Cool Fencing Video of the Day: Fencing Olympian Jason Rogers Speaks at TedxYouth San Diego

Here is our very own Jason Rogers peaking at TedxYouth San Diego with Lindsay Hower on the power of Sport and Play.

Cool Fencing Video of the Day: US Olympian Jason Rogers on MTV Japan at Age 15!

This is an awesome video!  Sent to me by Bianca Costin from Avant Gaurd Fencing Club where Jason trained with his coach Daniel Costin.
(www. avantgardfencing.com)

Jason Rogers to Host Fencing Masters Qualifier at Avant-Garde Fencers Club!

Hey Californians!

Olympic Silver Medalist Jason Rogers is helping  to host a Fencing Master’s qualifier at Avant-Garde Fencers Club on Saturday, Sept 26th!

http://askfred.net/Events/whoIsComing.php?tournament_id=12639

Jason will be on-hand to give out the medals, take pictures and sign autographs. Plus, there will be some special autographed Olympic items as prizes!

This is a unique opportunity you won’t want to miss!   Plus, like all Fencing Master Qualifiers the winner will be invited to compete on Nov. 17 at the Expo for a chance to win their way into the main event and fence an Olympic champion on-stage!

All top-8 finishers will receive Fencing Masters t-shirts and all entrants will get a ticket to the FM! Plus, you are supporting Olympic hopefuls!

For more information on the Fencing Masters NYC go to: www.fencingmastersnyc.com

Thanks to the folks at Avant-Garde for hosting and helping support the FM and Olympic Hopefuls!

My Extended Family!

The Costin’s and the Roger’s family crews…

So many amazing experiences and moments in my life with these amazing folks! So great to see all of them on my trip to LA…

PS Jason: you know me too well dude…great seeing you!

Cool Picture of the Day: US Saber Fencing Olympians Representing Teams from 1976-2008

(from left to right) Jason Rogers (’04,’08), Akhi Spencer-El (’00), Peter Westbrook (”76,’80’84,’88′, ’92,96), Steve Mormando (’84,’88,’92), Tim Morehouse (’04, ’08) and Keeth Smart (’00,’04,’08)

The Top Fencing and Fashion Spreads?

This blog put together a compilation of fencing and fashion pictures from Esquire, Elle and other photo shoots.   Pretty cool stuff.

http://styleinsightblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/fashionable-fencing-en-garde-etes-vous.html?zx=44983c8d1c5bf73a

This comes to me via Sheena Gao.   Thanks Sheena!

New York Word Cup of Fencing (Press Release)

Was just sent this from Liz Cross, the executive director of Fencers Club. -Tim

For Immediate Release: (MAY 24, 2010, NEW YORK CITY)

From June 18 to June 20, 2010, New York City and Fencers Club, along with the US Fencing Association, will host a Fencing World Cup at The Marriott New York at the Brooklyn Bridge. Fencers Club is the designated host club for this World Cup event, and is working to create a spectacular experience for athletes and spectators to welcome the World Cup back to New York City for the first time since 2004.

Among those competing will be two-time Olympic gold medalist Mariel Zagunis of the United States and three-time Olympic gold medalist Valentina Vezzali of Italy. Notable New York-based fencers include Tim Morehouse and Jason Rogers, 2008 Olympic Silver Medalists, Nzingha Prescod, two-time cadet world champion, and many other Senior National Team members. Athletes in men’s saber, women’s saber, and women’s foil from over 20 countries will be competing in one of the last international events before November’s World Championships in Paris.

Fencing is a fast-paced and exciting sport which requires a unique blend of athleticism, tactics, and focus. There are three weapons – saber, foil, and epee –all of which have unique pacing and strategies. Fencers are known to be some of the most well-rounded athletes. Fencers Club has sent its athletes to some of the best colleges and universities in the country, and Sports Illustrated named the US Fencing delegation to the 2008 Beijing Olympics the “Brainiest Team.” Fencing has a particularly distinguished and successful record in the New York community –the six Beijing medalists from New York were all fencers.

