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An Interview with Sofya Velikaya, translated from the Russian Fencing Federation website

An Interview with Sofya Velikaya, translated from the Russian Fencing Federation website

by | Apr 20, 2020 | ,

Sofya Velikaya: “If I took gold at my first Olympic Games, I would have ended my career” Fencing is a sport that crosses continents and languages. It is not always easy to connect with fencers who are titans in the sport when they don’t speak the same language that you do. That’s why we’ve translated an interview with one of the greats in the World Fencing, Sofya Velikaya from Russian into English, because it is worth it for fencers everywhere to read!  Sofya Velikaya is truly a fencer to...

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Fencing Coach Perspective on Importance of Private Lessons during the Quarantine

Fencing Coach Perspective on Importance of Private Lessons during the Quarantine

by | Apr 17, 2020 | ,

Coaches Dima Chumak (right) and Slava Zingerman at Summer Nationals 2019 By: Coach Dima Chumak Dear Parents of Fencers!       On behalf of all fencing coaches, I would like to thank you for supporting your child in keeping on learning the Olympic sport of fencing during this challenging time. Your commitment and dedication are truly amazing and inspiring.       Our team has been working a lot to find the best solutions to conduct group and private lessons in new...

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Fencing News – FIE’s Response to Coronavirus, Olympic Qualification, and Competition Schedules

Fencing News – FIE’s Response to Coronavirus, Olympic Qualification, and Competition Schedules

by | Apr 15, 2020 |

Things are continuing to evolve in the realm of fencing thanks to COVID-19. New developments from FIE are coming to our attention consistently, particularly now that the Olympics have been officially postponed to July 2021.  Recently there has been a letter circulating on Instagram that appears to be officially from FIE and that addresses what things will look like for international competition and Olympic qualification in the wake of coronavirus. We should point out that we have not been...

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Maximizing Online Fencing Training Part 2 – A Guide for Fencers and Fencing Parents

Maximizing Online Fencing Training Part 2 – A Guide for Fencers and Fencing Parents

by | Apr 14, 2020 | , ,

Screen time has become fencing time in the bold new world of coronavirus with online fencing training. It’s a time that is unusual and challenging, but it’s one that we know we can get through if we work together and stay positive. Fencing is a sport that is remarkable in all of its adaptability, and today we are pushing the boundaries of that adaptability.  That all sounds well and good, but how do fencing families take the most advantage of online fencing classes during the time of COVID-19?...

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Maximizing Online Fencing Sessions Part 1 – A Guide for Fencing Clubs and Coaches

Maximizing Online Fencing Sessions Part 1 – A Guide for Fencing Clubs and Coaches

by | Apr 11, 2020 |

This is a brave new world that we are living in. It’s one that none of us has any experience with, not even the experts that are our fencing coaches and fencing club owners. It can be daunting to try to translate the real and in person experience of teaching fencing to this new age of social distancing.  The truth is that fencing training has been basically unchanged for hundreds of years. You have an experienced coach. You have a fencer who wants to learn. You put them together in a room and...

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Talking Fencing and Coronavirus with Michael Aufrichtig, Fencing Head Coach at Columbia University

Talking Fencing and Coronavirus with Michael Aufrichtig, Fencing Head Coach at Columbia University

by | Apr 8, 2020 | , ,

AFM recently had the amazing opportunity to sit down (virtually) with Michael Aufrichtig, the head coach of the Columbia University fencing team. He lives and coaches in New York City, which is of course the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. Through our interview, we were able to talk about training during the coronavirus pandemic, how competitive fencing is going to be potentially affected by all of this, and to gain some insight into the uncertainty for fencers who...

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World’s First Zoom Fencing Competition

World’s First Zoom Fencing Competition

by | Apr 1, 2020 |

Challenging times require new creative solutions. For fencers, one of the biggest challenges of a new lockdown reality is their inability to fence against real opponents. But don't worry, we have you covered. Introducing World's First Zoom Fencing Competition! While we take fencing very seriously, we like to laugh from time to time. Happy April Fools Day! Stay healthy, positive and keep your distance!

