Academy of Fencing Masters Blog

Three years ago one girl came to our fencing summer camp, clutching her mother's hand, eyes wide with uncertainty. She had never held a sword before. Never worn a mask. Never stood on a strip. Her mother whispered to me, "She's so shy, I'm not sure if this was the right choice." It's a scene I've witnessed hundreds of times over years of running fencing camps. That first-day nervousness. That parental concern. That unspoken question hanging in the air: Will my child thrive here? By Friday...

I want to talk about hope. Not the vague "I hope I win this tournament" or "I hope my fencer gets better" kind of hope. No, I want to talk about real, substantial hope – the kind that sustains us through the darkest moments in fencing and beyond. You might be thinking, "Igor, why are you talking about something so abstract? Give me concrete drills, tactical advice, something I can use!" And I understand that reaction. But I've come to realize that without hope, all those technical skills and...

It happened again last weekend during the March NAC. One of our fencers — talented, hard-working, technically sound — froze on the strip during a crucial DE. Not because their opponent was doing anything particularly brilliant. Not because they didn't know what to do. But because somewhere between the "Fence!" command and their first step, a voice in their head whispered: "You're going to mess this up. You always do against this fencer." Just a tiny, seemingly insignificant whisper of a...

In the world of international fencing, a remarkable story has unfolded over the past two decades - one that challenges traditional narratives about gender and sport. While many Olympic sports see men's events receive greater attention and prestige, American fencing tells a different tale. The meteoric rise of Team USA on the international stage has been led not by men, but by women who have redefined what's possible with a sword in hand, our American Queens of the strip. The Golden Revolution...