Women’s sword-fighting tournament, FrauFecht, comes to Carson City this weekend
FrauFecht, a women’s sword-fighting tournament, will be returning for its second year at the Carson City Community Center this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2-3.
While there are sword-fighting tournaments nationwide, this competition allows for women to take the spotlight, according to organizer Marie Meservy.
“Historic sword-fighting, or as we call it, Historical European Martial Arts, is a relatively new sport, and women’s competitions within HEMA are usually given limited space and time within larger co-ed events,” said Meservy. “FrauFecht is unique in pioneering a dedicated women’s event of this caliber.”
Meservy is part of the Noble Science Academy of Northern Nevada, a HEMA school located in Sparks, which teaches people to sword-fight using historical techniques in multiple weapons including longsword, rapier, broadsword, smallsword and saber.
“Our school is home to many medalists including the world’s top-ranked women’s longsword fencer,” Meservy said.
The academy hosts two annual tournaments in Carson City, FrauFecht every Labor Day weekend and Battle Born Blades, a co-ed event, every Memorial Day weekend.
Women travel to the tournament from all over the country to compete in five different weapon categories over the course of two days.
In addition, there will be a “Flourish” performance-based competition that will be won by audience choice.
Beginning Saturday, competitions begin at 1 p.m. and the “best” fights begin around 4:30 to 4:45 p.m., each lasting about an hour.
An awards ceremony will follow to celebrate the champions of each weapon.
“We welcome spectators; we’re working hard to create a good experience for spectators, and we would love feedback on how we can improve,” Meservy said.
FrauFecht tickets are $20 for spectators for the whole weekend, and $5 for children 12 and under.
Tickets can be purchased in advance here or at the gate day of.
Interested in learning to sword fight? Visit www.noblescience.org/northern-nevada to learn more, with classes for adults, teens, and kids 8-12.