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How to make a ball on a string (for fencing drills) in four easy steps

How to make a ball on a string (for fencing drills) in four easy steps

by | Mar 28, 2020 | , ,

By Imme Kaschner Hi Igor & Team Thank you for your inspiring work! We (my 10 year old daughter and I) are members at VRI Fencing, Melbourne, Australia (the club focuses on mainly on epee). We had our first online session for the junior squad today. Life in lockdown is suddenly looking much better! I had totally underestimated the utility of this "cat toy" (=ball on a string) for fencing training. I put together this easy DIY tutorial after being asked by our head coach to get one, and...

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How Postponing the 2020 Olympics will Affect Fencing – First Thoughts

How Postponing the 2020 Olympics will Affect Fencing – First Thoughts

by | Mar 25, 2020 | ,

This week, the International Olympic Committee announced that the 2020 Olympic Games will be postponed. The games will retain their name, the 2020 Olympic Games, but they will not be held until 2021. This move is unprecedented in the history of the Olympic Games. Since they began, there have only been three Olympics that have been canceled. One in 1916, due to World War I, then two in 1940 and 1944 due to World War II. Two other times the Games were disrupted by world events, first the Moscow...

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Saving Fencing During the Coronavirus Pandemic – How Fencing Clubs Can Make Online Classes Work

Saving Fencing During the Coronavirus Pandemic – How Fencing Clubs Can Make Online Classes Work

by | Mar 22, 2020 |

We are right now experiencing one of the most extraordinary moments in modern history. The coronavirus pandemic has totally changed the way that we live our lives, and that change has fundamentally threatened fencing as we know it. I am not being dramatic here, I am being realistic. Yes, things will go back to something resembling normal eventually. Of course that will happen. In the meantime, we risk losing not only the progress that our fencers have made, but also potentially the clubs that...

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AFM Online Fencing Training

by | Mar 20, 2020 | , , ,

You can continue to train even when the entire world seems to come to halt. Our first online fencing training today was a real blast - we had more than 160 kids who participated in all classes and their energy, smiles, and joy were really contagious! Don't wait - join the movement! #OnlineFencingTraining

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How to Build Your Own Home Fencing Target

How to Build Your Own Home Fencing Target

by | Mar 19, 2020 |

FACT #1: Many fencing clubs around the world are closed to classes and lessons right now due to coronavirus. FACT #2: Fencers still need to practice their fencing, which means practicing at home.  FACT #3: Fencing swords are long and pointy.  FACT #4: When long and pointy things poke furniture and walls, they leave marks and holes. FACT #5: You can make your own fencing target at home with very little trouble, which will help avoid holes in the things.  There are of course many options to buy...

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Fencing Training in a Pandemic – How Fencers Can Keep in Shape

Fencing Training in a Pandemic – How Fencers Can Keep in Shape

by | Mar 18, 2020 | , ,

Right now, we’re seeing a major global outbreak of a virus that’s pushing everything to its limits. From large events to universities, the entire globe is being affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and the fencing training wasn't skipped in this neither. This isn’t something far away either, it’s right here in our backyards. Everyone is taking additional precautions to slow down and prevent the spread. That unfortunately means pulling back from some fencing activities for a lot of people for...

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An Open Letter to the USA Fencing Community about the Coronavirus Pandemic

An Open Letter to the USA Fencing Community about the Coronavirus Pandemic

by | Mar 15, 2020 | ,

We are living an extraordinary time that requires extraordinary choices. Everywhere around the United States, families and businesses are making tough decisions about how to prevent the spread of coronavirus. We have had to make the extremely difficult decision to close our club to group classes to help stop the spread of the illness, despite what we thought we can do to keep going. It was the most gut wrenching decision that we have ever had to make, and it will challenge us, but we will make...

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Practical Solutions for Fencers and Fencing Clubs in a Pandemic

Practical Solutions for Fencers and Fencing Clubs in a Pandemic

by | Mar 12, 2020 |

In moments of widespread fear of pandemic and misunderstanding, the best course of action is to stay calm and make intelligent choices. That’s what we’re working to do here, and we feel as though this is where the fencing community is right now as well.  Right now, the spread of the coronavirus is on the top of the minds of everyone. We recognize that public spaces like fencing clubs have a responsibility to make things as safe as possible. For everyone.  To that end, we are taking...

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