The picture above is a real registration schedule for a Y10 fencer that I came across recently. Twelve competition events in 7 very big and significant tournaments between October and mid-January. That's basically every other weekend for three months straight, often...
Screenshot A mother of a beginner fencer came to me recently and signed up for ongoing group classes. Then she watched some private lessons and asked if her daughter could take them too. "Yes, of course," I said. "Actually, private lessons are a necessary part of...
A few years ago we had a fencer with an interesting habit. Before every bout she performed the same routine: adjusted the mask three times, tapped the guard twice with her left index finger, took four steps back, then advanced to the en garde line. She'd been doing...
Talk to any fencing coach and they will tell that the difference between successful fencers and others lies in discipline. And that's exactly right, but what most coaches mean is a different type of discipline than what fencers and parents typically assume. Let’s look...
For years, I could recite the USA Fencing event rating table from memory. Ask me what rating a fencer would earn for finishing 12th in a B3 event, and I'd answer instantly: D rating. Everyone in the fencing world knew that the large rated events must have at least 64...
Talk to any fencing coach (actually any sports coach) and you will hear many stories of overtraining. They all watched a promising young fencer collapse during what should have been a routine lesson. Not from exhaustion—from sheer mental fatigue. This athlete had been...
A reflection on sustainable fencing development in an age of instant promises In today's fencing landscape, families face an overwhelming array of choices and competing promises. Social media feeds overflow with dramatic transformation stories, bold claims about...
Fellow fencers, coaches, parents, and clubs - we need your voice and your immediate action. On June 29th, the USA Fencing Board will vote on bylaw changes that would fundamentally strip away our democratic voice in how our sport is governed. This isn't just about...
I appreciate when USA Fencing tries to improve things for fencers. It's important, and most of the time things are moving in the right direction. One such example is the significant improvement in event locations, which are definitely more balanced this time. For West...
Fencing Summer Nationals 2025 in Milwaukee is approaching fast, and if you're a parent preparing for your first national-level fencing competition, you're probably feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. After helping hundreds of families navigate their first...
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