TouchéWorld Magazine | KIDS - English

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Magazine

KIDS

The mark of a prominent foilist

Alexander Massialas

Content

Issue N° 2 / 2024 - March

Editorial

Celebrates the Youngest of the Strip

La Nucía 2024

Mediterranean Championship

Montevideo 2023

Pan American Children´s Championship

IRC (Internacional Regional Circuit)

The Successful return of IRC en Hong Kong

12

Behind the Mask

Clara Grigaliuna

Classification System

Learn about the System and enjoy the excitement of encing

Behind the Mask

Alessia Maidana

Master Raúl Peinador

Fencing for children

Alexander Massialas

The mark of a prominent foilist

Valkyria Fencing Club

Training fencers for life

Directory

Behind the Mask Astrid Bravo Tips

For new fencers

Álvaro Kalleby 30

Behind the Mask

Proteín Shake

An alternative that helps the athletic child

Behind the Mask

Miguel Rodríguez

Club Halcones de Batahola Sur Shaping champions for life

Behind the Mask

Ricky Dixón

Behind the Mask

Matthew Chen

Important!

The diet of the athlete child must be special

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Calú Pargas HEAD OF PRESS: Antonio Vásquez JOURNALISTS: María Leonor Colmenarez, Alberto

Diaz Peluso EDITING AND TRANSLATION: María Trinidad Colmenares BRAZIL CORRESPONDENT: Lafaiete Papaiano

US CORRESPONDENT: Ana Graciela Ramos Otero INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Rafael “Fito”

Western MARKETING DIRECTOR: Claudia Romero DIGITAL MARKETING & RRSS: Bianna Indelicato Pardo, Sebastián Pargas SALES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: Sami Doria Vertel GRAPHIC DESIGN: Andrés Felipe Castro HEALTH AND NUTRITION: Lcda. Ivett Khawan DATA AND RESEARCH: Pedro Godoy AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION: Claudia Romero WEBMASTER AND PROGRAMMING: Hawrison Avendaño, David Mateo García Vallejo

TouchéWorld Magazine | KIDS

Celebrates the Youngest of the Strip

Dear readers and lovers of children’s fencing,

It is an honor to welcome you to a special edition of TouchéWorld Magazine | KIDS , where we immerse ourselves in the fascinating world of children’s fencing. In this edition we focus on the youngest category where the passion for foil, epee and saber is intertwined with the joy of childhood and the dream of reaching new heights on the strip.

World Championships: A Look at Children’s Performance on the Global scenario

We open the doors of excitement and competition as we recap the most notable events of the past year. From the prestigious Mediterranean Championship in La Nucía to the vibrant arena of the Pan American Championship in Montevideo, and the successful return of the International Regional Circuit (IRC) in Hong Kong , we accompany young fencers on their journey around the world.

Exclusive Interviews: Featured Voices of Children’s Foil, Épée and Saber.

We sat down with outstanding athletes, true rising stars, whose skills and dedication have left an indelible mark on children’s fencing. We discover the stories behind the masks, the challenges overcome and the inspirations that drive them to pursue their dreams on the strip.

Essential Articles: A Guide for Beginners in Children’s Fencing

For those taking their first steps in this exciting sport we offer articles full of practical advice and expert guidance. With the help of the Spanish Master Raúl Peinador we embark on an educational journey aimed at guiding new talents, and their parents, in a healthy way on the path to becoming the new great champions of world fencing.

Special Report: The Brilliance of Alexander Massialas - Our World Number One

In this edition we pay tribute to the world’s number one foilist, Alexander Massialas. Through a special report we explore the incredible sporting career of this champion, his outstanding achievements and the lessons he has learned on his path to the top.

In TouchéWorld Magazine | KIDS , we celebrate the diversity, passion and resilience of the little ones on the fencing court. We hope that this edition inspires our young readers to pursue their dreams with grit and skill, and that each page transports them to a world full of excitement and discovery. Let’s encourage our little fencers to fulfill their dreams of becoming the new fencing heroes of the world! With enthusiasm, affection and a lot of fencing ,

TouchéWorld Magazine | KIDS

Calú Pargas Gabaldón CEO & Fundadora Editorial Touché

LA Nucía 2024 Mediterranean Championship

Italy dominated the stripes

Italian fencing showcased an abundance of the great potential of its future prospects, after leading the Children’s medal table during the recent 2024 Mediterranean Fencing Championship of the U-15 category held in Spain.

The city of La Nucía was the setting for a new generation of European fencing to exhibit themselves and demonstrate their talent, where Italy ended up dominating the field by winning a total of 10 medals, (distributed in three gold, four silver and three bronze).

