Yellowknife (Feb 08/06) - Yellowknife might not seem a likely place to hear the words "En garde," but that doesn't stop fencing instructor Ian Johnston every Tuesday evening.

Ian Johnston doesn't just work for the phone company. In his spare time he teaches fencing techniques in the fencing classes offered by the city of Yellowknife. He's also the president of the archery club. - Jessica Gray/NNSL photo

Johnston, who has been fencing for more than 25 years, teaches one of the city's most popular recreation programs.

He got a taste of the sport in a drama class on stage combat and took up the sport after joining the Ryerson University Fencing Club in Toronto.

Johnston is also president of the Yellowknife Archery Club.

His interest in historic weaponry and older forms of combat from the hack and slash, swashbuckling lifestyle portrayed in films like The Princess Bride.

"I guess I'm a bit of a romantic," he said.

In reality, fencing shares few of the hack and slash movements depicted in his favourite films.

"Fencing is not what you see in the movies or on stage. It's mostly movement in your fingers and it's very quick and subtle.

"For those new to fencing, it's a terrible spectator sport."

Johnston's class is comprised of between 12 and 14 students. Each class is an hour long and goes through the basics of fencing footwork, how to move, stand, and balance, and attacking and defending.

To be a top competitor in fencing, a person has to train for years. Johnston said the world's best fencers are between the ages of 25 and 30 and began studying fencing seriously at around eight years of age.

Fencing equipment is expensive. The jacket and breeches are made of white kevlar, the same material as bulletproof vests.

Each sword - foil, epee or sabre - has a wire running the length of the weapon and into the fencer's clothing that is activates a scoring device when a fencer scores at hit.

There are three types of fencing depending on what weapon is used.

City program co-ordinator Alecia Callahan said she gets calls all the time about people interested in fencing. "People call and say this is something they've always wanted to try."

She said almost 150 people have taken the class during the three years Johnston has been teaching it. Some have even taken the class several times.

Johnston said he isn't sure when the next class will begin as he will be taking a vacation in the Tazmanian bush in the next few months.