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A Fencer’s Guide to Holiday Gifts – Olympic & Star Wars Edition

A Fencer’s Guide to Holiday Gifts – Olympic & Star Wars Edition

by | Dec 10, 2019 |

It’s that time of year again, when everyone is thinking towards holiday cheer and, of course, holiday gift giving. Fencers tend to go all in for their sport, and every fencer appreciates thoughtful holidays gifts that come from the heart (but is also related to fencing!).  This year is a little special because it is an Olympic year. We’ve got Tokyo 2020 to look forward to! We know that we’re extremely excited for the coming games and all that international fencing that’ll be at the heart...

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What Makes Sport So Important for All of Us?

What Makes Sport So Important for All of Us?

by | Dec 7, 2019 |

Why is it that sport is common among so many cultures and all over the world? As we head towards the Olympics, everyone is going to be talking about how sports bring the world together. They do bring us all together, and they are something that we all share more freely than we perhaps share other things.  We will see our fencers take the center stage during this time. Our sport will be highlighted in ways that it is not usually, giving us a bigger platform than we usually have. People will be...

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Why We’re Thankful for Tough Times in Fencing

Why We’re Thankful for Tough Times in Fencing

by | Nov 25, 2019 |

Fencing is hard work. Very hard work. There are bruises and sore muscles, long days and sometimes too much to balance it seems. Yet we are still thankful for everything that these tough challenges bring to us, for so many reasons.  Everyone right now seems to be reflecting on what it means to be thankful, and we are not an exception. It’s nice to pause and reflect, to take stock of what we are getting out of the things that we are doing in life. Fencing is obviously one of the big things...

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How Equipment Checks Can Screw Up Your Fencing Tournament – and What To Do About It

How Equipment Checks Can Screw Up Your Fencing Tournament – and What To Do About It

by | Nov 20, 2019 |

A vintage alarm clock displaying time with Soviet Union markings in black and white, representing a nostalgic era and serving as a symbol of past moments lost in time. Speed and accuracy are notoriously tough things to mix. It’s something that we experience with our fencing, and it’s a thing that can push us far behind. No one wants to get caught on the wrong side of making a mistake, but it happens all the time. In particular it can happen with equipment checks at fencing tournaments. We saw...

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How to Watch Your Pool Opponents Fence

How to Watch Your Pool Opponents Fence

by | Nov 19, 2019 |

There have been many times here at the AFM blog that we’ve written about the importance of tactical thinking in fencing. This sport of ours is not one where the strictly physical qualities of an athlete can determine the outcome of the bout. It is the mental and tactical savviness that is most important for success.  Extending tactical thinking beyond the scope of just the match allows fencers to make the most of opportunities. When fencers take on this whole-competition mindset for...

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Code of Honor – Understanding the Black Card in Sports

Code of Honor – Understanding the Black Card in Sports

by | Nov 12, 2019 |

Getting kicked out of a match is something that many fencers have thankfully never experienced. In fencing, the black card is the method that officials use to remove a fencer from competition when they break the code of honor. Severe offences mean an ejection in fencing. While sport is at its heart about good will and good sportsmanship, unfortunate events like ejections do happen. After the USA Fencing strengthened its protocols on the black card a few weeks ago, it’s been on a lot of...

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Critical Preparations Before Each Fencing Bout

Critical Preparations Before Each Fencing Bout

by | Nov 4, 2019 |

Close-up of a sprinter's hands and feet poised on the starting blocks, ready to explode into action at any moment Just before you step onto the strip for a bout, what’s going through your mind? In those few minutes before the bout, as you’re ready to step onto the strip and face your opponent, there are a lot of things to consider. How can you maximize your preparation? That’s exactly the question we are going to answer.  What we’re talking about here aren’t the big, sweeping parts. We’re...

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Victories Won in the Past Become Uninteresting in the Present – Interview with Ildar Mavlyutov [Translated from the Russian Fencing Federation]

Victories Won in the Past Become Uninteresting in the Present – Interview with Ildar Mavlyutov [Translated from the Russian Fencing Federation]

by | Oct 24, 2019 | ,

This incredible interview of Ildar Mavlyutov by Tatyana Kolchanova was posted originally on the Russian Fencing blog on October 18, 2019. Ildar Mavlyutov is a major fencing coach from Russia who has been a mentor to Inna Deriglazova. Inna is the 2016 Olympic Champion, a six-time Fencing World Champion, and Olympic powerhouse foilist.  It is always fascinating to learn from the world’s best athletes and coaches, and Ildar Mavlytov and Inna Deriglazova definitely proven themselves to be of...

