First off, let us send out a huge thank you to the American fencing community for their continued striving and the inspiration that it brings to all of us! Every year we have the privilege of coming together to push ourselves to get better, and it’s a true honor to be able to bring our fencers to this competition every year.
To the national champions and all participants, we extend our heartfelt congratulations. Your achievements inspire a new generation of fencers and serve as a reminder of the heights that can be reached through passion and perseverance. May you continue to excel, push boundaries, and serve as beacons of inspiration for aspiring fencers around the world.
The weather might have been hot in Fencing, but the fencing was even hotter! Whether you brought home a medal or not, reached your personal goals, or found challenges that kept them at bay, we hope you got as much out of the experience as we did.
Standing up for what’s right sometimes means sacrificing everything.
It’s hard to comprehend the ramifications of decisions that people make, especially when those people are coming from a place that is far removed from where we are. Such is the case with the oppression of the Russian regime, both in its war of aggression against Ukraine and its hard line against its own people.
What happens when speaking out is dangerous?
The people of Russia who are against the war cannot speak up for fear of retaliation from the very same regime that is so visibly hurting the citizens of Ukraine.
It’s important that we understand that many people in Russia are against Putin. Many people are against the war. Many people are against the whole breadth of atrocities committed by this regime. Just as we see here in the United States, brave people want to speak out against wrongs that they see happening. The difference between America and Russia is that here, you can go out and protest. Here you can post on the internet about how you disagree with what our government is doing. There are many problems in the United States, but we have the freedom to speak out against the ills of our government.
For many people, the only way for them to speak out is to leave. About 1,000,000 people left Russia in 2022. By leaving the country, they are standing up. But it doesn’t happen in a single day. It takes a lot of time, a lot of preparation, a lot of resources. It’s not an easy thing to do, and it is undoubtedly a dangerous thing to do. The risk for the families of those who leave is a burden as well. Totalitarian regimes are known to retaliate against the loved ones of defectors, so making the decision to go must be weighed against the possibility of collateral damage to your family. Even if their loved ones are safe, those who leave won’t be able to go back to the place that they’ve known for their whole lives, not even for a visit. You cannot unmake the choice – once you leave, there is no way back home, otherwise, you go to prison for 25 years. Even American journalists who are doing their job and are protected by International laws aren’t spared by the Russian totalitarian regime.
A person who moves secretly to the USA from Russia because they cannot stand this regime is a brave person. It’s a person who can’t live with the regime anymore because the regime is aggressive and totalitarian. The regime is committing genocide and war crimes. Leaving this place means facing huge danger. Their personal well-being is at stake. They are putting their lives in jeopardy because, at any point in time they could be intercepted by the security forces of Russia with the real possibility of a very severe punishment. The higher your profile, the greater the risk.
The mere fact that they left is a statement of their renouncement of the war and policies of the country they have fled.
The conundrum of professional athletes and soldiers
One common misconception about professional athletes in Europe is that they are members of the military. This is a foreign concept for Americans, where we have a distinct separation between athletics and the government. Across Europe, professional athletes are woven into the military structure to give them support as they pursue their sport.
Professional athletes are employed by the government in many countries – Italy, France, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, and Russia. As athletes, they hold some kind of military rank. They usually get a salary or a stipend from the military for their living expenses. In the United States, athletes are on their own to raise money and figure out how to train by acquiring private sponsorships, but in Europe, the government sponsors them.
Their military rank does not mean that they are fighting in a war, nor are they training to either. In these countries, they receive salaries from one of the military organizations so that they can focus on their sport. It’s one big reason athletes in Europe can have such a big advantage against athletes from other places – they don’t have to hold down day jobs or hustle to pay their bills. It’s simply how things work in these countries.
We don’t consider the best fencing athletes in West European countries to be soldiers. Yet they all hold military rank due to their work as professional athletes in their respective countries. When we look at a totalitarian regime, we must look at the reality of the situation. Professional athletes have nothing to do with the army, even when they technically hold a rank.
It’s important to look at things from this angle because there are complexities at play.