Fencers Club is a nonprofit organization founded in 1883. Fencers Club has a long history of developing talented international-level athletes while also providing a number of fencing- and academic- related community service programs throughout the city.

All spectators are welcome free of charge. Commentators will be Keeth Smart, Silver Medalist in Sabre and Erinn Smart, Silver Medalist in Foil from the 2008 Beijing Games.

For more information about the World Cup or about Fencers Club, please contact:
Elizabeth Cross
Executive Director

The Rise of Korean Fencing; Oh wins Madrid. Gu 2nd.

This season has been all about the emergence of Korean fencing.   In his first season traveling on the senior circuit, Gu has dominated many of the world’s top fencers.   He has placed in the top-3 in four of the past five tournaments sky rocketing him to top-10 in the world rankings.  Oh, has been a steady performer with a Bronze medal at the 2007 world championships and this year he has continued to be strong.   With his victory, he is now ranked 4th in the world.

The question for Korea, will be if their team results will match their individual performances.  So far, in team competition they have not fared well.  The team event next weekend in Italy should be interesting to watch.    With the departure of China´s coach Christian Bauer to Russia it should be a battle this time for who will qualify the team out of the Asian zone.

Team USA had a decent day.   Daryl Homer, Ben Igoe, Avery Zuck and Jeff Spear all advanced to the top32 before losing.    Morehouse, Rogers and Fischl fell in the 64.  With Etropolski losing on day 1, the race for the 4th spot on the national team tightens with Jeff Spear and Avery Zuck now close to Etropolski and Rogers.

Team USA is staying in Madrid this week before traveling to Italy on Thursday for the Padua Grand Prix of fencing.

NY Post Page 6: Gov. Paterson Snubs Obama For Fencers…

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One of the fencers in question….

http://www.facebook.com/tim.morehouse

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The benefit (for Right To Play not UN)  in question…

http://www.facebook.com/tim.morehouse#!/album.php?aid=2100988&id=9804644

RIGHT TO PLAY “En Garde” Charity Cocktail Party at Barneys: A Smashing Success for Charity and Fencing



The fencing community and its friends flexed their  muscles tonight at the Barneys Penthouse raising upwards of 15,000+ dollars for the Humanitarian organization Right To Play as New York State Governor David Patterson, Nigel Barker, Serge Timacheff , Olympic coach Yury Gelman and fencing legend and Olympian Peter Devine joined 150+ guests to enjoy fencing photography and cocktails.

Governor Patterson spoke to the crowd, along with Right To Play COO Jeffrey Orridge and hosts Matt Doyle, Jason Rogers and Tim Morehouse.   All of them addressed the importance of sports for children’s development and the need for resources in underdeveloped countries so that children can play and learn.   Right To Play teaches kids in impoverished areas life lessons via sports and provides children who might not necessarily have it with sporting equipment and coaches. (www.righttoplayusa.org)  The money raised will go to help thousands of children in countries around the world.

The night was also special to me because of the strength displayed by fencing.   150+ guests paying $150 dollars a ticket to enjoy fencing photography!  Imagine how many people we can get with live fencing ?   The answer of course, is that this be the first of many events I plan on doing to help raise money for good causes while simultaneously promoting fencing.   I have some big projects in the works to hold spectator/sponsor friendly tournaments in New York City where we can draw thousands of paying spectators and get sponsors behind it.

It’s not even a question of can we get people to watch fencing and companies to sponsor it.  It’s going to happen and it’s happening now.(Speaking of which, I still have a big sponsorship announcement to make soon!)   For now, a nice victory for a good cause and a score for the sport of fencing.

PS Also in attendance tonight were Daria Schneider, Mike Etropolski and my mother and father! (Mom bid on 3 of the photographs and won! Thanks Mom!)

Thank you to everyone who helped make tonight a smashing success! And to everyone who continues to work towards helping good causes and growing our small, but mighty sport.  Make room world…the fencers are coming!