15th and 22nd Steve Sobel 1972 - 1976 & 1992 - 1996
Mr. Sobel has led a distinguished life in fencing. A former President of the USFA, League Counsel, and past Vice President of the US Olympic Committee, Steve began his fencing achievements as the 1954 NCAA Saber champion for Columbia. He served as Chief of Mission for the US Pan American Games team and USOC Delegate to the Pan American Sports Organization.
1930 Nedo Nado at New York Athletic Club
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Raw, unedited footage of a visit by Nedo Nadi to New York Athletic Club on 31 January 1930.
AFLA Awards by Robert Stoll
Robert Stoll was the official supplier to the
AFLA in its early days and generously donated many perennial awards to our
organization.
AFLA Treasurers: Leo Sobel and Peter Tishman
Leo Sobel and Peter Tishman AFLA Treasurers, on the cover of American Fencing Magazine, July 1969
Alaux, Michel
US Olympic team coach in 1964, 1968, and 1972 and at several
World Championships. A regular contributor to national and
international fencing journals (writing in both French and English) he
summed up his thoughts on technique and philosophy in the book, MODERN
FENCING.
Bartha, Miklos
Miklos Bartha took over the old Salle Santelli when Georgio moved his operations to New Jersey.
Calvert, Delmar
1973 Jr. Olympics (the US 2nd J.O.) had a triple champion in U-14 Bradley Thomas coached by Delmar Calvert.
Carter, Al
Al Carter was the 1989 Under 19 US foil champion and is coaching in the Los Angeles area.
Costin, Daniel
Daniel Costin coached champions such as Teddy Levitt, Jason Rogers, Tom Berman
Csiszar, Lajos
(1903-1997) - Born in Hungary, where he was assistant coach to Italo Santelli. Best known as coach of the University of Pennsylvania., where he won two NCAA championships. Olympic team coach and creator of numerous champions.
DeKoff, Irving
Coach of Columbia University (1953-1968). President of the NFCAA. NFCAA coach of the Year. He won the NCAA team championship four times (1954, '55, '63, '65) and the IFA team championship five times.
Early 19th Century American Fencing
Some notes on American Fencing in the early 19th century. Andrew Jackson advocated training in swordplay, and urged training in foils for its value as a discipline. In a paper on military practice he remarked: "Fencing sharpens the eyesight, increases active power in general, tries the temper, and teaches decision in seizing occasions for acting offensively with effect, or defensively with coolness and resolution. A knowledge to fence with foils, even to exercise with sabre or broadsword, is deemed a necessary accomplishment for all military men of the higher class."
Early American Fencing 17th & 18th Century
Although fencing didn't truly flourish in America until the 19th century, here are some of the earliest American references to the teaching of fencing. The appearance of a fencing school in Boston indicates an increased interest in recreation in Puritan life, as per the "Encyclopedia of American Facts and Dates" by Gorton Carruth.Elthes, Csaba
Maestro Csaba Elthes was a legendary fencing master who immigrated to
the U.S. to become the coach to the U.S. Olympic Bronze Medalist in
1984, Peter Westbrook.
Executive Director: Carla-Mae Richards
Carla-Mae Festa (later to become Carla-Mae Richards) was the New
England Foil Champion but grabbed national fame as the hugely effective
Executive Director of US Fencing. She will be inducted into the Hall of
Fame in the summer of '08 in San Jose, California.
Fencers' Club Ledger
This Ledger of The Fencers Club, New York c. 1896-1910; was purchased from Sanctuary Books in Manhattan.
Fencing articles from 1902 by Edward Breck
Two articles from 1902 by Edward Breck: "Introduction to Fencing", and "The Foil: The outfit".Fencing: The Sport For All Ages
FENCING:
The Sport For All Ages
by Jack Keane
Fencing makes a new man of AI Vogt at 71.
Reverse the numerals of Steve Renshaw's age, 17, and you have Al Vogt's.
Interestingly, that is not an unusual spread of years for competitors
in the sport of fencing. Perhaps, then,
it comes closest to qualifying as a truly ageless sport.Something a man who wants the value
of a workout or the thrill of competition
can enjoy equally.
Al has been a member of the New York A.C. since 1944, joining from the former illustrious French YMCA which moved downtown to Chelsea from its location near the Ziegfeld Theatre. Steve is a high school youngster out of Wayne, New Jersey, who carne to the club last year as a Junior Member to take advantage of the .Club's great fencing program. The same lure drew AI Vogt over three decades ago and has held him here since.
