Swordplay has always been a major part of my extended family's get-togethers, from plastic tube "swords" for the younger ones to realistic wooden swords as they grew. No one has yet taken to fencing formally, but maybe they should. This morning's Orlando Sentinel featured an article on how fencing improves mathematical skills. Apparently it improves spacial awareness, geometric visualization, abstract reasoning and other mathematical concepts through physical action.
That doesn't surprise me as much as it once might have, since I have been hearing a lot lately about the critical importance of physical activity (such as crawling, creeping, walking, running, brachiation, and activities that stimulate the vestibular system) for mental and intellectual development.
En garde!