High-performing athletes in Russia hold a very high place in society there. They have financial support and cultural significance. They will not have that same level of lifestyle should they leave. They are also a bigger target should they speak out. It’s a lot of money to give up, a lot of hard-earned social capital. Athletes of a high rank have a huge amount of opportunities in Russia. Leaving all that to come to the United States equates to a step backward, often a huge one. It means starting over again, leaving behind a lifetime’s worth of work, and in most cases, completely giving up their athletic aspirations. But they do it because their conscience is more important to them than their status and money.
People who are doing nothing are thrown into prison for ten or twenty years or even shot. Instead of condemning these athletes as soldiers, we must consider their experiences. These defected athletes are professional athletes who have nothing to do with the war. They are against these terrible things, and because of that, they escape. It takes a lot of bravery, a lot of time, a huge amount of sacrifice, and a huge amount of risk to do it. I think they deserve our respect.
The crimes of Russia are inexcusable
Taking a hard line with the unconscionable acts of the totalitarian regime in Russia is important. There is no room for excuses, no way to justify the continued atrocities they commit. There is no “middle ground” – there are only two sides: right and wrong.
This is a moment for both words and for actions. We must keep the conversation going, we must push for change by lifting our voices. We must raise money to send to the people of Ukraine who are fighting for their lives, supporting them in every way possible. We must also support all the people who stand against the regime. By doing that, we help to put an end to the war and to change this regime for good.
It’s a difficult situation and a complex one. The best that we can do is to meet each other with compassion and understanding, all while staying true to our own beliefs in freedom and autonomy.
Join us in welcoming a tremendous fencing talent to the United States and to AFM! It is with great pleasure and pride we share that Sergey Bida is joining the AFM Coaching Team!
This week, Coach Bida stepped into his role as the newest member of our already talented coaching staff. His work in epee is extraordinary, and his coming to California is a wonderful addition to the training opportunities for fencers here in America. Violetta Bida, Sergey’s wife, is also a hugely accomplished fencer and is also joining our fencers at AFM!
Sergey will not only be coaching at AFM, but he’ll also be training with our competitive class and competing. Bida joins AFM as he prepares for domestic competitions here in the United States. Expect to see him in the coming season in the Senior Men’s Epee categories at tournaments across the country! This is wonderful not only for our fencers, who will have the benefit of training alongside him as he works with our coaches, but it raises the bar and supports the strengthening of fencing in America.
Very few fencers don’t require an introduction, and Sergey is one of them, but let’s give you a rundown of what makes him so extraordinary.
Sergey Bida – a top fencer
Bida is one of the best epee fencers in the world, an accolade he earned through more than two decades of hard work. He comes from a long tradition of world-class athletes, but he has proven himself a force to be reckoned with in his own right.
From 2017-2019, Bida blew away the competition with a three-year Gold medal streak in the European Championships with the men’s team epee competition. In 2019, he took individual men’s epee Gold in the World Cup as well as the Silver at the World Championship.
In 2019, FIE named Bida their Athlete of the Year. It’s easy to see why.
The following year, he took the Gold in the individual Men’s Epee at the Grand Prix. Then to the biggest stage, where he and his teammates took Silver at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. These are all only his most recent accomplishments in the Senior division, as he took over ten World Cup victories at the Junior level!
At the age of 30, Sergey has a lot further to go and a whole lot more to give to the sport of fencing. Bringing his passion for training to a new generation means that he creates an even stronger legacy.
While he is hugely accomplished on the strip, Sergey is also a compassionate and adaptive teammate and teacher. In training, he brings a high level of professionalism to his students and a wonderful ability to bring out the best in fencers. His personal success translates to strong strategies that elevate the athletes he coaches and mentors. In the club, Bida supports the growth of fellow and student fencers through his laser focus and attention to detail.
Mentorship has been a big part of Bida’s own journey in fencing, and that kind of personal attention is going to be a tremendous benefit to the fencers who are able to train alongside him and under his guidance here in the United States.
