Introduction: The Wrong Messenger with the Right Message When I look on my bookshelf at the extensive library of fencing books I possess, authors include the likes of: Zbigniew Czajkowski- Founder of the Polish school, coach of multiple Olympic medalists and world champions (across all three weapons) Aldo Nadi- Olympic champion in all three weapons … Continue reading Analytics in Epee Fencing – The Lehfeldt Evaluation Framework (LEF) →

The French military strategist General Andre Beaufre coined the concept of "Total Strategy," a holistic approach encompassing: “Selection of the decisive point to be attacked (this depends on the enemy’s vulnerable points) Selection of the preparatory maneuver, which will enable this decisive point to be reached. Victory will go to the side that which succeeds … Continue reading On Modern Epee Preparations and Ideas →

In a coaching clinic, Maestro Gil Pezza equated Fencing distance to that of an accordion, contracting as the fencers gain proximity to one another and expanding as they withdraw and create space. Visually, this is perhaps the most accurate analogy I’ve come across. In the single tempo modern Epee game that has gotten to much … Continue reading On Modern Distance in Epee Fencing →

This study was originally published in the journal "Arrancada" Volume 24 Number 47. It has been republished with the author's permission. Abstract The purpose of the present study was to examine the relations between balance, flexibility, and standing long jump performances of 10-13-year-old fencing athletes. A total of 20 male fencers participated in the study … Continue reading Examining the Relationship Between Balance, Flexibility, and Power in Fencing (by Maestra İpek İrem Ülkü) →

Note: this article was originally published in Carmimari's Fencing blog in September 2019 which has since gone offline. Maestro Pezza has given me permission to republish here. It's an important work and I want to make sure it remains visible to the public! Unlike a madeleine dipped in tea, a modern foil bout is not … Continue reading In Search of Lost Time in Today’s Fencing (by Maestro Gil Pezza) →

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary pair of devices from Calibur Fencing in return for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for this review, nor am I endorsed by Calibur Fencing in any capacity. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by Calibur Fencing and/or its affiliates … Continue reading Calibur Wireless Fencing Machine Review – On the Cusp of Primetime but not Quite There →

Let me begin by once again expressing my gratitude.  That gratitude begins with our members who voted to elect me as an At-Large Director in September of 2023.  And after a year of serving on the Board, that gratitude extends to my colleagues who voted to elect me as the 4th Chair/President of the Board.  … Continue reading Lehfeldt’s Final Boring Board Blog: I’m Kind of Selling out…but also not Really →

Author’s Note: Do not let this article distract you from the fact that the Atlanta Falcons blew a 25-point lead in Super Bowl LI. https://youtu.be/PRDBdw5_rhI?si=sHMdfYz44AYKWboA In the 2022 Bern World Cup, Israeli Fencer Grigori Beskin fenced Ukraine’s Yan Sych in the Tableau of 64. Beskin amassed a 14-8 lead by masterfully disrupting the preparation of … Continue reading On Maintaining and Growing Leads: Fencing to Win vs. Fencing Not to Lose →

In the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann makes a bargain with Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) which he betrays within seconds. When Swann turns to Barbossa and urges him to follow the Pirate Code and uphold his end of the agreement, Barbossa responds: “the code … Continue reading On Differences in Epee Refereeing Conventions at the FIE vs. USA Fencing Level →

This article will be published in the upcoming Summer 2024 issue of the United States Fencing Coaches' Association Sword Master Magazine As part of my United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) thesis that evolved into my data and analytics role with team USA, I’ve now analyzed over 7,000 touches and studied 166 different fencers from … Continue reading On the Five Schools of Fencing: a High Level Analysis of French, Russian, Italian, Hungarian, and German Fencing →