Almost four years ago, we interviewed rising star in epee Yuval Freilich, who at the time had just won his first Gold medal at the European Championships. At the time, we wrote that it would not be the last time you would hear from him, and that we predicted he would...
Academy of Fencing Masters Blog
Art of Fencing, Art of Life
Interviews
From COVID to Careers – An Interview Alexander Gorbachuk, Coach of the 2020 Olympic Gold Medal Men’s Epee Team Part 3
Taking a team to the highest level of fencing is a task that’s filled with tough decisions, long hours, and much sacrifice on the part of everyone involved. Getting there takes a team effort, and it takes a fencing coach with vision like Alexander Gorbachuk....
Challenged to be Resilient – An Interview with Alexander Gorbachuk, Coach of the 2020 Olympic Gold Medal Men’s Epee Team – Part 2
Understanding the dynamics of international fencing is fascinating for those of us who work primarily on the youth sports level. It is so incredibly different, from the methods of training to the rigor that is required. The stress of this level of competition takes...
From Big Dreams to Olympic Gold – An Interview with Alexander Gorbachuk, Coach of the 2020 Olympic Gold Medal Men’s Epee Team – Part 1
This is the story of one coach who went down in the history of Japanese fencing and world fencing through perseverance and strength of character. For the world, one moment of Olympic Gold can seem like just one moment. For Alexander Gorbachuk, that one moment is the...
Barry Paul talks Longevity, Innovation, and the Way Forward for Fencing
There are very few companies that can say they have gone on for one hundred years, but Leon Paul is one of them. When the company was founded by Barry Paul’s grandfather, Leon Paul, no one could have foreseen the changes that would come in the world of fencing. Yet...
Quality, Growth, and the Future of Fencing with Leon Paul’s Director Ben Paul
For fencers, our equipment is a central figure in what we do. We talk about this all the time - our swords are an extension of who we are. For fourth-generation Leon Paul co-owner and Director Ben Paul, making top quality fencing equipment with compassion is clearly...
Rick Mayer, a Veteran Fencer and Referee Talks Discipline, Training, and Persistence
Not all insight in fencing comes from the big names in the sport. Sometimes it’s the people that you haven’t heard of who can offer the most potent and relatable understanding of the sport. Rick Mayer has been fencing for decades, from his teenage years all the way to...
Olympic Fencing Commentator Karim Bashir on Passion, Knowledge, and Storytelling
Karim Bashir: Enjoying Leon Paul's sponsorship at World Cup Karim Bashir is a commentator extraordinaire, bringing his fast and in depth knowledge of fencing to high level championships all over the world. He’s been the voice of fencing in commentary all the way up to...
Attention in Fencing and How It Transforms to Life
Attention is basically the action of fixating the mind on some activity or some event. And when I say fixating the mind, it means being able to carefully listen and watch, and be in constant and instant awareness of everything happening in the event of interest....
The Best Fencing Referee in the World – A Conversation with Natalia Zhuravleva
We usually think of the accomplishments in fencing as something that is for fencers, but referees are chasing their own achievement as well. The most accomplished referees are those who are striving to always be better than they are, who are working hard to make the...