The foilists guided the Italian’s successful participation after achieving four of the 10 medals won, including two gold’s courtesy of Maria Francesca Prenna and Luca Guidi who became champions in their respective individual events.

Italy’s third gold in the event came from Mariasole Romanini who, rose to the top of the podium in the Women’s Épée after defeating fellow Italian Amelia Vicentini during the final match.

Spanish talent on the rise

Meanwhile, Spanish fencing stood out in the competition that brought together young participants from across Europe, by placing second in the medal table after winning nine medals, including one gold.

Spain’s outstanding performance in the competition was led by its main protagonist Alejandro Román Blanque, who became champion in Men’s Saber after beating Italian Jacopo Sciullo in the final of the event.

Adriano Bravo López also managed to contribute to the Spanish cause, by achieving runner-up status in Men ‘s Épée.

Turkey stood out in La Nucía

The representation of Turkey stood out during the last Mediterranean Championship in La Nucía, after achieving two podiums which allowed them to place third in the overall medal table.

A great performance by the young Duru Ayse Ozgonul saw her become champion in Women’s Saber, after

beating Greta Vinci of Italy in the final of the event.

Likewise, foilist Alara Atmaca stood out for the Turkish delegation after achieving runner-up status in the women’s event.

Portugal present in La Nucía

Portuguese fencing achieved two podiums in the event, including a gold medal.

Young Xavier Melo led Portugal’s outstanding performance of Portugal by becoming champion in the Men ‘s Épée, after beating the Spanish Adriano Bravo López in the final combat. Carlota Serrenho also added a bronze medal in this event.

Ukraine on the podium

Podiums positions were also filled by the representation of Ukraine, who won a bronze medal.

Foilist Mark Bielyi Shemardin praised Ukrainian fencing after finishing third in the men’s event.

Medalists

U15 La Nucía 2024

Women’s Foil

Maria Francesca Prenna

Alara Atmaca

Giorgia Bedeschi

Julia Castaño Cordero

Men’s Épée

Xavier Melo

Adriano Bravo López

Nicolas Ferrer Barata

Edoardo Semilia

Men’s Foil

Luca Guidi

Leonardo Alberto Papi

Mark Bielyi Shemardin

Andrea Di Pino Hernández

Women’s Saber

Duru Ayse Ozgonu

Greta Vinci

Inés Higuera López

Matilde Reale

Women’s Épée

Mariasole Romanini

Amelia Vicentini

Aurora Binder Arroyo

Carlota Serrenho

Men’s Saber

Alejandro Román Blanque

Jacopo Sciullo

Alejandro Flores de Vargas

Iñigo Zubeldia Rodriguez

MONTEVIDEO 2023 Pan American

Children’s Championship

The United States stood out

After successful participation of its fencers, American fencing shone in the last 2023 Pan American Children’s Championship, held in Montevideo Uruguay, where the young fencers won the absolute title of the event.

With a total of 22 medals distributed in nine (9) gold, six (6) silver and seven (7) bronze. The new delegation of the United States managed to stand out in the competition, guaranteeing a promising future for North American fencing.

Youngsters John Mazaheri and Morgan Eraser led the outstanding American performance, reaching the podium on multiple occasions.

Mazaheri achieved two gold medals, winning the title in the Men’s Épée and Foil of category A. While in the B division, Jhon added a bronze medal in Saber.

Foilist Morgan Eraser stood out in the event by winning two medals after becoming champion in category A, while in division B he also won the silver medal.

Brazil and Peru in the continental Top 3

The children’s delegations from Brazil and Peru had an outstanding

performance in Montevideo, which allowed them to place themselves in the Top 3 of the continental competition leaving good feelings for the future of fencing in the region.

Brazil ranked second in the overall medal table with 15 medals, after a productive participation of its fencers. Antonio Fonseca managed to get on the podium in the three category A male events.

Fonseca won the gold medal in Saber, while in Foil the young man also won the silver medal. The Brazilian completed his successful participation in épée, where he achieved bronze.

Meanwhile, Peruvian fencing once again showed its growth from the children’s category by placing third in the competition by winning one gold and five bronze medals.

The épéeist Samantha Custodio shone for the South American country becoming champion in category A, while the young Vania Guazzotti contributed to the Peruvian cause by adding two bronze medals.

Venezuela conquered gold

Venezuelan fencing had an outstanding performance at the 2023 Pan American Children’s

Championship in Montevideo, after winning a gold medal which allowed them to finish fourth in the overall medal table.

The young girl Anmary Carabalí was the protagonist of the Venezuelan delegation in the event, after dominating the action in the Women’s Saber category A, where she ended up becoming champion of the event.

