"Yeah, but when will I use fencing in real life?"

Brilliant stuff today, great for the novice and experienced fencer alike.Occasionally, when I talk to someone about fencing the conversation turns to applicability outside the salle. "It's just good for killing people with a sword. What are you going to do when you don't have your sword?"There's so much wrong with that (besides the grammar).We practice a martial art and the teachings of that art can inform and improve our lives in just about any way that our bodies are involved. Academie Duello co-founder and friend Randy wrote a post on his blog recently that inspired me to talk about how swordplay has enriched my life (outside of pure fun).

Certainly the biggest change has been in my body-awareness - in my posture in particular and how it needed to be improved (and continues to improve). I find myself relying on that awareness everywhere, from reading, to riding on the bus (porta di ferro is great for that), to riding my bike, to screaming down a mountain on skiis.

It's also taught me to look approach problems challenges that occur in my life. How to exam them rationally and develop a way to overcome them.

That's only 2 things it's done for me.

How has the art we practice affected you? Leave your comments or just think about it in your head.