FENCING; A Farewell to Amateurism
SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: July 15, 1989
With two days left in a two-week event dominated by the usual countries, a pair of aging fencers have struck a resounding blow for the new United States policy in the world championships at Boettcher Concert Hall.
Franke, Nikki
Temple University's Nikki Franke watches a tense bout at the NCAA's. Photo by Andy Shaw
Garret, Maxwell
Coach of U. of Illinois (1941-72); winner of the
NCAA team championship (1956, '58). Coach of Penn State University
(1972-80). One of the principal organizers of fencing in the Midwest.
Co-founder of the NFCAA (1941). President of the NFCAA. Captain of CCNY
(1939).
Gradkowski and Gillet
Richard Gradkowski (Coach of the Saltus Club) and
Jean-Jacques Gillet (Cornell Coach) watching the 1989 Jr. Olympics in Colorado
Springs. Photo by Andy Shaw
Harutunian, Henry
"A game of chess played on your feet, requiring agility, power and intelligence."
That's how coach Henry Harutunian describes fencing. It's a sport that provides strength of character for one's entire life. For more than 30 years, Yale fencers with the will have been counting on Harutunian to hone the skill.
Click Here to see Henry Harutunian's interview from the 2013 US Fencing Junior Olympics
It's All in the Fingers
Robert Levis talking about his dad, Joe Levis (1932 Olympic silver medalist) interviewed by Andy Shaw
Without a doubt, the single most important element of my father's fencing technique was his emphasis on the minimizing the distance that the blade, more specifically, the point, had to travel.
Katzoff, Ted
In 1955, my parents enrolled me in a fencing class at the Westside
Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles. I was twelve years old. The man
teaching the class was Mel North, a very charismatic coach. I became a
charter member of Salle Du Nord in 1956. In 1957, the coaches of
Southern California created the Junior League of Southern California so
that fencers age fourteen through sixteen years old could have
organized competition with their peers. This was one of the precursors
ofthe Junior Olympics. There were about three hundred boys and girls,
all foil fencers. We fenced all pools from the preliminaries to Finals.
I was undefeated during the two years I competed in the League.
Lilien, Elliot
Elliot Lilien founded the fencing team at Concord-Carlisle High(1965) and coached there for twenty years.
Lucchetti, Marcos
Marcos Lucchetti Interviewed by Andy Shaw for the Museum of American Fencing
July, 2012 at the Summer National Championships in Anaheim, California
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Lucia, Professor Edward F. Sr.
Eddie Lucia was born April 18, 1914 in Leonia, New Jersey. He was an assistant Professor of Physical and Health Education and Head Coach of Fencing at the City College of New York.
Max's Maxims, by Maxine Mitchell
Basic tactical advice from Maxine Mitchell
If you are winning, don't change your tactics.
If you are losing, ask yourself "WHY am I getting hit?"
Each motion should have a purpose. Your feint must get a reaction from your opponent.
If you want your opponent to attack, you don't have to back up.
Fence different opponents in different ways. Don't use the same tactics for everyone.
To get something from fencing, you have to give something to it in terms of hard work.
You meet many nice people and make many friends, BUT just remember that fencing isn't everything!
McKee. Coach of Cavaliers
Coach McKee and his Cavaliers in southern California with Olympian Maxine Mitchell (3rd from right)
Methodology of Success, by Steve Mormando
The first priority is to establish your goal. Know what you want to do, and create a goal that is larger than your dream.
Midwest Fencing Championships, 1957
Midwest Fencing Championships, Minneapolis Minnesota
May 4 and 5, 1957
Miller, Ron
Coach Ron Miller with his University of North Carolina women's foil team at the NCAA championships. Photo by Andy Shaw
More about the A.F.L.A. 1954
American Fencing Magazine, 1954: More about the A.F.L.A
article by Jose R. de Capriles
Moss, Jim
Jim Moss coached the Ben Franklin High fencing team in Philadelphia…the students called the school Malcolm X high, where Tyrone Simmons starred with Hooker and Blake.
Murray, James Jr.
(1871-1957) - Concurrently coach of Columbia (1898-1948) and the New York AC (1891-1954) (where he was also boxing coach). Produced numerous intercollegiate and national champions and Olympians. He was probably the first American to travel to Europe to study to become a fencing master and then make a career of it.
