COMMUNITY
Sword Masters Club & Fencing Academy to Attend AAU Junior Olympic Games Orlando-based fencing school sends more than 100 or their economic status. With the help of the comyouth athletes to Greensboro, NC to make history munity, industry, and government, I would like to make Florida the fencing capital of America and at the AAU Junior Olympic Games America the fencing capital of the world. I will do Sword Masters Club & Fencing Academy (www. everything in my power to reach this vision.” swordmastersclub.com), a fencing school located in Orlando, FL, is sending over 100 youth athletes, The AAU Junior Olympics will include 19,000 parsome as young as 5 years old, to compete in 32 ticipants in 12 sports representing all 50 states and different fencing events at the Amateur Athletic several U.S. territories. The fencing tournaments Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games. These youth will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum Comfrom Central Florida will be among the first fenc- plex. “The AAU is thrilled to offer fencing for the first time ever at the AAU Junior Olympic Games,” ers in history to compete at the AAU event. said Jennings “Rusty” Buchanan, AAU President Sword Masters was founded in 2018 by Carlos Kuri & CEO. “Our mission statement is “Sports For & Riley Roca. With backgrounds in fencing, the All, Forever” and we pride ourselves on offering arts, and education, they opened their academy in a wide range of different sports for young athletes Orlando as a place to grow young minds through to compete in.” Events are open to public spectaan ancient sport that dates back to the 18th cen- tors, but there is a fee to attend. tury. “Sword Masters became the largest fencing ____________________________________________ academy in Florida because we understand athlete development and we train the whole person,” About Sword Masters Club & Fencing Academy: notes co-founder Riley Roca. “Athletes’ emotional Sword Masters Club & Fencing Academy is the and mental well-being is fundamental to us and premier fencing school in Orlando, FL featuring Olympic fencing classes, Olympic fencing afthat is how we create champions.” ter-school programs, and Olympic fencing camps. Their fencing school on Avalon Park Boulevard It offers an array of classes for fencers of all abilin East Orange County hosts dozens of youth and ities from pre-school to adults, recreational and adult group classes each week, private lessons, and competitive including Historical (HEMA) and numerous local fencing tournaments throughout Parafencing (Wheel Chair fencing). Co-Founder, the year. Sword Masters is the largest and most Carlos Kuri, is also the president of the Fencing prestigious fencing academy in Florida, one of the League of America and the National Sport Direclargest in the country and it is the largest tourna- tor for Fencing for the AAU. For more information ment organizer in the southeast. Just last year the on classes and programs visit www.swordmasteracademy produced many champions including sclub.com. the Y14 champion in 12 states, team USA members for two Panamerican games and was in charge of ABOUT THE AAU: selecting Team USA for the Gymnasiade in France. The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the This year the club also won the prestigious award largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations for “Best Club” at the Sunshine State Games bring- in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the ing in more than 36 medals. The school’s master AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion coaches and collaborators are an impressive team and development of amateur sports programs. that includes Olympic-level coaches and the for- Founded in 1888 to establish standards and unimer silver medalist at the World Championships. formity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports The school is proud of its work training the next For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports generation of fencing greats. programs and 55 U.S. districts. For more informaFencing tournaments at the AAU Junior Olympic tion, visit www.aausports.org. Games are scheduled to take place in Greensboro, NC from August 1st - August 3rd, 2022. Fencing will lead the parade during the Celebration of Athletes at 6:00pm on Monday, marking the sport’s addition to the Games. Carlos Kuri, owner and head coach of Sword Masters said, “From recreational fencers to Olympic champions, from 4-year-olds to 80-year-olds, from the able body to special needs, it is my goal to make fencing accessible to every athlete no matter their age, condition