Violetta Bida – a champion in her own right
Sergey arrived in San Jose with his wife, Violetta Bida. Bringing her strength and style to those training with AFM, Violetta is also set to join our team as she trains with our fencers. It is truly a privilege to have her be a part of our training team.
Violetta is a tremendous fencer herself. As a three-time Junior World Champion, Silver medalist in both the Senior World and European Championships, and Tokyo Olympian, she is a force to be reckoned with on the strip. Currently competing in women’s epee, she continues to push herself further even as she brings her elite fencing style to the young fencers who need the powerful level of fencing training she offers.
The warmest welcome!
Please give both Sergey and Violetta your warmest welcome!
We could not be more excited for him to be here, and we look forward to having him train alongside fencers at AFM as well as travel with us to tournaments. He’s an incredible asset to our team, and we are fortunate to have him here with us!
Sergey and Violetta will also participate in our World Champions Camp in August, which already has Gergo Siklosi and Valerio Cuomo as sparring partners and Sandro Cuomo as the leading coach for the camp! This is open to all fencers, regardless of the club they are affiliated with.
Here’s to a positive evolution of fencing, and to having hugely talented fencers join us in our training. Fencing is truly a sport that crosses all boundaries, and we are so fortunate to have these athletes here to support our fencers. Let’s create growth together for everyone!
Fencing is about more than just medals – it’s about personal development and community.
Running the AFM blog has given me a huge appreciation for the broad range of people who participate in fencing across the United States. I have learned so much about this sport by articulating it through this online platform. That’s in addition to all that I’ve learned through the work that I do traveling to competitions across the country with AFM and supporting our fencers and coaches at our home base in California.
As an outgrowth of the work that I’ve done both online and in person, I’ve decided that it’s time for me to help give a voice on the Board of Directors at USA Fencing. I am currently a candidate for the BoD’s 2023 election cycle, with voting taking place by June 5th.
Joining the board will allow me to advocate more effectively for the people across the country who are committed to fencing, who put in the hard work day in and day out. My passionate support of fencing over many years is what has led me to seek this role, and I view my place as being one of giving voice to clubs and individual fencers.
Who is Igor Chirashnya?
If you’re here on the AFM blog, then you probably already know who I am, but in case you don’t, here’s a quick overview of me.
For more than a decade, I’ve been a passionate advocate for fencing. Along with my wife Irina, I’m the co-founder of the Academy of Fencing Masters, one of the largest fencing clubs in the United States. We started AFM ten years ago with the mission of bringing the joy of fencing to people in the San Francisco Bay area through a personal development, family-oriented club atmosphere. From the small beginnings with a tight-knit group of competitors, we have been so fortunate to grow and expand – all thanks to the dedicated work of our coaches, staff, and incredible fencing families.
AFM has seen our fencers rise to the highest level on the national and international stage, has hosted Regional and Super Regional tournaments, has been named a Club of Excellence by USA Fencing three times, and has been the recipient of Congressional Recognition for its promotion of youth sports. Though I am fortunate to be a part of this success, I always look back to the people in our club who really make it happen.
Shortly after we began the club, we started the Academy of Fencing Masters Blog, which is where you find yourself right now. Through many hours of writing and a lot of openness from the online community, we’ve risen to be one of the top online resources for fencing. The core belief of this blog is that fencing should be accessible to everyone, and that everyone can benefit from participating in the sport. The privilege of writing here is that I have gotten to connect with fencers all over the country and all over the world, and I cannot say enough about how much I love working with our extraordinary community.
In 2019, I publishedFrom Cool Runnings to World Superpower: The Rise of American Fencing, a book that analyzes the meteoric rise of USA Fencing and its tremendous achievements on the international scene. This book was a passion project for me, as I am constantly fascinated by the history of fencing and how that history impacts our sport today. There is so much to be learned about where we are going when you look at where we’ve come from.