Bolivia, Chile and Colombia featured on the podium

The representations of Bolivia, Chile and Colombia also managed to get on the podium, each winning bronze medals.

Bolivia added two medals through Manuela Gálvez and Romina Aramburo, while Gustavo Rodríguez stood out for Chile getting on the podium.

As for Colombian fencing, the young Juan Pablo Tapias stood out by winning a bronze medal.

Medalists

MONTEVIDEO 2023

CATEGORy A

Women’s Épée

Samantha Custodio

Cynthia Kou

Vania Guazzotti

Manuela Gálvez

Men’s Foil

John Mazaheri

Antonio Fonseca

Antonio Wizer

Juan Pablo Tapias

Women’s Épée

CATEGORy B

Jane Zhang

Anne Driesen

Alicia Fontenele

Ifechi Olele

Men’s Foil

Fletcher Mazaheri

Griffin Kingsley

Erick Rodrigo Atarama

John Mazaheri

Men’s Épée

John Mazaheri

Marcelo Vieira

Antonio Fonseca

Gabriel Polizer

Women’s Saber

Anmary Carabalí

Lorena Iaconelli

Arabella Leal

Abril Duharte

Men’s Épée

Julia Kim

Wesley Kropp

Fletcher Mazaheri

Sebastián González

Women’s Saber

Jia Qi Wang

Ashley Zhang

Heidi Hu

Yhena Schmidt

Women’s Foil

Morgan Eraser

Maya Schneider

Helena Machad

Vania Guazzotti

Men’s Saber

Antonio Fonseca

Tomás Douglas

Gustavo Rodríguez

Joao Pedro Pirito

Women’s Foil

Dina Wang

Morgan Eraser

Romina Aramburo

Giulia Santos

Men’s Saber

Viktor Greenstein

Lucas Kozlov

Hagan Hwang

Jeremy Kang

the Successful return of (IRC) in HONG KONG the International Regional Circuit

The return of the International Regional Circuit (IRC) 2023 in Hong Kong was successfully completed, where hundreds of new fencers from different countries gathered to exhibit their talent and compete for a place on the podium.

The event was sponsored by Absolute Fencing, and organized by USA Fencing, provided competition opportunities for young junior fencers who live abroad and wish to qualify to compete in tournaments held in the United States.

The 2023 edition was held last December and was the first of the post-Covid era. It was based at the Kowloon Bay International Trade and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, where children’s events in the Y-10, Y-12 and Y-14 categories were held, as well as Cadet and Youth events.

The International Regional Circuit included tests in all three weapons, and both genders, in which fencers from different continents such as Asia, Europe and North America participated.

This event has been characterized by the first-class facilities that Absolute Fencing offers for its development, making it one of the top international competitions for the minor category.

For the 2024 - 2025 season USA Fencing, together with its sponsor Absolute Fencing, plan to hold two editions of the International Regional Circuit in order to give greater participation and opportunity to all participants.

