Renaissance sword fighters descend on senior center

Capes flew, swords clashed and gallant words filled the Douglas County Senior Center last week.

Nine costumed students from Sierra Crest Academy's Renaissance class performed four rounds of theatrical fencing for a group of seniors eating lunch on Dec. 10.

Sierra Crest teacher Steve Klekar explained that the charter school's Renaissance physical education course consists of 17th century sword fighting, traditional long-bow archery, European quarterstaff and Portuguese stick fighting, or Jogo Do Pau.

"Our students are allowed to pick something that interests them, and a lot are interested in the Renaissance," Klekar said. "It's a lot of fun for them and a place where math, history and science collide."

But let not the commoner be fooled. The Renaissance class is also about physical education.

"If you can do Jogo Do Pau for five minutes, then you are in good shape," Klekar said.

"Fencing is not exactly fighting," said 13-year-old eighth-grader Ashaley Starr, who was dressed in what she called a "basic garb dress," including a corset, fluff-ruffled sleeves, gloves and a clamshell sword. "You learn to control your emotions and how hard you hit."

Junior Christopher Cloninger, nicknamed Poncho, is the guard captain. He was dressed in English-style riding boots, blue breeches, a blue cape, and matching black-leather belt, vest and silver-studded gloves.

"This takes a lot of skill," he said. "I love swords and of course to dress up."

Klekar reminisced with audience members about classic Errol Flynn films.

"Like you, I grew up with the swashbucklers," he said. "That's what we're attempting to recreate."

Cloninger and classmate Holly Atwood described four styles of fencing: Italian, Spanish, German and Scottish.

The Italian style, Cloninger said, resembles Olympic fencing with "a lot of slash and bash."

In contrast, Spanish-style fencing is very elaborate and involves "entire circular movements," Cloninger said.

"German is very brutal and very vertical where the point is to get as close to the opponent as possible," he said. "My favorite is Scottish, which is a very defensive style. You never make the first attack."

Sophomore David Fristed, who someone compared to Errol Flynn, and classmate Jon Paul Paz performed a choreographed Italian-style duel.

The scene started with a dispute over a coin purse.

"Sir, you've dishonored my family. You shall perish for what you've done!" Paz declared.

But after an intense round of fencing, with both participants nearly out of breath, it was Paz who found himself on his knees at the sword-point and mercy of his opponent.

"I will spare your life," Fristed exclaimed magnanimously, much to the applause of the audience.