Before AFM, I worked in the technology industry on large, interdisciplinary projects that spanned multiple countries. Within big tech, I was in senior management in places like SanDisk, IBM, and CSR. In 2008, I founded and led my own tech company, eMazeU, which was acquired by a public firm two years later. I still work as a strategic advisor in technology, but I am lucky to be able to put my focus on fencing.
It’s not just about running the business – I have a personal stake in fencing. My four children (two sets of twins!) have all been fencing since they were six or seven years old. Though they are each unique, they have all found a place in the wonderful world of this sport, and it brings us together as a family. All four of my kids have gone on to compete, including on the national level, but more importantly, they have all grown through the sport. A big part of why I want to help support fencing by being on the Board of Directors of USA Fencing is so that I can help young fencers all over the country have the kinds of benefits that my kids have had.
At the heart of all of his ventures, in business and in sport, is a belief that trust, hard work, innovation, and community building are the keys to success.
In photo: some of these Y10 kids compete today on International Cadet Circuit
Things change in fencing, but they don’t always change for the better. Right now, we’re potentially facing the loss of a section of fencing on the national level, and such a decision would be a big step backwards.
What is the issue? In short – some of the USA Fencing Board Members proposed to eliminate Youth 10 & 12 events from the national competitions in order to free resources for Senior level Divisions 2 & 3. This proposal was discussed in the recent Board Meeting and there was created a task force to evaluate this proposal and make a decision. More about this is below.
Though we all want to be conscious of pushing our young people too hard and with too much intensity, removing these competitive levels is not an effective way to do that. In fact, Y10 and Y12 fencers competing at the national level is hugely positive for them overall as well as hugely important for the development of international level fencers. The exposure that they gain by having the chance to compete at the high levels helps to propel them forward to be confident in the future.
Back in April, I wrote a post about the importance of Youth 10 national events after I heard some rumors about this. Please read this post to get some additional insight.
This issue is incredibly important, and we need to mobilize our fencing community as quickly as possible to help preserve Y10 and Y12 national events. These are incredibly important for young fencers, and we are all blindsided by the idea that they could be taken out. Fencers hugely benefit from being able to compete at the national level at this age!
Why we need national Y10/Y12 events
Eliminating Y10 and Y12 events is the absolute wrong move for USA Fencing. Why?
National events teach goal setting
National events are exciting, giving Y10 and Y12 fencers something to reach for
Y10 & Y12 fencers become comfortable competing at a high level because of these events
FenceSafe and MAAPP at national events supports safer fencing in those categories at all levels
Clubs and coaches can support young fencers effectively by starting early
Future international competitors lose precious training and competition time, jeopardizing America’s ability to compete at the highest level
Young fencers are not under huge pressure to perform, but rather are gaining invaluable experience
Those of us who are on the ground with Y10 and Y12 fencers are widely in support of keeping these events. We are in direct contact with these fencers, and have seen how much these competitions support their ability to grow within the sport.
Personal perspective
My own kids started to compete when they were in the Y10 category, and I watched them grow tremendously through national-level competitions when they were at this age.
On the whole, kids love to go! It’s exciting and interesting to see the events, and for the most part the stakes are low for kids this age. They tend to go with such wide-open eyes and hearts that they just relish being in the environment of a national competition. In my experience, going to these actually helps to reduce their anxiety about competing at this level later on. It’s not a massive stressor, because kids at this age are usually too excited about fencing to be overly worried about what rank they are. For a kid to go to a national level event is often equivalent to ‘attending’ Olympic Games! This huge venue, officially looking referees, all the protocols of the highest level competition, name on the back of their jacket or lame! Just having their name is a huge deal, and most kids are full of excitement when they are back in the class, and everyone sees them as their fencing class heroes or at least celebrities. It’s really a big deal, both for those with the name and for those without it yet, and an aspiration!
I remember walking with my kids around the venue at their first Summer Nationals, and they spotted their idol, the first American World Champion Miles Chamley-Watson. No piece of my kids’ fencing uniform was left unsigned by him – glove, mask, lame! They keep it till this day. National competitions are confidence-building for Y10 and Y12 fencers. Think about it – how wide-eyed would you have been when seeing your heroes at that age?! This is exactly what happens for these fencers. They go to compete themselves, but they also soak up the higher level Cadet, Junior, and Senior fencers as they do amazing things on the strip. It gives them something to aspire to, and that is oh so wonderful!
