My study needs to expand into something hard and external, and I'm thinking along these lines:

quote: "Classical fencing," on the other hand, is the direct descendant of the 500 year evolution of the sword. In it, we strive to simulate as closely as possible a "frank encounter," that is, a real fight with sharp swords. Like classical music (according to the Harvard Dictionary of Music), classical fencing strives toward a particular ideal of "poise, balance, proportion, simplicity, formal discipline, crastmanship, and universal and objective (rather than idiosyncratic and subjective) expression," affording us a "standard or model of excellence that has enduring value."

After all, as the Standing Post tells us:

The Intent guides the body movement

When the Intent moves, the body follows. In the situation when the Intent guides the body movement. This mean all movements are control by the Intent. Intent's movement means creativity. The body follows mean the body is moving according to the Intent's instruction. In Tai Chi Chuan training, it demands all movements are initiating from the Intent and than follow with the body movement. Therefore, the body movement is the expression of Intent's creativity outward. If one is able to follow this expectation throughout the Tai Chi Chuan training, one's skill will progress quickly.

And if the intent is there, it will fuel the qi, and the qi in turn will move the body. Whether or not it holds a foil, or wears a mask.

Reading further in the first article, one also finds this:

For example, it is a long-standing tradition in fencing that the person who "receives a touch from" (is theoretically wounded by) the adversary, must acknowledge it openly. Perhaps you're familiar with the call, "Touche!" which means "I have been touched!" A fencer never claims a touch against his/her opponent- or even inquires about one that has not been freely acknowledged. But if the adversary concedes a touch you do not believe was valid, you must decline credit for it by replying "Pas de touche," meaning "Not a touch."
Even though there are five officials presiding over a fencing contest, fencers are still honour-bound to acknowledge all hits they receive. This, I believe, makes fencing quite unique in two ways, one very intriguing and the other very important.
The intriguing thing is that if fencing is only a "sport" (as some might insist) then it is the only one in which your opponent determines your score for you.
The important thing however is this: fencers acquire the habit of being honest, gracious and, above all, self-responsible. The presence of an official does not relieve the fencer of his/her obligation of honour. A fencer considers it elementary, in fact, that nothing and no one can absolve you from personal responsibility for your own actions.