BENTONVILLE (KFSM) -- A nationally-sanctioned youth fencing tournament was held in northwest Arkansas for the first time over the past weekend.
The Three Swords Regional Youth Fencing Tournament was in the area from Oct. 16 - Oct. 18.
"Fencing is such an incredible sport," said Northwest Arkansas Fencing Foundation executive director Laura Kirk. "We use it as a character-building tool with the young ones, and that carries through when they are older."
The best of the young competitors were given tickets to future national competitions.
Kirk said it is never too early to start fencing, and children as young as 5-years-old are welcome for lessons. She also said the sport caters to senior citizens as well.
"You can still be fencing at 80-years-old, and they have an 80-and-up group," Kirk said. "It is actually quite impressive."