I remember one March NAC, the kids in our club were talking about this super girl, Lauren Scruggs, whose name I learned from that March NAC. Lauren, at age 10, won 3 events at this March NAC – Y10, Y12, Y14. A few years passed, and Lauren became a World Champion, and not once! She is undoubtfully one of the most decorated Junior fencers in the world! Think about what would happen with her experience and confidence, if the Y10 and Y12 events in that March NAC and in two more consecutive years of March NACs and Summer Nationals were eliminated.
This is just one example of a World-class fencer, one of too many to remember. Take a look at the USA Team roster, current and in the previous years, and track their performance all the way to their youth – you will see that the overwhelming majority started competing when they were young Y10 fencers.
These events really help to build fencers to become stronger, as well as enriching their fencing experience. We strongly support USA Fencing continuing to offer Y10 and Y12 national events because we have seen firsthand how positive they are for fencers.
Making tough decisions
There’s this idea going around that we can’t have it all, and there’s of course some truth in that. However, if we need to choose what to cancel nationally, then youth is definitely not it. The logistics of adding Div2/3 to the national roster might be tough, but this needs to be addressed in a way that doesn’t sacrifice the future of fencing.
It’s also been said that canceling youth events will make things easier on families, given the rising costs on everything in every part of life. While it sounds like a nice thing to try to save family budgets, in reality those decisions are not something that USA Fencing should make. When there are Y10/Y12 events at national competitions, this can allow families with a wide range of ages to have a good experience for everyone, rather than leaving the younger kids out. Family budgeting is up to families, and taking something away will not ease that burden.
We’ve seen too many good things come out of youth fencing to have something like this be stripped from our competitive schedule. There are better, more creative ways to fix the problems that are attempting to be solved with this proposed elimination.
The timeline of eliminating Y10 & Y12
In October, a proposal was submitted to eliminate Y10 and Y12 National Youth Fencing Events at USFA. Where this proposal came from and the politics of a national sports event are less important than understanding that the other side needs to be heard, however you can read the full minutes of the board meeting at this link.
After this proposal was made to the national body, USA Fencing’s board moved to create a Task Force that will issue a report in February 2023 on the notion of canceling these events. They’ll then report their findings to the USA Fencing board, who will move forward with a decision.
There’s a lot that we don’t know here, but what we do know is that this information-gathering period is essential for the future of these events. USA Fencing is unlikely to eliminate anything for Summer Nationals 2023 as that season is already in full swing, but it could absolutely change the way that next season goes for the youngest fencers.
The urgency is in the next few weeks, when the Task Force is collecting their information. It’s during this time that the biggest impact will happen, though it’s important to understand that this issue is likely to be a debate even after the board makes a decision on this proposal.
How to have your voice heard
What we do know right now is that there’s a moment to have some influence. The biggest action item right now is for fencers to reach out to their networks to get as many people to sign this Change.org petition to keep Y10 and Y12 events. By presenting this fencing support of keeping these events, we can hope to have our voices heard by the Task Force.
The other thing that people can do is to contact their board members at USA Fencing. If you are unsure of who represents you, then reach out to your club staff to find out. You can directly email your board members to tell them what you think. This is a huge way to have your voice heard!
In recent years, fencing has grown wonderfully, particularly competitive fencing. This is true for Youth, Cadet/Junior, Senior, and Veteran levels. The more we are able to extend these events to grow fencing, the better we will be able to keep our sport going. We must build fencers from the ground up, and that starts with our youngest competitors.
We’re passionate about preserving this important part of the fencing experience. Please share this post with others to understand the whole picture and get all the implications, and to get as many signatures as possible so that we can hopefully save this event.
Please share on your social media accounts or send via email. More people see this post, read all the important points, sign the petition, more impact we will have on the Board decision.
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