Fencing in Marlboro

I hope to start a fencing club at my High School; there are many students who are interested in fencing. Some want to learn the art of fencing; others like the fact that fencing is a martial art. I am proud that I started to fence since my Freshman year in High School; I only wish that fencing can become a varsity sport at my High School. The Middle Schools and High Schools in North New Jersey and on Long Island
have fencing. It is a pity that fencing is not in our schools too. Maybe my brother, who is now in Middle School, will be lucky and he will fence on a High School Varsity team in Central New Jersey. Fencing has been in my family's blood for many years. My grandfather, Sam Kauderer, came from Romania, and he remembers that his father, Karl Kauderer, rode horses and held a sword in his hand while in the Calvary there. My grandmother, Donna Victoria Medina, came from Spain and they too knew of swords there. Some of my family is also from Argentina and Columbia and they fenced too. I guess that is why I love to fence; it is in my blood.

Club fencing

Club fencing in Central NJ is very limited to a couple of programs that meet biweekly for students. I am looking forward for more competitive fencing to come here once an established Club opens in Bridegewater, NJ. Luckily, I fence in Princeton with Master fencer Michel Sebastiani. He has been the Princeton Head Coach for 25 years. I have had the honor fencing Maya Lawrence and Sam Monk at CEP; they are great fencers who love fencicng. I also fence in Colts Neck at the Atlantic club that is growing daily. This new club in Bridgewater will be the new Medeo club. Their new facility will be ready this April, 2006. Hopefully, after the SAT's this Spring, I will be able to fence there also. The SAT's are around the corner, but I will keep up my fencing. This coming weekend will be the Ivy invitational. My coach at Princeton will be there with his team. I hope that I can visit these teams this Sunday. Princeton, Yale, Columbia and Harvard will be fencing against each other. Harvard has won the first part of the invitational; this is Columbia's chance to take revenge against Harvard. Anything can happen at these fencing meets. Maybe I can meet the Columbia Coaches there? Who knows? My mother's family went to Columbia and I could continue the legacy. See you later!

Fencing in the New Year 2006

I tried again to Fence some of the best fencers in the NY/NJ/Connecticut region.
The NYAC Hangover Open took place at the NY Athletic Club on a Sunday Morning. The sign in was for 9:30 AM, but there was a notice that "if you cannot stay till 4 PM, please withdraw from the competition". I was surprised that so many fencers, young, old, many A's, plus other rated fencers, presented for this open- mixed tournament. We fenced in a round robin 3 point match. Then we switched to a one point match when it was 1 PM. We all fenced till 4 PM, as the director of the event predicted. Forty six fencers were all tired and hungry by the end of the matches. I came out in 25 th place and won a non-alcoholic juice in a "cat in a hat" stripped hat. It was fun fencing after the Holiday break. However, I did not really have a break. A week before this, I was fencing daily at the Mr. Ma Winter Intensive Camp. It was a great experience for me and for the other fencers. Even former Olympians and College coaches showed up and fenced with us. I could not believe that my New Year began with these events. Off to new ones and hopefully, I will get better each time I fence. Maybe I'll get into the top eight one day soon. See you in the Reno-NAC!

Fencing-the martial art

I was always interested in the martial arts; ever since I was four years old and I saw the Mutant Ninja Turtles movie I was hooked. Martial arts always was an important part of who I am. I began martial arts at four years old and I became a black belt at 10 years old in the American Tae Kwon Do style with Master Kang; then I joined the USTU and received my second black belt in Korean Tae Kwon Do with Master An. I continued my studies in Martial Arts and achieved the second degree black belt again with Master An. While I was studying for my third degree in Tae Kwon Do with Master An, my family decided to move from NY to NJ. We looked to find another Martial Arts school that was USTU sanctioned since I participated in many local and national tournaments (I represented NY in the National USTU/TKD)and I began to train again. But this time it was different.
The art of Tae Kwon Do became commercialized and I lost my interest.
When I began my Freshman year in HS I was introduced to the art of Fencing. Suddenly the thrill of a sport sparked my interest. I was learning a new martial art that took skill, stamina, fortitude and lots of patience. I began learning the foil, a light instrument to learn the art of fencing, but touches are limited to the torso. After the foil, I discovered the Epee, a heavier instrument that allows more touches on the entire body, including the mask and foot.
I began going again to tournaments; first local ones in NJ, then I ventured to National tournaments. This year I became rated in both Foil and Epee and I hope to compete one day at the collegiate level. In October, I fenced 100 other men in Epee in Miami and now in November, I am fencing 200 men in Albuqueque. I am happy that I discovered another martial art that allows me to visualize my opponents moves before he does them. That is why Fencing is called physical chess. This year I will represent the Freehold region again at the NJSIAA as their fencer. Now I am studying fencing with Master Michel Sebastiani of CEP, one of the world's most well known fencing coaches; I know that his teaching will bring me to my potential. I only hope that when my younger brother enters HS, Fencing will be a team sport in Marlboro,NJ.
Currently, Fencing is not a team sport in High School's South of Newark. Most of the HS from Newark up to North NJ have fencing teams. One feels the passion that many of these fencers have for their school and for themselves. Good night and wish me good luck at my tournament.
Today is Monday, Nov 14, 2005 and I am exhausted from the Fencing weekend at the NAC. It felt like a marathon. More than 240 fencers came in for the Junior fencing event-including over 54 "A" fencers 60 "B" fencers from Canada. They were all determined to make it an all Canadian sweep of the event, and they almost succeeded. By the end of the tournament, I was exhausted. Overall, it was a great learning experience!