It is never too late to start something new. (Sounds cliche? Actually, I’m living proof of this)
For 25 years I have built my photographic career working across Australia, Paris, Tokyo and New York. I didn’t want to be just another ‘local’ photographer, I had to experience the world on my own terms. However, that path also took over my life and I put other things aside – including my well-being. Fast forward to today, 2 years after I started Fencing, I am knocking back commercial jobs to focus on myself, health and fitness also fencing and sports photography which is an entirely new industry.
Earlier this month, I caught up with Benita Ramage, an Eppeist who resumed fencing after being away from the sport for many years. I learnt that we have few things in common – life took over and she had other priorities, it was only 8 years ago that she took up fencing again. Benita seems to have her heart in the right place for the sport, an admirable trait that can inspire others to come back to fencing after starting a family or developing a career.
Setting priorities in life is something that we learn over time.
Contributor: Benita Ramage (NSW Epee Fencer & sometimes Foil)
Producer / Photographer: Ed Chiu
Date: September 2024
Ed: Hello Benita, thank you for taking the time out for Touchpoint, a platform for people in the fencing community to inspire others by sharing their life journey through fencing.
I am interested in how people start fencing as an adult. I was diagnosed with Kleinfelter in my early 20s, although my doctors advise me on what I need to do to keep up with my well-being, I was occupied with my work and travel commitments. It wasn’t until a bone density scan that raised an alert. Then in 2022, I took up fencing and the rest is history, but it has taken me about 18 years to take action.
Please tell me a bit about your fencing life. When and why did you start taking up the sport?
Benita: Thank you for inviting me to share my journey – such a great idea to hear from all fencers and their journeys.
I started fencing foil at school. I continued a year after school and then life took over. I re-entered fencing approximately eight years ago where I started fencing. I was hooked!
Like you, I have a health condition, so I am fencing to keep my body and mind fit and healthy. I believe it has been the best form of exercise by far.
Benita continues : The other benefit to fencing as a veteran are the wonderful friends you gain along the way. I have friends all over Australia and the world. It is so nice to know when you are visiting a country overseas and competing to see some familiar faces and have a laugh – even if you don’t speak the same language!
Ed: Interesting, so you already have the basic down pad from school then when you picked it back up eight years ago, did it all come back?
Benita: No. I was hoping it would. I’m still working on it. But that’s what keeps you coming back.
Ed: Do you still fence foil? I can see from your AFF profile that you have fenced foil several times and have hit some great goals, for example in 2023 at AFC 4 you ranked 13 at Women Open Foil, that’s remarkable considering the competitiveness of these circuits.
Benita: No. I injured my arm at the Uni Games a couple of years ago. Fencing foil at the moment flares up the injury. I’m concentrating on epee and will most likely return to foil when I have a bit more time on my hands. I struggle with ‘priority’.
Ed: LOL, tell me about it. I fence Sabre but very primitively. I picked up Sabre 4 months after I started Epee to help me gain a more ‘aggressive mindset’. Took me few months to understand priority and don’t even get me started on reffing in Sabre.
Ed: Since I started fencing, I have also gone back to the gym, because as part of bone density support, I need to do weight-bearing exercises such as lunges, jumping rope and other weight training..
Since I joined my current gym which focuses on strength and conditioning, now I have a personal trainer who is a strength and conditioning coach for Aussie Rules. Having someone who understands mobility and strength really helps with my fencing. I think training with a purpose just makes it more beneficial too.
Benita: That’s fantastic. I used to go to the gym regularly, however, my shift work is making that difficult at the moment. Hopefully next year I will be able to organise my life a bit more differently and in favour of fencing rather than work.
Ed: I used to work about 100 hours a week. My concept of work is fairly different to a lot of people. In a way it’s work, but as a professional photographer you have to really love your job to keep the creative drive going. I have always seen it as a lifestyle – although there’s a lot of hard work and dedication involved.
When I found fencing photography being incorporated into this ‘lifestyle’ I also saw it as a great transition, although it’s a completely different industry, people are different, the even just shooting one weapon requires different technique.
Benita: That is such a fantastic goal. You definitely have the gift of capturing the moment!
How often do you attend the gym?
Ed: Every Thursday morning with Jacob my PT, then another session on Saturday for open gym which I do solo, and I have a whole floor where I can do some footwork too.
Benita: Cool. That’s really good.
Ed: As adults we are caught up with life, as you mentioned, whereas (full time) students have dedicated hours, and their lives don’t have as many responsibilities other than hitting the deadlines with assignments.
Fencing and photography has merged into my new lifestyle which took me a while to navigate, because on the one hand I still needed to commit to my work, leisure, travel and other volunteer work. Last year I missed 2 weeks of fencing with 6 classes because I had few commitments then my fencing skills deteriorated a bit and it shows. In this situation how do you keep up?
Benita: It’s tough. I work full-time shift work. My 8-10 hour shift can begin anywhere between 6am to 2:30pm. I request early shifts on my training days, however that doesn’t always happen. Also, by the time I’ve done a shift on my feet all day, attending to patients – I am mentally, physically and sometimes emotionally spent.
It can be a bit difficult then to concentrate at training. I also have a second part-time job. After writing all of that, I think I need to reorganise my life to make fencing a priority
Ed: Definitely. Writing (or journalling) helps, I find it therapeutic and revealing. We don’t often acknowledge our achievements until we sit back to revise our progression. In fact, at one point, I wanted to leave the Photography industry because I hit a roadblock. Cut long story short, the pandemic saved my career, and I am glad I hung around otherwise we would not be chatting right now. It was a good turning point for change.
Benita: That’s such a fantastic pandemic outcome!
Ed: You do quite a lot and I imagine nursing is very heavy and I get what you mean with mental strain.
Benita: I think fencing is like nursing- there is so much to know and learn- it a lifetime dedication and passion.
Ed: How has fencing changed from the earlier days when you started in school to now. You must have experienced the difference in learning, the variety of coaches, teaching methods and even the number of women taking up the sport?
Benita: I think women could not fence Sabre when I was at school. There is not much I remember from then as I only fenced for a couple of years.
Ed: You mean women only fenced epee and foil?
Benita: Yes. I only learnt foil and started epee when I came back to the sport.
Ed: Interesting, definitely something i want to find out more. and i don’t think many younger fencers would know, because they are born into an era where they have the choice and opportunity to learn any weapons they want.
Benita: Yes. There are other female veterans that would know that history.
Ed: I want to close this conversation by asking what is your ultimate goal in fencing and I think everyone is different. Mine is to get better with it and I am not aiming for a medal, lucky if I do but I am fine if I don’t and because fencing has landed me in a new career in fencing photography, eventually sports photography a category that I never dreamt of doing.
Benita: My goal – due to having MS, my fencing is part of my ‘staying well’ mentally and physically- if a medal happens as part of that then that’s a bonus. The other great parts of fencing are the friendships here in Australia and around the world.
Do you have an interesting fencing journey to share? I am especially interested in fencers who started the sport to support their well-being, whether it is physical or mental. Your story can inspire others going through the same thing.
Please get in touch with me at hello@fencingsportphotography.com
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