Sample Structure of the Fencing Lessons 3:30-3:45: Warm Up and Stretching Jogging and jumping rope begin the warm-up process. Then the students stretch to warm up the muscle groups utilized in fencing: the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, back, and legs. 3:45 4:00: Footwork Three segments of three-minutes of footwork are completed to replicate the traditional fencing bout. Classic fencing actions such as advance, retreat, lunge, balestra, and flesche will be introduced and demonstrated. 4:00 4:30: Target Practice Students will extend the weapon to a target for hand-eye coordination. To teach distance and proper hand placement, traditional footwork will be combined with target exercises. This is alternated with one-on-one coaching to learn the eight positions of fencing. Practice bouts will be added as students gain the skills required to advance to this exercise. The students have the opportunity to train at the TFA studio (for additional fee) on the weekends to enhance their fencing skills.
Tampa Fencing Academy Florida s Premier Fencing Club 5406 Hoover Blvd., Suite #3 Tampa, FL 33634 727-481-7393 www.tampabayfencing.com Facebook: Tampa Fencing Academy krastevitch_b@hotmail.com Tampa Fencing Academy is Tampa Bay s premier competitive fencing studio. Its goal is to train and nurture fencers of all ages to fence at the highest level desired, from recreational fencing to Olympic team tryouts. TFA fencers are nationally ranked and consistently do well at local and national tournaments. TFA is an accredited member of the United States Fencing Association (USFA). TFA has a place for the old hand at fencing as well as the new fencer. Group classes are offered for beginners or individual lessons for advanced fencers. TFA s main fencing discipline is epee but also offers foil and saber. Although primarily a competitive fencing academy, TFA offer recreational fencing also. Fencing is a great sport with a long, rich history. The fencing community is full of supportive people who enjoy helping newbies. Fencing has gained popularity nationally over the past few years. The U.S. Fencing Association reports an enormous growth in membership, and the numbers continue to grow. Fencing is the one of the safest sport for children to participate in, according to National Athletic Trainer s Association. 2
Coaching Staff Boyko Krastevitch Head Coach and Owner since 2005 Alexander (Sasha) Bondarenko Foil Coach and Assistant Epee Coach Princess Simpson Rashid Assistant Youth Coach and Intensive Conditioning Instructor Boyko Krastevitch graduated from the Bulgarian National Sport Academy and worked with the Bulgarian National Fencing Team (epee) for twenty highly successful years as an athlete and coach. The list of his athletic and professional awards is impressive. He has been a member of the Bulgarian National Fencing Team and competed in many World Championships, World Cup Tournaments, and World Student Championships from 1975-1985. He was the National Junior Champion in 1973 and the National Champion and Cup Holder in 1980. He won the Balkan Fencing Championship as part of a team in 1977, 1978 and 1980. In 1980 he was 8th in the European Fencing championship held in Foga, Italy. He finished 6th at the World Student Championship in Bucharest in 1981. From 1979 to 1980, he coached the Junior Team in C S K A and was a Sport Club coach. From 1985 to 1987, he was assistant coach of the National Bulgarian men s epee team. Currently, Coach Boyko coaches several nationally ranked fencers along with a multitude of regionally competitive fencers in epee and foil. In addition, he is a highly rated U.S. Fencing Referee. 3
Alexander Bondarenko has been a fencing coach for over 36 years specializing in foil. He attended Sports University of Saint Petersburg, Russia, from 1974 to 1978. He graduated with a Masters Degree in fencing and started training children and adults. His students competed in many championships and won numerous events including the Middle School Champion of Sports in USSR, High School Championship of Sports in USSR, Junior Champion and a Prize Winner of Russia. Currently, Coach Sasha specializes in individual and group foil coaching with students on the USFA National Rolling Points List. Princess Simpson Rashid is a United States Fencing Coaches Academy (USFCA) certified Montieur of Foil with over 20 years of fencing experience. She is a nationally competitive fencer rated in all epee, foil, and saber. She specializes in working with young fencers and leads our competitive fencers conditioning program. 4
Tampa Fencing Academy Accomplishments National Championships 2008 Y10 Men s Epee Gold Medal U17 Women s Epee Gold Medal 2009 U17 Women s Epee National Team Member 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012: Silver, Bronze, and Finalists in various events Nationally Ranked Students 2012 Y10 Men s Foil #54 Y10 Men s Epee #30 Y12 Men s Epee # 7 Y14 Women s Epee #36 Y14 Men s Epee #100 2011 Y10 Men s Epee #28 and #33 Y12 Men s Epee # 1 and #9 Y12 Women s Epee #3 Y14 Men s Epee #19 and #42 Y14 Women s Epee #34 Florida Success 2011 Y14 Men s Epee Gold Y14 Women s Epee Gold Women s Epee Gold Women s Foil Bronze Tampa Fencing Academy was awarded the Sunshine State Games Fencing trophy in 2009 for being the club earning the most medals. Central Florida Division Success 2012 Y12 Mixed Epee Gold, Bronze Y14 Mixed Epee Gold, Bronze Y10 Mixed Foil Silver Y12 Mixed Foil Gold Men s Epee Bronze Women s Epee Gold U17 Women s Epee 2 fencers qualified for the Junior Olympics competition In 2011 and 2012, Tampa Fencing Academy won the Jim Campoli Trophy awarded to the club in the Central Florida Division for the most points at the Division Championship. (The award was first presented in 2010.) 5
