Live-action role-play and historical swordsmanship meet at Gorsebrook park

Jackie Cochran, an award-winning professional barber, was the first Haligonian woman to secure a medal at the Niles’ Fencing Academy Classic.

As of October, she ranked in the top 31 per cent of historical fencing competitors in Atlantic Canada in the category of Underrepresented Genders and Women’s Steel Sabre.

“Fencing has brought so much joy into my life,” said Cochran.

“Not only am I getting exercise in a cool and unique way, but the community is so great as well. It is filled with a ton of like-minded people all doing something we love,” she said.

“We are all a bunch of nerds. I feel like I can genuinely be myself and just have fun.”

Moving practice outdoors

Cochran began developing her swordsmanship skills two and a half years ago when she and her partner, Scott Makepeace, joined Niles Fencing Academy.

“In the summer months, we bout on the basketball court in Gorsebrook Park,” Cochran said.

Situated between South Street and Inglis Street, the park functions as a neighbourhood meeting place for sports and recreational activities.

Connecting with community

Cochran’s affinity for fencing took root after she was introduced to the sport through a fellow player of Dungeons & Dragons, a co-operative storytelling game.

Originally from New Brunswick, Cochran moved to Halifax in 2014. She began playing the game to connect with other folks in the community.

“I find people who play D&D and those who swordfight — a lot of us were kind of the misfits growing up,” she said. 

“We escaped to worlds of fantasy. We weren’t the jocks; we weren’t the athletes. A lot of people who play D&D, funny enough, also swordfight, and I think we all kind of found each other and found our place together.”

Makepeace began playing the tabletop game when he moved amid the pandemic. “I moved to Halifax six years ago and did not know anybody,” he said.

Strategic thinking and creative expression

Cochran said there are parallels between what D&D and fencing offer players.

“The biggest similarities between the two are being able to express yourself, either through swordplay or through your created character, and strategic thinking and creativity — whether it is forming a strategy for a fencing bout, coming up with a plan for a prison break or even a boss fight in D&D,” she said. 

“And of course just being with people who are stoked to have people to play and fence with!”

Where historical and olympic fencing diverge

Historical fencing differs from Olympic fencing in that it doesn’t have a single governing body and incorporates a variety of philosphies and values.

Olympic fencing is a combat sport in which the International Fencing Federation makes rules to determine what can and cannot be done.

Reducing barriers to athleticism

Cochran typically trains out of Niles Fencing Academy in Halifax three times per week; when she is preparing for a competition, her practices increase to four times per week. This year, she and Makepeace are participating in four to five competitions.

“We do not know who we are until we are forged in the fire of what we can become,” said Christian Niles, the academy owner.

“Our club has, just through word-of-mouth, exploded into 50 people — 50 people whom I have gotten to learn: who they are, where they come from, what they value,” said Makepeace.

Cochran said her club tries to meet new members where they are and work with them.

“Our club has people from all different walks of life, and I think the fact that people can see such diversity in a group of people doing such a unique and badass sport can be really inspiring,” she said.

“You don’t need to be a super athlete to start.”