NAC Officials Bob Edgington & Jon Moss
Bob Edgington and Jon Moss officiating at a NAC.photo by Andy Shaw
National or International by Michel Alaux
American Fencing Magazine,
September / October1971
National or International
New York Athletic Club Stars: Charles Bothner, Rudolph Haubold & Georges Kavanagh
New York Athletic Club Stars: Charles G. Bothner, Rudolph Haubold & Georges Kavanagh
New York Fencers Club at Windsor Arcade
Photo of Windsor Arcade on Fifth Avenue between 46th and 47th streets. The New York Fencers club resided here from around 1903 - 1912. Photo from Museum of the City of New York
New York Turn-Verein 100th Anniversary
100th AnniversaryBy Dernell Every
The Fencing Section of the New York Turn-Verein, first organized in 1850, is the oldest fencingclub in New York City and probably in the country. In celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year it will act as a host to a special AFLA competition for which it will supply medals and a suitable plaque.
O'Connor, Tatham, Nadal, Van Zo Post, 1891
William Scott O'Connor, Charles Tatham, C. C. Nadal, and Albertson Van Zo Post (seated)
Pesthy, Paul
AFLA national epee champion (1964, '66, '67, '68, '83).
Member, U.S. Olympic fencing team (1964, '68, '76); member, U.S.
Olympic modern pentathlon team (1964, '68). Olympic silver medalist,
Pentathlon team 1964, World Team Bronze 1962, '63. IFA epee champion
(1964) and NCAA epee champion (1964, '65) for Rutgers. Petin, Michael
Michael Petin (coach at NY Fencers club) with Brendan Meyers at the '04 Jr. World championships
Pinchart, Rene
(1891-1970) - Belgian Olympian in fencing and gymnastics (1920). Emigrated to the U.S. to become fencing master of the New York Fencers Club. Coach of the U.S. Olympic team (1928, '32, '48, '52). Among his pupils were Lt. George Calnan, Joseph Levis, Maria Cerra Tishman, Daniel Bukantz, Nat Lubell, Helena M. Dow, and many other national champions and Olympians. The national Under-19 men's foil trophy is presented in his memory (1971).
Posthumus, Sherry
It is altogether fitting that the sport of fencing played such a vital role in the life of Sherry Posthumus, who spent the bulk of her days touching the lives of others.
President's Speech - AFLA
It is a pleasant tradition for the
president of the AFLA to send this annual greeting to the membership at the
opening of each fencing season. It is also an opportunity for comment and
exhortation which a new “brass hat” can hardly resist after a quarter of a
century (come next spring) of active membership in the League.
Miguel A. de Caprilles, AFLA President
Schmitter, Charles R.
Named "Fencing Coach of the Year" by the National Fencing Coaches Association in 1957. He has served on the fencing committee for the Olympic games several times. In 1956 Charles Schmitter, for whom the Schmitter Fencing Collection is named, became the first native born American to achieve the prestigious Italian Masters Diploma in fencing.
Sebastiani, Michel
Princeton fencing coach Michel Sebastiani to step down.
Wednesday, 22 June 2005 - From an article at Fencing.net
Senac, Louis
Born and educated in New York, he was the son of Regis Senac, also a fencing master. The son in his younger days was recognized as one of the leading foilsmen of the world. In his later years, he became an instructor and for a time taught at the New York Athetic Club, and had served as coach of the City College fencing team.
Soter, Paul
Paul Soter, US Epee Coach from San
Francisco at the Athens Olympic Games, 2004
Spotlight is on Alex Orban by Jack Keane
Exerpt from the article by Jack Keane:"Orban is a star. An international star. He can do everything that ever was intended to be done with a saber. And he probably can do it faster than anybody. He is generally acknowledged to be one of the three fastest, if not the fastest, man in the world. "
St. Gaudens, Augustus
Famous sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens was an early member of the NY Fencer's ClubStamm, Leonie
Mme. Leonie Stamm was one of the earliest fencing coaches to open her own private
"salon" for New York's wealthiest women in the 1890's.
Stawicki, Les
Les Stawicki, former
head coach of the Polish Olympic Team and Current U.S. Paralympic Team head
coach, at the 2006 Nationals. photo by Andy Shaw
The Best System of Fencing
By Irving De Koff
What is the best system of fencing? Obviously, the French school is the best. No! The Italian system is by far the most superior school of fencing in the world. Whoa, sez my friend, “without a doubt the Hungarians have shown… ad infinatum. This is, or at least has been the story of which system is the best.
