Fencing academy scrambles to find its niche

Public Record, The, Oct 18, 2005 by Davis, Rick

Tucked away in a shopping center off Highway 111 in Palm Desert,

Desert Fencing Academy is one of those places you're unlikely to just stumble onto.

Besides being off the beaten path, the academy offers an activity that's about as mainstream as alligator wrestling and clog dancing.

But for those who do find their way to Leslie Taft's entrepreneurial venture, a challenge awaits. It's a task that emphasizes, well, getting your point across.

Established 3 1/2 years ago, the academy offers instruction for all ages with the majority of Taft's students being beginners.

"This is 80 percent of what I do for a living now," Taft said in an interview last week. "It's not something I do as a hobby or a part-time job."

A Los Angeles native who relocated to the Coachella Valley 21 years ago, Taft got interested in fencing more than 40 years ago as an eightyear-old enamored by the swashbuckling heroics of a masked swordsman named Zorro. Taft eventually outgrew the Zorro outfit her parents bought her. But hei- interest was rekindled 10 years later when she decided to take a fencing course at Los Angeles City College.

It started a chain of events. Taft Joined the school fencing club, took its 10-week training course and began competing in meets. Two-years later, she transferred to California State University, Los Angeles. Her main goal was to continue in higher education. But with fencing an intercollegiate sport there, she competed on the team for three years.

"I was good enough to be on the team and my teammates always were pushing me to be faster," said Taft. "For me, it was about 80 percent natural ability. I also had an awesome coach who believed in me and my skills. His coaching catapulted my college fencing career."

A licensed hypnotherapist, Taft worked in that profession her first two years in the desert. Then she saw a classified ad for a part-time fencing instructor at College of the Desert. The college had established a fencing club in the early 1980s, discontinued it when the coach left, then decided to bring it back.

That was nearly 20 years ago. Today, Taft teaches the college's beginning fencing course and coaches its club team.

"Between the academy and this, it's mostly how I pay the bills," said Taft, whose COD class varies from 25 to 50. "Right now, I have 35 people coming to the academy and most of them compete in meets. It has experienced growth."

Taft, 50, still works in hypnotherapy mostly with athletes in competitions such as triathlons. "I work mostly with people who are in training for something where they really want to be in the zone when they compete so they can perform at their maximum potential without mental blocks," she said.

Asked if it concern concerns her that she's trying to make a living doing something that's not part of the mainstream, Taft said, "High school students now can take fencing for physical education credits. And at COD, I get students who take the course because they want to try it. So, they take it, but some decide, 'This is nice, but it's not for me.' But not many students drop the course. I'd like for everyone to be exposed to fencing like you would golf or tennis."

Taft suggested that, for her, it's a "why does a painter paint?" issue.

"Since I opened the academy, I've had the feeling this is what I'm supposed to be doing with my life. Everything fits, so I'm totally gratified and fulfilled."

Part of that fulfillment has come from the success of her students. Charles Lewis last year became the first academy enrollee to qualify for the Junior Olympics.

And the COD club team has refined its parry- and-riposte techniques over the years. In fact, Taft has developed squads of consistent placewinners in Southern California meets where they compete against clubs from mostly four-year universities, That's because San Bernardino Valley is the only other community college in the area with a fencing team.

"COD has had a lot of success in athletics in golf, tennis and fencing," said Taft, who runs her program through fund-raisers because the school's athletic department budget does no include anything for fencing.

"And we compete against four-year schools. I feel good we're able to represent the school and have accomplishments like we have had. And I know the school appreciates that we can pull that off."

For now, Taft is operating the academy out of My Gym Children's Fitness Center on Town Center Way.

Asked where she would like it to be in five to 10 years. Taft said, "A 5,000-square-foot building with six dedicated electric strips [the 6foot by 40-foot area where a fencing match is staged with points determined electronically], two teaching strips classes for all levels and ages, Study areas with computers, a fencing library and a crosstraining, area with weights and other equipment.

"That's my ultimate goal."