You'd best tell him that there's a considerable difference between TV/movie/theatrical fencing and historical/classical/sport fencing.

Historical fencing is an attempt to recreate, from surviving documents and books, how swordfighting was done when it was necessary for survival. This ranges from the Celtic to about the 18th Century and if you include sword duels, right up to today in some places.

Classical fencing is the way fencing was done until about twenty years ago. You learned parry, riposte, lunge, fleche, and the techniques that were developed by historical fencers and the idea was the protect yourself while scoring a point on your opponent. Classical fencing is still big in Europe and among a lot of the US fencers.

Sport fencing, as far as I can tell, is extending your weapon and fleching -- running at your opponent. The idea of protecting yourself because the weapon could, if real, hurt you has pretty much gone by the wayside.

Theatrical fencing is what's used on stage. It is usually done under the supervision of a Master Of Arms and is very carefully blocked and choreographed since the weapons are usually not bated.

Here's a link to the DC Fencing Club.