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How to Strategize Regional Path Qualification in Fencing

How to Strategize Regional Path Qualification in Fencing

by | Oct 19, 2019 |

A bright yellow traffic sign on an urban roadside featuring two opposing direction arrows Regional path qualification for Fencing Summer Nationals is an important path to the big competition. It’s a path that offers what I think is one of the most accessible ways to get to Fencing Summer Nationals, and it’s a way that I encourage my fencers to pursue. Strategizing for regional qualification is important! To make it to Fencing Summer Nationals is no easy task, and it’s one that requires...

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Fencing Parents & Patience (or Lack Thereof)

Fencing Parents & Patience (or Lack Thereof)

by | Oct 16, 2019 |

Child, young. Cute boy at home Patience is a virtue, but it’s one that many of us struggle with.  I know that I struggle with patience, particularly when it comes to things that I don’t feel like I have a great deal of control over. I get frustrated when I get stuck in traffic or lose my patience when I get stuck on hold with my cable company. It’s a tough thing. I get that. Patience is something that I see a lot of other parents struggling with as well, particularly as I watch parents...

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Fencing Safety Rules [Infographic]

Fencing Safety Rules [Infographic]

by | Oct 11, 2019 |

Fencing is a very safe sport, actually one of the safest. But as with any physical activity, especially those that involve swinging swords, it is up to fencers and everyone else in the venue to ensure the safety. In the past we extensively wrote about fencing safety rules and measures and I’ve decided to convert this post into infographic. If you want to print and hang it in your club, please let me know and we will send you a high resolution printable version.

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Your Child Fencer Sacrifices a Lot

Your Child Fencer Sacrifices a Lot

by | Oct 7, 2019 |

boxer dogs playing puppy What exactly is sacrifice? Everyone has a different definition of what it means to give a sacrifice. Something that is easy for one person to give up might be heart wrenching for someone else to give up. It’s hard for us to see that, because it’s inherently unnatural for us to get into the mind of another person. We naturally see things from our own perspective. Flexing our empathy muscles can be important for all of us, especially when it comes to being a parent. It...

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How to Qualify for 2020 USA Fencing Summer Nationals [Infographic]

How to Qualify for 2020 USA Fencing Summer Nationals [Infographic]

by | Sep 26, 2019 |

Fencing season 2019-2020 had started! Which means you should start thinking about how you want your fencing season to go. Every year there are some changes to the rules and qualifying paths for USA Fencing Summer Nationals, not to mention that fencers progress through the age divisions and previous year path might be not relevant anymore. 2020 USA Fencing Summer Nationals are not exception. This year there are not that many changes in the qualification process for USA Fencing Summer Nationals,...

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Essential USA Fencing Tournament Changes for the 2019-2020 Season

Essential USA Fencing Tournament Changes for the 2019-2020 Season

by | Sep 24, 2019 |

There are some big changes coming to fencing tournaments for United States fencers this season. Most of the changes will affect the USA Fencing Summer Nationals that will happen in Louisville, Kentucky on June 28-July 7, 2020.   While it might feel like it’s a little bit too soon to be talking about what’s going to happen with fencing next summer, given that this season has just started, it’s better to know ahead of time than to get behind!  New rule changes Fencing rules change...

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What If You’re Not Cut Out to be a Fencing Parent?

What If You’re Not Cut Out to be a Fencing Parent?

by | Sep 18, 2019 |

Your child is into fencing. Really into fencing. They want to be at their fencing club five days a week, taking classes and private lessons and going to open fencing nights. They love to compete, and are willing to work hard to make their dreams of qualifying for top competitions. You’re a couple of years into this now, or maybe even a few years into it, and you know that fencing is not going anywhere.  But you’re tired. Exhausted by it. Your child has all of this enthusiasm, and that’s...

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