Fencing is sport, as well as healthful excercise, building confidence as it engenders friendships. Our Arizona club, Salle d'Escrime, has a hall in the Prescott Racquet Club, nestled among stately Ponderosas bordering the National Forest. We are fortunate indeed to have as our coach the Arizona state representative to the USFA, Mrs. Patricia Waples.
 

From the looks of things, the popularity of fencing will continue to grow. Movies influence public interest and swashbuckling films like The Three Musketeers, By the Sword, The Fencing Master and so many others, have started many a fencer on a lifetime of fun, historical re-enactments and healthful exercise. And swordsport will doubtless benefit from the new James Bond film starring Pierce Brosnan and Madonna; she plays a fencing instructor and Bond has a swordfight with the villain!  We reckon our little salle will host some new students.
 

 
But let's hope fencing's popularity doesn't change it too much. There are those fencers who long for celebrity and spectators, craving their fifteen minutes of fame before TV's cycloptean eye. This cabal favors foolishness like colored uniforms with lightning streaks down the legs, sponsor patches and Dr. Seuss stripes on their stockings, the NASCAR look come to fencing. Some ego deficiency in them begs the applause of an audience; they fence for the wrong reasons and many need the services of a coach like Pat Waples to bring them down to earth and back to the principles and fundamentals of fencing. All change is not progress and dazzle is no substitute for good form.