U.S.F.A - a new name, a new direction
By Carla-Mae RichardsThe past year has seen a change in direction with establishment of the North American circuit of events. This circuit was established to achieve a critically important goal—that of providing our top fencers with stronger competition throughout the season beyond fencing one another in a “closed event”. Why? It was done to provide a sounder base by which we could select our best fencers to represent the U.S. in major national events: World Championships, Pan-American games and Olympic Games.
Uebel, Ferdinand
Ferdinand Uebel in 1950 teaching in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Uebel is the coach who started competitive fencing in the state of Minnesota. He was the President of the Minnesota Fencers league going back to the 1920's, taught fencing at the University of Minnesota and was the fencing coach for the St. Paul Turners Fencing team.Uyttenhove, Professor Henri J.
Fencing coach, Professor Henri J. Uyttenhove
Obituary by Fred Linkmeyer, American Fencing Magazine, July 1950
Vauthier, Louis
The name of Louis Vauthier did not go long unknown. He
began his career as assistant to M. Ayat, a left-handed fencer and one of the
most famous masters in Velarde, Jose
Joe Velarde began fencing at the age of thirteen at Seward Park High School and competed in New York City's Public School Athletic League from 1936-39. He was a sophomore and co-captain of Professor Joseph Smith's Brooklyn College Fencing Team when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. Joe enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served from 1942-45 in the European Theatre of Operations, flying 60 bombing missions as a B-25 Armorer-Gunner.
Veteran's Award to Keane
On April 7th the Club’s highest athletic honor, the Veterans Award, will be presented to Fencing Chairman Jack Keane. A former football player, Jack began fencing instruction with Maestro Niederkirchner in 1957. So remarkable was his natural aptitude that he made the finals in the national foil championship in 1958. In 1960 and 1961 he gained the Metropolitan three weapon crown. Then in '62 he "switched blades," and specialized in saber. His progress in saber has been meteoric: he 'was a finalist in the 1964 Olympic Trials ; in '66 he placed second in the Hungarian Outdoor Championships ; and in '67 he took the Pan Am gold medal. Jack will be the first fencer ever honored by the Veterans.
Vince, Joseph
Joseph Vince coached his women to an all-time record 10 consecutive U.S. foil team titles.
Vitale, Sylvio
Hall of Famer Ralph Zimmerman with his coach Sylvio Vitale at M.I.T
Among fencing coaches, Silvio will be remembered as a colleague gentleman whether it be as a competing team coach, or as an individual co-professional. In his 27 years as head fencing coach at M.I.T. Silvio passed on to his pupils not only the skill of fencing and interest in sports but also a very important component of life, which is gentleman's behavior and candid civilized relationship of mankind.
Wilson, Russell
Russell Wilson interviewed by Andy Shaw for the Museum of American Fencing
July, 2012 at the Summer National Championships in Anaheim, California
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Wolfe, Jeff
Jeff Wolfe, a longtime coach at Brentwood High School,
fenced at New York University. After graduating he became a teacher at
Brentwood High School where he began both a Boys' Team and a Girls' Team.
AFLA / USFA Presidents
1 Dr. Graeme Hammond 1891 - 1925
2 Colonel Henry Breckinridge 1926 - 1929
3 F. Barnard O’Connor 1930 - 1933
4 Leon M. Schoonmaker 1934 - 1935
5 Harold Van Buskirk 1936 - 1939
6 John R. Huffman 1940 - 1943*
*7 Harold Van Buskirk 1944 Dr. Huffman unable to complete term of office
8 Dernell Every 1945 - 1948
9 Miguel A. de Capriles 1949 -1953
10 Jose R. de Capriles 1954-1957
11 Donald S. Thompson 1957- 1960
12 Dr. Paul Todd Makler Sr. 1960 - 1964
13 Norman Lewis l964 - 1968
14 Alan Miles Ruben 1968-1972
15 Steve Sobel 1972 - 1976
16 Irwin Bernstein 1976 - 1980
17 Emily Johnson 1980 - 1982
18 Michel Mamlouk 1982 - 1984
19 Lew Siegel 1984 - 1988 (Carl Borack)
20 Sam Cheris 1988 - 1990
21 Michel Mamlouk 1990 - 1992
22 Steve Sobel 1992 - 1996
23 Donald Alperstein 1996-2000
24 Stacey Johnson 2000-2004
25 Nancy Anderson 2004-2008
26 Kalle Weeks
(318) 227-7575 :: 1413 Fairfield Ave Shreveport, LA 71101 :: Andy@MuseumofAmericanFencing.com