Texas City Fencing
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Fencing is one of the fastest-growing activities along the Texas Gulf Coast. The Gulf Coast Division of the USFA (United States Fencing Association, the national governing body for the sport) is the sixth largest in the United States.
In addition to many in Houston, there are fencing clubs in Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Seabrook and Lake Jackson. There is some discussion of creating another club in Friendswood.
In the Texas City-LaMarque area, the College of the Mainland has occasionally made fencing an offering of their series of Continuing Education classes. This is generally based on public request. To contact them and ask about potential fencing classes, call 409-938-1211, ext. 586 or 1-888-258-8859, ext. 264.
Introductory Material
The sport of fencing is divided into three distinct disciplines: Foil; Epee; and, Sabre.
These "weapons" have neither edges nor points, but are bouted as if they did. The target areas, conventions of right-of-way and the available actions vary from one weapon to another. A more detailed look at this can be found on the WEAPONS page.
In spite of its martial arts heritage, or perhaps because of it, fencing is one of the safest sports practiced. Classes regularly feature time for stretching and warming up. The safety and protective requirements of the weapons, masks and jackets employed are regulated by the national governing body, the USFA, and are enforced. (How many sports do you know of with a metallurgical section in their rules book?)
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Healthy & Exciting
You can start at 6 or 66. Fencing has something to offer every age group and every personality type. It is both physical and a very mental game. Fencing competitions are also often segregated by age groups and genders.
By no means a male-only activity, many tournaments feature "mixed" competitions, in which men and women fence each other. American women took both gold and bronze medals in Women's sabre at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
A Fencing Legacy
While fencing faded from the Texas City area in recent decades, it had a robust history. In the late 1940s and into the 1950s, William T. "Bill" Brown was one of the most formidable fencers in Texas, frequently taking top honors at local and regional meets. When the Gulf Coast Division of the USFA (the national governing body for fencing) was formed, he was its first Chairman.
Early in 1954, he was the victim of an automobile accident which eventually ended his career, yet before he hung up his mask, he took first place in the Franks Memorial Sabre Tournament, for years one of the most prestigious sabre competitions in Texas.
Another leading force in Texas fencing in the 1950s, Jack Baird, was a fixture in the Texas City-LaMarque area as an employee of the old Chemical Carbide Company. In addition to being a regular competitor and frequent victor in area tournament, he taught fencing in the 1950s at both the Galveston YWCA and the Texas City Recreation Hall.
By the mid-1950s, the Franks Memorial was being held in Texas City as often as in Galveston.
By the late 1950s and early 1960s Jack Baird was often the Chair of the Gulf Coast Division and another Texas City resident, Ed Gause, was Secretary. During this era, Galveston County was a focus and leader in fencing.
