Getting 'En Garde' with the Yellow Jacket Fencing Club

Of the many Georgia Tech sports clubs, the Yellow Jacket Fencing Club (YJFC) is the only one where sword blades are considered standard pieces of equipment.

Although fencing is not as dangerous as it looks, the appeal of the weapons is what tends to grab people’s attention.

“It’s a really unusual sport,” said Dalton Mulkey, a first-year aerospace engineering student who started fencing this year. “Anyone who has seen it wants to try it.”

Established in 2004, the Yellow Jacket Fencing Club now has more than 40 members and participates in 10 tournaments a year. The club practices and competes in all three weapon categories: foil, epee, and sabre.

During the semester, the YJFC travels to tournaments throughout the Southeast. In March, YJFC hosts its own annual tournament, the Yellow Jacket Fencing Open. Fencers of all levels are encouraged to participate. This year, around one-third of the YJFC fencers are beginners.

“Fencing is a unique sport in that you don’t necessarily have to be athletic to compete,” said Matt Bernstein, secretary of YJFC. “It’s as much of a mental game as it is physical. Patience, dedication, and practice are what make good fencers.”

The Yellow Jacket Fencing Club also gives its members the chance to develop skills aside from fencing.

“You have the opportunity to get involved with the club outside of fencing practices,” said Susanna Dong, YJFC vice president. “For example, you can join the armory committee and learn how to fix weapons, or join the social committee and plan club bonding events.”

The YJFC welcomes new fencers at anytime of the year, offering free lessons and providing equipment at no cost. The fencing club practices on the fourth floor of the Campus Recreation Center on Tuesdays from 9-11 p.m., Thursdays from 8-10 p.m., Fridays from 6-8 p.m., and Sundays from 3-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.yellowjacketfencing.com or email yjfencing@gmail.com.