En guard!
Fencing Academy welcomes recreational, competitive students
By David Bennett
Many sports promote sportsmanship, respect and tradition. In fencing, those attributes are part of its DNA as European fencing schools date back to the 12th century.
At the Fencing Academy of Nevada, 1220 S. Rainbow Blvd., instruction is for both recreational and competitive fencers. The academy’s philosophy and training programs focus on the fencer as
an individual.
Colleen Brown, FAN manager, said the academy is a community of fencers who support one another. “We have members ranging in age from 8 to 60,” said Brown. “Although I would say 80 percent of our students are under 20. The attraction of fencing is that it is a mentally and physically challenging sport, pitting one person against another. One of the owners of the Academy refers to fencing as a physical chess game because fencers, just like chess players, are always thinking several moves ahead.”
The community of support Brown refers to is the fact that an 8-year-old may be taught by a 16-year-old who is being coached by a 40-year-old whose mentor is 70 years old. “This is one large, extended family,
and they all share a love of the sport,” Brown said.
On the subject of family, Brown said “My two sons are fencers, and I believe it is teaching them certain life lessons that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Not only are you competing in a physical sport, but it’s also a mental sport that requires composure.”
Thirteen-year-old Andrea Dilibero, a student at Alexander Dawson School, has been fencing for five years and doesn’t want to do anything else. “I like the competitiveness, and it’s such a challenge,” she said. “I’ve tried other sports but decided to focus on this one, and now practice four times a week.”
Last month, Andrea went to the Summer Fencing Nationals in Atlanta and participated in three events. There were more than 100 competitors in each event and she placed in the top 50 of each one. “I love it,” she said. “I just want to keep doing it.”
Teaching Andrea is Yves Auriol, head coach and maitre at the Academy, who was inducted into the United States Fencing Association Hall of Fame in 2007.
Brown is proud to point out that many Fencing Academy of Nevada graduates are competing at top fencing universities, including Stanford, Harvard, Tufts, Air Force and Ohio State.
Ongoing beginning classes for students age 7 to 14 with little or no experience are held throughout the year Monday through Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m. The cost is $175 per month for twice-a-week classes. All equipment is provided, and the first class is free.
For more information on the Fencing Academy of Nevada, call 838-3320 or visit www.fencingacademyofnevada.com.
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