When Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the Modern Olympics, he designed the Olympic Rings to include the colors of every flag of every nation, linked together to symbolize the inclusivity of the games and the idea that national differences could be set aside to engage in the struggle of sport. The Baron was so insistent … Continue reading Yes, Sports and Politics Do Mix. Get Over It. →

Sometime after I graduated college, I had a quarter-life fencing burnout crisis and decided to take a break from the sport. Boxing, I thought, would be a fun sport to learn. It involves a similar emphasis on footwork, speed, distance control, and strategy, and I loved watching it growing up. When I got into the … Continue reading Fencing is not a Combat Sport—and that’s a Good Thing →

In a previous post, I quipped about “Tales of Epic Black Cards,” which was a collection of horror stories from various referees where they had to resort to pulling out the dreaded black card (my favorite from my friend Kevin Shanahan, who shared with me a scoresheet signed “this ref stinks”). To everyone not named … Continue reading The Black Card as a Last Resort →

The Federation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) often resembles a hyperactive cat distracted by a laser pointer. Each year, ambitious new rule changes are proposed that hold neither the support of the fencers impacted, nor the referees enforcing them. Last year, we piloted the now defunct "Russian Box of Death" proposal that set the Sabre en garde … Continue reading The FIE Non-Combativity Proposal is Malarkey →

I like to think of fencing coaching as a partnership. When compared to sports such as Football where the Coach is master and commander whose word is absolute, Fencing promotes dialogue, exploration, and innovating for new ideas on the piste. When a new student begins, the lessons are more linear and perhaps even mechanical, focusing … Continue reading What do you Want to Work on Today? Giving the Conductor’s Wand to the Student →

Alright, controversial opinion time. Back at Summer Nationals, I had a student walk on as a referee. He's studied the rules extensively, he's worked hard at it in practice, and he's motivated to get better. But he was still "green," so to speak. A friend of mine refereeing in his pod sent me a message … Continue reading A Harangue on Referee Feedback and Development →

Five years ago, just before the 2012 London Olympics, I started a casual blog to keep my friends updated on my coaching adventures abroad and document my experience at the Olympic Games. To my surprise, “TheFencingCoach.com” wasn’t taken, so I jumped on the opportunity to register the domain name. I soon discovered how much I … Continue reading Lessons and Reflections from Five Years of Fencing Blogging →

  “We all have a Monster within; the difference is in degree, not in kind.” -Douglas Preston Even ten years after “Jason’s” imprisonment, it’s difficult for me to look at his booking photo. Jason is expressionless, his perfectly symmetrical face staring into the camera blankly. His brown eyes are dead, but he raises his cheekbones … Continue reading On “Bad Actors” in Fencing →