Some quite interesting facts about fencing ... or they may just be rumours or actual lies.
Bruce Dickinson, multi-millionaire and lead singer of the rock group "Iron Maiden" founded the Duellist International fencing equipment supplier. As competitive International fencer he travelled round the globe, with his guitar on one shoulder and his fencing bag over the other.
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was also a skilled stage fencer and taught his actors to make things look as real as possible.
The earliest known surviving treatise on fencing, stored at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, England, dates from around 1300 AD and is from Germany. Written in medieval Latin and German, it describes a system of using the sword and buckler (small shield) and is illustrated by over 100 ink and watercolour drawings.
Few other institutions can match the history of Glasgow University Union. Founded in 1885, the Union was the scene of Scotland’s last ever duel in 1899; swords were drawn and blood was spilled over the election battle for the University Rectorship.
Leon Paul Fencing Equipment has always been a company run by competitive fencers. Members of the family have competed in 20 Olympic Games and 30 World Championships and have won 25 national titles.
