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WHEELCHAIR FENCING COMMUNITY

If you are interested in sharing your personal story, how you became interested in fencing and would like to tell us a little about yourself or the club where you fence, or maybe you competed recently and would like to share your results? Send us your stories and/or pictures and we will post your info and media here.

Grand Canyon State Fencing Foundation has found an innovative way to share what they are doing using Flip Video to create video documentary of their wheelchair fencing program. Check out the link below for "Battle of the Titans."riana and mario putting on a fencing demo at abilities expo in Phoenix

Riana and Mario demonstrate wheelchair fencing at an abilities expo in Phoenix Arizona earlier this year.

Check out Ian's photo essay of a recent wheelchair fencing clinic at the Endeavor Games in Oklahoma earlier, in June:

http://www.transtexastrucks.com/Endeavor2009.html

Battle of the Titans

Savanna's Story

Gary Van Der Wege at Elks Camp for Kids

Darryl performs a great wrist touch

Darryl executes a perfect wrist touch during the last Atlanta NAC

DARRYL'S STORY

                                             

I have always been athletic and had a healthy respect for its benefits; all the way from my first experiences in little league baseball, to playing Division One Basketball for the University of Minnesota.  Never has it seemed more important to me than in the last few years.  I started fencing about 10 years ago and enjoyed the healthy benefits that I reaped from it.  Quite suddenly; however, I had it all come crashing down on me.

In November of 2005 I had the first event of several that would change my life forever. Thanksgiving weekend I had the first of two strokes. As luck would play out, it was a “Stroke of Luck.”  I had an aneurysm on my basilar artery that they caught during the tests before it burst. A week later I had the first of my brain surgeries to place a stent in the artery to protect it.  This time I was able to learn to walk again.  In 2007 they discovered the aneurysm was still growing and also, I had grown a new one, (right above the first one. )

My second surgery followed. My doctor placed a clip on the vessel and performed a bypass to reverse the flow of blood in my head.  In late 2008, I had the first of a series of seizures that would leave me with a permanent balance issue.  My doctor told me if I wanted to keep fencing; that it would have to be in a wheelchair. Thus began my journey into a fantastic group of people and an entirely new way to fence!

I was fortunate enough to have paralympian and world cup medalist Scott Rogers as my mentor. Scott customized my chair to fit the rules and worked me tirelessly to learn the new mental game and strategy, (which was very difficult for me to do with my medical issues.) I went to my first seated tournament at the Atlanta NAC.  Scott had faith in me, but I was terrified.  I remember my first bout.  It went something like, “Ready, Fence.”   -- Whap.  I was down 1-0.  I didn’t realize how much faster chair fencing is.

 It took about 3 bouts before I settled down and fenced the way Scott taught me. Well, that and the fact that I have been gifted with the arms and reach of an orangutan.  Such was my initiation to chair fencing.  I have never been associated with a friendlier, caring, or nicer group of people in my life, from the refs, to the “pit crews,” (or techs, who worked tirelessly and diligently to secure our wheelchairs safely into the metal fencing frames,)  and finally, to the fencers themselves.

All I can think about is FENCING!  I recently had my second stroke and learned my aneurysms are still growing.  I missed having a second craniotomy by inches.  I was told to take 6 weeks off from fencing; then, resume a “normal life.”  Sure, my aneurysms could burst at any time, but today is no different than three weeks ago, so I need to get off my feet and practice.  I am proud to say at long last that I am a wheelchair fencer too.

 

 

 

Mississippi fencers receive medals during a local tournament

Mississippi State Games Wheelchair Fencing
June 21, 2009

If anyone has any pictures from the summer nationals competition in Grapevine, Texas and they would like to share them with our community, please contact me about publishing them to the website.

Attention all fencing clubs that offer wheelchair fencing: We would like to continue to improve our directory and list wheelchair fencing programs, even if you have only one wheelchair fencer training at your club; we want to know about it! Your club information can be submitted on the Contact Page of this website.