Why Fencing? Some call it physical chess Others call it combat ballet It s fun! Excellent exercise for all ages Olympic sport with history and tradition Individual sport with club camaraderie Safest sport Good for the entire family Travel opportunities Competitions College scholarships Lifelong sport History of Fencing Modern day fencing has its roots in the days of duels. Although many European countries claim to be the birthplace of fencing, there were three predominate schools: Italy, France, and Spain. Fencing was part of the first Olympic Games in 1896, which may account for its appearance in America around 1900. Fencing is an Olympic summer sport with three weapons: epee, foil, and saber. Each weapon has its own advantages, styles, and techniques. Epee has no right of way rules, and the first touch to land anywhere on the opponent s body scores a point. The foil is the lightest of the three blades, follows right of way rules, and has the torso as its target area. Sabre is a thrust and slash weapon with right of way; its target area is above the waist. The rules of each weapon are governed by the United States Fencing Association (USFA). The United States Fencing Association is part of the United States Olympic Committee coordinating amateur sports. It was founded in 1891 and began an association with the Federation Internationale d Escrime (FIE) in 1913. 6
Safety Fencing is one of the safest sports for children to do. According to the National Athletic Trainers Association, fencing tied with golf as the sport presenting the least risk of injury out of the twenty-two high school sports examined. A new study conducted by Peter Harmer, Ph.D. and Chief Medical Officer for FIE, identified some low-injury high school sports as Girls Volleyball, Boys Baseball, and Girls Softball; however, injuries in these sports were still 3 to 3.5 times higher than in fencing. Research data also supports that for the novice, fencing (when well supervised and run by an experienced coach) is a very safe sport. There have been no fatalities in the 100-year history of US fencing. The injuries that do occur are 52% strain / sprain and 12% contusion. 7
Personal Testimony In the fall of 2008, my 9 ½-year-old son had not found a sport he liked. We were facing the teen years, and we thought it was crucial for him to be involved in a sport. He had tried soccer, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, you name it and nothing took. I saw an advertisement in our local paper for a fencing class. He started in September of 2008. After a year of lessons and a few local tournaments, he decided to become more competitive. Our fencing club was strictly recreational. My husband and I started to look all over the state for the best fencing program. We went to tournaments and observed coaches, children, parents, results, and interactions. We talked to parents. We verified national results with the USFA website. We wanted a proven, results-oriented coach with a professional, caring mannerism in a club that supports the competitive and recreational fencing. (My daughter and I started fencing in the fall of 2009.) In May 2010, we went to Tampa Fencing Academy (TFA) to meet with Boyko and Rayna Krastevitch. We found a great fit. We joined TFA in June. Since becoming part of the TFA family, my son has earned national points, reaching #3 in the country, earned a silver medal at the National Championships in 2012, and won numerous local competitions. Our daughter has moved from a recreational fencer to a competitive fencer placing 9 th in the National Championships. But more than the results, Coach Boyko and TFA have given my children a love of a sport that engages their minds and bodies and gives them confidence and opportunities to meet other children from across the country and from around the world. Debbie Amsbaugh, parent USFA National Armourer Executive Committee Member of USFA Central Florida Division Member of L-SPAC (School Choice) Hillsborough County District 8
Carrollwood Day School Registration Form Session 1 - $130 Fridays from 3:30 pm 4:30 pm CDS Elementary Multi-Purpose Room September 7, 14, 21, 28 October 5 and 12 Name of Student: Age: Grade: Clothing Size: Name of Parent: Email Address: Phone Numbers: Medical conditions: I,, do hereby release Boyko Krastevitch, Tampa Fencing Academy, the staff of Tampa Fencing Academy, the United States Fencing Association, and its sponsors from any liability resulting from injury, accidents, illness, death or any other mishap that occurs while participating in this program. Further, I hereby grant permission to the staff to authorize any medical/surgical treatment that is deemed necessary. I understand all possible effort will be made to inform me in case of treatment. Name of Parent/Guardian: Signature: Date Tampa Fencing Academy 5406 Hoover Blvd. #3, Tampa, FL 33634 727-481-7393 krastevitch_b@hotmail.com www.tampabayfencing.com Facebook: Tampa Fencing Academy 9