Academy of Fencing Masters Blog

In fencing, as in life, our memories of how we felt during crucial moments tend to fade. The intensity of that devastating loss, the thrill of executing a perfect attack, the frustration of a missed opportunity—all become less vivid with time. As a result, we often...

Focus is the mechanism through which we make the most of our fencing. We have to be able to focus adequately in order to give our all, and coming up with the right focus is not always so straightforward.  Athletes are always on the lookout for ways to up their...

Most of us hate mundane, hard things. For example, doing cardio training, working on targets, doing footwork exercises. Despite all of the goal setting and resolutions, we tend to drop them sooner or later.  Rather than consign ourselves to the fate of always...

I recently came across an intriguing idea about car maintenance that struck a chord with me. The concept goes like this: Deciding to fix a big dent in a car isn't perplexing - it's an obvious choice. But it's the little dents that present a dilemma. Do we fix them, or...

What is the Real Job of Your Child's Fencing Coach? At first glance, the answer seems simple: to teach fencing. But is that really all there is to it? Yes and no. Teaching fencing is undoubtedly a crucial part of the job – it's the foundation, the bare minimum. After...

Starting fencing as an adult or even as a senior citizen opens up a world of possibilities, but it also comes with its own set of considerations. While this blog primarily focuses on youth fencing and parenting topics, recent requests from adult and senior fencers...

Confidence in fencing is like that elusive goalpost in a game you're always chasing after but never quite reach. It's the magic ingredient that transforms a good fencer into a great one. You've probably heard fencing coaches shouting it from the sidelines like a...