VIDEO: Jonny Dangerous tackles wheelchair fencing

Jun 7 2009 by Jonny Greatrex, Sunday Mercury

“A Great Britain coach approached me and said, ‘would you be offended if I said you should try the wheelchair version?’,” said Simon, who is a parts manager at a car shop,

“He told me my hand-speed was great but I would never be any good because of my lack of mobility.

“He was right and after about six months I gave it a go.”

Simon was certainly ready to “give it a go” with me.

Any part of the torso, head and arms are considered fair game in wheelchair fencing. You can even hit your opponent’s chair if the earthed mat which covers it should slip.

The victor is the first to 15 points or the person with the highest score after three minutes.

The Midlander patiently dangles his arm while I attempt to make contact with his sleeve.

A sensor on the end of the weapon will beep if 750g of pressure is put on it – the amount needed to draw blood in an actual sword-fight.

Eventually, I listen to my mentor’s advice and make considered movements, rather than swishing wildly at my target. This pays off as my part of the electronic scoreboard finally lights up.

With the basics of attacking mastered, it was now time to learn how to defend myself.

You can do this either by knocking your foe’s blade away, or rolling your sword around it to blunt their attack which allows you to score a point by hitting them at the same time.

Of the two, simply hitting Simon’s weapon with mine as he comes towards me seems the more efficient.

He goes easy at first, giving me the chance to get used to having someone trying to attack me with a blade.

But slowly Simon picks off my exposed wrist or forearm to take a 3–0 lead.

My tactic of trying to hit the nearest bit of him to me is failing, as he holds his epee in such a way that his arm is not visible behind the sword guard.

I decide to go for a dramatic lunge at his head – which coincidentally is the same move my opponent goes for.

There is a solid thunk as my head is rocked back by his blow which would have landed square between my eyes if it had not been for the protective gear.

I do manage to get six lucky hits on the British number one. But in a little under two minutes, Simon has amassed the score of 15 needed to claim what must rank as his easiest ever victory.