Fenceing, I am sure it has a lot of other fancy names, i do not bother looking into, requires a lot of technique, but you can not compare it to real fighting. Just like you can not do with LARP or the other thing we are talking about. There is only one thing that compares to a real fight, and well, that is a real fight and we do not want that, becouse people get hurt.
What ever style you prefer, is up to you. The basic of all of the fighting sports is the same. There are rules. Follow them and try your dauntest to win.
On the matter, that fenceing is just "who hits who first" i have to agree. It do not have anything to do with realism. But neither dose boxing or any other sport. That is why it is called sport/hobby.
I enjoy LARP becouse you can make up a world with a story. You can be a knight, a peasant or the evil necromancer who is up to no good.
Oh, basement nerd stuff? What do you call computergames then ;)
