If you've ever wanted to learn to use a sword, you might want to try fencing. It may not seem like a sport that's thriving in Belize, but the Belize National Fencing Federation makes it easy to join. And right now, they've got the help from Belizean-Irish fencing coach, Ramel Flores.
Flores has been practicing for 8 years and after about two decades away, he's finally returned home to bring his passion to his home country, and try to encourage more people to become fencers.
Courtney Menzies met up with him during his evening practice yesterday and has this story.
Ramel Flores moved from Belize to Ireland with his parents when he was still a child. While he had practiced martial arts here, it was on the other side of the world that he fell in love with fencing.
The sport itself isn't well known in Belize, but it has been taught in the city for the last 12 years. And in a combined effort to not only reconnect with his birth country, but also bring more attention to the sport he loves, Flores made the trip home for a month-long fencing program.
Ramel Flores, Coach, Causeway Empowerment Program
"The Causeway Empowerment Program is based on using the sport of fencing to empower young people and inspire them for the future. Over the past couple years, I've been privileged enough to be a coach. I've been able to not only be inspired by my students over the years that they've developed their skills and become more confident people but it's inspired me to realize that fencing is such a powerful sport in allowing you to build your confidence, build your self-worth, but also become a good swordswoman or man and also a great athlete at the end, achieving your goals."
"The main reason why was for me to reconnect with my people. Reconnect with my roots. I think especially being away for so long, you lose track of who you are and where you're from. I'm quite privileged knowing that my parents still instilled that culture into me. And then I realized the power of fencing, I wanted to give that back and use it as a skill and a tool to work with young people in Belize."
Flores and his girlfriend, who have both been fencing for almost a decade, say they've been impressed with the few students they've taught so far.
Ramel Flores, Coach, Causeway Empowerment Program
"Belizeans make fantastic athletes. We can see that in our cycling, our karate that we compete in Guatemala all the time. And in everything we do, our track and field. So I really believe that Belize has the potential to go worldwide with their fencing. I have had the privilege today of training with a young gentleman, comes from a karate background, but within moments of just fine tuning and tweaking, he's already excelling. He has that potential."
"We're already looking at a return trip for next year, looking around at that November period again, and we're already looking at different programs and outreaches that we'll connect with again."
Gabrielle Swan, Coach, Causeway Empowerment Program
"It has been excellent. The young Belizeans we've been working with here have been excellent, they've got so much potential, they're great students, they're excellent fencers, I'm really looking forward to continuing to work with them. We're speaking to a lot of ones at UB as well and they were very enthusiastic to give fencing a go and I'm really looking forward to their upcoming fencing club which hopefully will be set up very soon and I just know for a fact they're going to do very well and they pick it up."
And Swan particularly encouraged young women to join the sport despite how daunting it may seem.
Gabrielle Swan, Coach, Causeway Empowerment Program
"Even though fencing can be a bit male dominated, I would say just go and do it because you in that position, you as a fencer even if you're one of the few girls there, or rather few women there, be the inspiration that young girls need, be the inspiration for young girls because they see you in that position, they see you maybe as a coach and they will be more inclined to join so be the swordswoman that young girls aspire to be."
And for those who may be considering it but are still on the fence, Flores explained that fencing is not just a hobby, but a way to build character.
Ramel Flores, Coach, Causeway Empowerment Program
"Fencing is such a powerful sport. It has a long history, especially within Europe and then within the US over the past couple days. But I think the big essential thing about fencing is that it instills confidence, discipline but also self control because there's nothing like running into a sword and knowing you could come out okay."
Flores has been in Belize City since Sunday, but this weekend he still be traveling south, and then will be heading west to hopefully attract more students.
If you want to get involved with fencing, you can contact the Belize Fencing Federation on their Facebook page.
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