It's hard to believe that exactly ten years ago, on this very day, we embarked on the journey of creating the AFM Blog. Back then, we had little more than a vague idea of what it would become. It felt like stepping into the unknown, with only the first step known to...
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Exciting News: Join Me in the “Parents’ Corner” at American Fencer!
I am thrilled to share some exciting news with all of you in the fencing community. Recently, I received a wonderful invitation to become a regular columnist at "American Fencer," the online reincarnation of the renowned "American Fencing" magazine. American Fencer...
Defying Boundaries: The Journey of Olympic Fencers
In a world where sports transcend borders, sometimes athletes make decisions that go beyond medals and championships. Today, we bring you an inspiring story of courage, conviction, and unity on the fencing piste. Meet Konstantin Lokhanov, a sabre fencer now training...
Celebrating a Decade of Growth & Excellence at AFM!
Ten years ago today if you’d told Irina and I where we’d be today, there’s no way we would have believed you. With our two sets of twin kids, all in elementary school, in tow, we opened the doors of the Academy of Fencing Masters with our coaches Natasha and Alexander...
The Countdown Begins: Join us for the Electrifying AFM Super Regional Tournament!
We’re excited to announce that we’re hosting the coming AFM Super Regional Tournament! This will be the second year that AFM has been the organizer for this major fencing competition. After the great success of last year’s tournament, we can’t wait to see how this...
Toasting to Success: Celebrating the Outstanding AFM Competitors at Summer Nationals & the July Challenge!
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...
Leaving Russia – What it Means and Why We Must Support this Kind of Bravery
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...
Welcome Sergey Bida to the United States and to AFM!
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...
Why I’m Running for an At-Large Director Seat on the USA Fencing BoD
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...
Urgent: Why You Should Sign the Petition to Save National Y10 & Y12 Competitions
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...