Upon reading, reflecting, and listening, our organization asks, “Are we doing enough to fight racism in our club, in our community, in our sport?” Here is where the Mid-South Fencers’ Club is today. I hope this post will promote more open dialogue about leveling the playing field in our sport. The recent racist comments and firing of an NCAA coach in addition to the Black Lives Matter movement should force all sport institutions, like fencing [Read More]

Usually this type of communication comes in the form of a “Weeklyish Newsletter” via email to our members. We are making our communication more transparent and available to our greater fencing community who will be impacted by the rapid social changes occurring and by our club’s schedule adjustments. Thank you in advance for taking care of and supporting each other. Dear Fencing Community: New information about the coronavirus COVID-19 is being shared and thank goodness [Read More]

Usually this type of communication comes in the form of a “Weeklish Newsletter” via email to our members. We are making our communication more transparent and available to our greater fencing community who will be impacted by the rapid social changes occurring and our club’s schedule. Thank you in advance for taking care of and supporting each other.  Dear Fencing Community: In the past week, while the Club has been open, Jeff and I want [Read More]

Fencing clubs are locations where children recreate and spend large amounts of their developmental time growing their passion for sport fencing. Fencing clubs should be incredibly supportive and enriching environments for an individual. Community is essential to this development. Therefore, it is also essential, as an adult member of a fencing community, you feel obligated and empowered to understand sexual abuse and take preventive measures to protect the children in your community. All adults in [Read More]

Mid-South is celebrating our first decade. CAN YOU BELIEVE ten years? While we are thinking about it, when did we actually start? Do we count the move to Durham? When we incorporated? How about when we were teaching classes at First Health of the Carolinas? Through all of our iterations, transitions, growing pains, and celebrations, Mid-South evolved due to great people who believed in a community of fighters. Now, in the year 2017, we are more strong, wise, [Read More]

Carl introduced himself to our fencing community as a fencing parent, but after the kids headed off to college, Carl got busy training. Read about Carl’s recent experience at the Veteran World Championships… Going to the Veteran World Cup in fencing is (I hope!) not just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it was memorable and a great experience. In some ways it did not differ much from a NAC or Nationals, at least in my event. The level of [Read More]

USA Fencing tests the endurance limits of member clubs and coaches with its Summer National Championships and July Challenge. Dallas 2016 leaves us with an incomplete 2015-2016 season due to the tragic events that caused the last day of the tournament to be cancelled. Congratulations to all Mid-South participants on their results and efforts: Carl Badger: GOLD V60MS Nicholas Cantin: 125 Div 2 MS, 141st D3MS, 21st SRMSTeam Leanne Chan: 69th D1AWS, 95th JWS, 87th CWS, 10th Div3WS, [Read More]

What makes a fencing sport club work? Designed to be a place of teaching and refining fighting skills within a group, here is some general advice gathered over the years which has supported Mid-South Fencers’ Club success for close to a decade of development. Consult. Consult. Consult. Mid-South would not exist without the input, suggestions, warnings and firm advice from dozens of people. Connect yourself with people you can trust and make sure a few [Read More]

Happy New Year! Cheers to setting expectations of good health and strong fencing for 2016. LEARN. Did you know we have free intro classes monthly? Get started now! TRAIN. Our weekly practice schedule offers flexibility and support for optimal training and developing fencing excellence. COMPETE. Goals are good and competition offers testing grounds for your training strengths and limitations as well as offering opportunities for life skill development unavailable in any classroom. Also, fencing teammate friendships last a [Read More]

This fall Mid-South hosted one of the first USA Fencing RJCC (Regional Junior Cadet Circuit) events in our region, we called it, The Ryder Cup. About the same time this event was happening we were contacted by two Duke University undergraduates who were interested in using the club to put together a feature film as a course requirement. The course is called Advanced Media & Innovation, taught by Amy Unell and Carson Mataxis. This assignment [Read More]