How many calories does fencing burn?

Roughly 400-700 an hour of active fencing, depending on your weight and how hard you're going, on par with tennis, and more than most people burn at the gym while having none of the fun. Tournament days, with their hours of bouts and warm-ups, can total well over 2,000.

Where it comes from: constant small footwork (the biggest share), explosive lunges and recoveries, and the low en-garde stance that keeps your legs loaded the entire time. It's interval training wearing a costume.

Practical note for parents: this is why kids come off the strip starving and why a water bottle and snacks are standard kit. Feed the fencer.