The sport of fencing combines the best of physical and mental fitness, something that 11-year-old Anousheh Reid has been doing quite successfully.
The Watchung resident recently returned from the U.S. National Fencing Championships in St. Louis as the gold medal winner of the Women’s Epee Division for her age group.
Anousheh and her sister Sobia, 13, have been fencing for six years, the past three competitively. Sobia also performed well at the St. Louis event, placing 36th of 172 competitors in the 14 and under category.
There are three forms of fencing: Epee, Foil and Sabre, each of which uses a different type of weapon and has different rules. The Reid girls compete in Epee, the only one in which the entire body is the valid target area. It takes a lot of discipline and practice.
“There is a lot of patiently nudging your opponent back and forward, trying to trick them into making a mistake so you can attack,” said Michael Reid, their father. “(Epee) is often referred to as ‘physical chess’ because of the mental strategy involved.”
The girls spend about four days a week at the Medeo Fencing Club in Bridgewater, about 10-12 hours a week, plus tournaments every second week or so. While there are local and regional tournaments throughout the year, there are two major national events on the youth calendar. Besides winning gold at the National Championships, Anousheh also took gold at this year’s North American Cup, which was held in Baltimore in March.
Anousheh and Sobia are focusing on fencing now, but they have also trained in gymnastics at Surgent’s Elite in Westfield and Taekwondo in Warren.
Anousheh was a student at Oak Knoll in Summit but will start sixth grade in September at Newark Academy, where Sobia is already a student.
The Medeo Fencing Club, at 783 East Main St., in Bridgewater has beginner, intermediate and advanced programs. It requires all participants to wear the full uniform while fencing, including knickers, jacket and underarm protector. For more information, contact medeofencing.com or call 732-469-2244.
(above) Anousheh Reid with one of her fencing coaches, Yakov Danilenko.
Photo courtesy of Michael Reid
