Fencing instructor brings medieval sport to 21st-century students
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Shrewsbury - The Advanced Math and Science Academy (AMSA) opened its doors in 2005 with the goal of providing students the mathematical, scientific and technological information and skills they need to be successful in an ever-changing world.

While students spend the bulk of their time learning what's at the forefront of these fields, one hour a week is spent being transported back several centuries - via the school's fencing program. The sport dates back to the ancient Egyptians.

Jack Mullarkey has been fencing for 45 years and competed internationally, including in 10 world championships, before becoming a fencing coach 20 years ago. He said he loves seeing the advancements students can make in a short period of time in a sport he describes as a physical game of chess.

"You can't just sit there and react to what comes at you," Mullarkey said. "It's all about strategy, both defensive and off ensive, and planning out two or three moves ahead, while acting it out in splitsecond timing."

Although it's fairly popular overseas, fencing has not caught on as much with Americans as other sports for one simple reason - television. And while the sport may have ancient roots, Mullarkey said, it's technology that will really bring it to the masses in the United States.

MELISSA MUNTZ Advanced Math and Science Academy Fencing Coach Jack Mullarkey walks his team through a new technique Jan. 18 during practice.

"It's always moving so fast that no one can follow it, but they're beginning to find ways to slow it down and magnify the movements so they can televise matches," he said, "at which point people will be able to understand and want to try the sport."

Mullarkey works with the students on their speed, balance, footwork and hand movements, while dropping in random historic fencing facts as they practice.

Some of Mullarkey's students said they have done more research on how fencing originated on their own, and that the idea of fencing existing for centuries before them is a lot of the sport's appeal.

"I'm really interested in medieval stuff like knights and kings, and they all fenced, so it's pretty cool to do it, too," sixth-grader Tara Shivkumar said. "Plus I like the satisfaction of winning when I fence my friends because it's really fun and we know it's just fencing and not our friendship on the line."

For sixth-grader Vince Weaver, the best thing about fencing is the idea of perpetuating a sport that many people may have forgotten about otherwise.

"If no one did it anymore then it would become unheard of, so I'm really glad to help continue the tradition," he said.

And still others have a different interest in fencing.

"Stabbing people is fun because you get to lunge at them," sixth-grader Curran Kalia said. "But it's even more fun because no one really gets hurt."

No matter what their motivation, Mullarkey said, he's just thankful that people are beginning to pay closer attention to a sport that has meant so much to him.

"It's one of the five original modern Olympic games and there's been talk of eliminating it because if you can't air it on television, then you can't get the ad revenue from commercials," he said. "But there has always been a fight to keep it because it's such an important event."

Right now Mullarkey has more than 20 students on his team and hopes they may begin competing as early as next year. Because fencing teams are rare finds at the high school level, he said, they would probably be competing with freshman college students.