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.

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

Michel Mamlouk
18th USFA President 1982 - 1984

Michel Mamlouk  was twice President of the USFA, 1982-1984, and 1992-1994. During his first term he was instrumental in the USFA accepting the offer of the USOC of free space at the newly established USOC complex in Colorado Springs for its first permanent National office and then saw to the hiring of its first office administrator, Anne Whiting, and its first Executive Director - Carla- Mae Richards.    During his second term, Michel initiated international performance based award programs to encourage and assist athletes who were on the brink of international success. Michel firmly believed that American fencing could compete at the same level at the then European-dominated international competitions and did all he could to help the USA become dominant.  

The 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.

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.

Daniel Costin coached champions such as Teddy Levitt, Jason Rogers, Tom Berman

"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.

Coach Ron Miller with his University of North Carolina women's foil team at the NCAA championships. Photo by Andy Shaw

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.

Princeton fencing coach Michel Sebastiani to step down.
Wednesday, 22 June 2005 - From an article at Fencing.net

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

 American Fencing Magazine, Volume 23, Number 1
September / October1971

National or International

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.