Academy of Fencing Masters Blog

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 fencers. That number—64—was so fundamental to our rating system that it became second nature to anyone involved in tournament organization or fencing development. I think it came from the table of 64 of the Direct Elimination...

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 politics - it's about whether the people who live and breathe fencing daily will have any real say in the decisions that affect our tournaments, our families, our clubs, and our sport's future. There is a petition to the board that...

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 Coast families, having two events—the October NAC in Salt Lake City and Summer Nationals in Portland—is fantastic. Here are the event combinations: October NAC (10/3-6/2025) - Div1, Junior, Cadet, ParaNovember NAC (11/14-17/2025)...

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 nationals over the years, I want to share the essential strategies that will help you and your fencer have an amazing, stress-free experience. Back in 2015, I created a comprehensive guide for people going to their first national-level...