Fencing OpenCourseWare: MIT's Free Introduction to Fencing Class

Published Jan 27, 2009

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'Fencing,' an OpenCourseWare class offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, makes this armed combat sport accessible to anyone interested in learning a unique physical art. This free online course guides students through basic fencing technique and teaches other important fundamentals of the sport. Individuals interested in or currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education may find this course helpful.

Fencing: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Undergraduate Yes Yes Yes Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
Yes Yes No

Fencing: Course Descriptions

A sport that dates back to the Renaissance era, fencing has truly withstood the test of time and was even practiced at the first Olympic Games in 1896. Today, it continues to attract participants around the world and is still included in the summer Olympics. In 'Fencing,' Professor Jaroslav Koniusz taught the fundamentals of the sport; Professor Koniusz's lectures and demonstrations were recorded, providing a series of instructional videos for this OpenCourseWare. Professor Koniusz, an award-winning fencer, has over 28 years of competitive fencing experience at the international level and coached one of the U.S. teams in the 2002 World Cup. The 'Fencing' course is offered as part of the curriculum in MIT's Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation department. In this free online class, students will learn the basics of footwork and bladework by watching the instructional videos, which are available online. Other topics covered include officiating and bouting. Students also come to understand the categories of fencing actions and learn how to analyze a bout.

'Fencing' includes both streaming and downloadable instructional videos, a reading list and links to additional instructional videos for further study. To access this free online class, visit the course page for the sport of fencing.

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