| About JWFA(Japan Wheelchair Fencing Association) |
Wheelchair Fencing is played with two fencers
sitting on the wheelchairs fixed to the metal
frame. The distance between two fencers is
measured by their arm length. You may think
it is easy to fence sitting on the wheelchair.
It is not! Without moving back and forth
as the regular fencing, the handling technique
of the weapon and the speed are more crucial
for the game.
The equipment, weapons, mask and uniform,
are the same as the regular fencing.
The
basic rules of wheelchair fencing are
almost
the same with some difference as the
sport
for the disabled.
In Japan, Mr. Shin-ichi Komatsu, the
chairman
of JWFA, started wheelchair fencing
in Japan
in 1994 when he was asked to coach
10 times
lessons for the disabled in Kyoto.
There
was no guidebook about wheelchair fencing
for him then.
Hong Kong wheelchair fencing team has
been
kindly providing all kinds of information
to Mr. Komatsu. In 1998, he decided
to go
to the Wheelchair Fencing World Cup
in Germany
for the first time with 4 fencers.
Japan
Wheelchair Fencing team has been to
the World
Cups in Europe 3 times since 1998.
One of
the fencers, Toyoaki Hisakawa earned
enough
ranking points to go to Sydney Paralympics
this year.
From this small group of about 15 fencers,
it is wonderful to be able to send
a fencer
to the Paralympics within less than
three
years since we established Japan Wheelchair
Fencing Association officially in 1998.
This
small step will be a great experience
for
JWFA in the future.
JWFA wants to invite more disabled
people
to enjoy this sport with us.
|
About
JWFA