"? We're here to help! Let's take a look at this exchange:

Inigo Montoya: You are using Bonetti’s Defense against me, ah?

Man in Black: I thought it fitting considering the rocky terrain.

“Bonetti’s Defense” refers to the Italian swordmaster Rocco Bonetti, who established a “School of Arms” in London in 1576.

We can't be sure how Bonetti really fenced. However, there is a tale called "The Waterman’s Story” in which Bonetti rashly drew his weapon and was promptly belted by the oar of the waterman. Bonetti lost this fight, but apparently learned from his mistake. He is credited with developing a cautious and defensive fencing form, which might prevent a fencer from the fatal blunder of attacking from an uneven, unpredictable surface (such as "rocky terrain").

Next time we'll explore the Capa Ferro, Thibault and Agrippa references. Until then, continue to study and practice to make victory against you..."inconceivable!" 🙂 If you haven't tried fencing yet, we'd love to get you started! Text us at 704-207-3339 or email [email protected] to reserve your FREE trial class today!

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