Medalists

(IRC) Hong Kong 2023

Y10

Women’s Épée

Jiatong Liu

Yu Tong Zhang

Yanhei Yu

Kexin Chen

Men’s Foil

Hongxuan Liu

Dominic Kongyu Zou

James Dong

Paddy Tsang

Y12

Women’s Épée

Liu Zhilan

Taizhen Yu

Lihong Wang

Jiatong Liu

Men’s Foil

Chong Kio Cheong

Yu Jun Chen

Mengdi Lu

Chak Ho Ian

Y14

Women’s Épée

Isabella Ren

Sze Nga Nicole Tang

Wenxi Chen

Zhang Xiaoran

Men’s Foil

Richard Dong

Royce Ye

Neilson Licheng

Lekai Peng

Men’s Épée

Haoning Han

Ian Lui

Wang Ho Austin Yeung

Hanting Chen

Women’s Saber

Xinyi Yang

Yaorui Jiang

Amy Chen

Jianyi Chu

Men’s Épée

Wong Chun Lung

Haoxi Samson Zheng

Micah Xu

Jiakng Cui

Women’s Saber

Yixuan Wang

Yiyun Xu

Yuyan Zou

Yuyu Jeon

Men’s Épée

Jiashen Tian

Kai Chit Curtis Chui

Qihang Liu

Yan Ho Lam

Women’s Saber

Yizhen Wang

Yixuan Xu

Yixuan Wang

Yuju Jeon

Women’s Foil

Yixin Zhang

Ching Charmaine Chui

Vivian Zhang

Judy Yang

Men’s Saber

Tongrui Liu

Ledi Feng

Qiyue Shi

Caleb Yuen

Women’s Foil

Zhihe Tie

Juwon Oh

Vivian Zhang

Yixin Zhang

Men’s Saber

Shing Chi Yip

Xuanhao Ma

Yi Feng

Borui Zhang

Women’s Foil

Xinyi Zhuang

Jihyo Koo

Zhihe Tie

Miyake Capina

Men’s Saber

Yinan Wu

Zhaodong Shi

Shawn Zheng

Chen Fei Zhao

clara

Grigaliunas

Name: Clara Grigaliunas

Campomanes

Nickname: Clara

Place of birth: Madrid, Spain

Date of birth: May 15th, 2010

Club: Club de Esgrima CELC

Weight: 40 Kg.

Height: 1,56 mts

Weapon: Épée

Orientation: Right-handed

TW:

At what age and who inspired or motivated you to start fencing?

CGC: I started fencing at the age of 5 years old as an extracurricular activity, just recreationally, then I took it as a sport and started training at the club.

TW: How many hours do you train daily?

CGC: I train around six hours a week, divided into sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, while on weekends I usually participate in competitions.

TW: What diet do you follow when preparing for competitions?

CGC: No, I don’t follow any type of diet, but I do try to eat as healthy as I can.

TW: Which opponent has been the most difficult for you on the strip?

CGC: Each opponent has their own way of fighting, so I don’t have a specific opponent that I find difficult to face. Everyone is different.

TW: Do you listen to music to train or before competitions?

CGC: No, I don’t listen to music. I prefer to concentrate myself in silence.

TW: What hobby do you have apart from fencing?

CGC: I like to play the violin and the piano, as well as horse riding.

TW: What dream do you have as a fencer?

CGC: I dream of reaching my best version to be able to perform better every day and thus have better results.

TW: Have you had any difficult moments as a fencer?

CGC: There are times where I spend days shooting poorly and can’t be effective. Those moments are difficult, they generate helplessness.

TW: What has been the happiest moment you have had to experience as a fencer?

CGC: When I beat an opponent that I normally find difficult to beat. When I win by shooting with my own fencing, by shooting well, with my effort those are happy moments.

TW: How do you recover from defeat?

CGC: It’s true that right after you’ve been shooting and they beat you,

you’re disappointed, but then I focus on what I’ve done wrong by working on to improve it.

TW: Which coach or coaches have marked your life as a fencer?

CGC: All the club coaches have marked me as an athlete. Alex González, Carlos Sánchez, Fabián Enríquez and Pedro Ferrer, who is my physical trainer. They all help me become a better fencer every day and have made me who I am right now.

TW: What has been your greatest achievement on the strip?

CGC: Among my greatest achievements is having been Spanish M13 Champion by winning the 2022 National Critérium and Spanish M11 Runner-up.

TW: What advice would you give to new fencers?

CGC: Make a lot of effort from the beginning because all work has its reward.

classification system and Learn about the

enjoy the excitement of fencing

Enjoying the excitement of a fencing competition often depends on the knowledge one may have of its development and actions. It is important to understand each one of its phases, especially those parents, representatives, friends or family of those who start in this sport.

The first thing you should know is that a fencing competition is divided into two parts, the first is the poule and then the direct eliminations.

The Poule system is based on making a table of participants, where the fencer is assigned to a group called poule and which is normally made up of 6 or 7 fencers depending on the number of registered participants.

In each poule all fencers fight against each other with five touches. Once all the poules are over, a ranking is prepared according to the number of victories and defeats that each fencer has achieved. This defines the classification for direct eliminations, which is why it is important to try

to achieve the greatest number of victories in this phase.

How to read the results on the poule sheets?

Fencers are placed horizontally in each poule, where a follow up is tracked of who wins and loses in each bout, as well as how many points are scored for and against each fencer.

The results of each combat in the poules are shown according to the column and row in which the fencer has been placed.

On the poule sheet, victories are shown in the “V” column, while the “V/M” column represents the percentage of combats won. This percentage is the first statistic used to qualify for the direct elimination round.

The “TS” column shows touches scored, this is the total number of points scored in all matches. “TR”

is touches received, which is the number of points against that the fencer recorded.

In the last column you see “Ind”, which defines the difference between the touches in favor and against. If this number is positive, then the fencer scored more points than were scored. If it is negative, then they obtained more points against them.

The latter is the tiebreaker option for classification (after the percentage won). The higher this number, the better.

So if two fencers win 3 and lose 3 combats, one of them performs better by scoring more points and/ or having fewer points against. Even in lost battles the actual score also matters, which is why it is important to never give up.

After the classification for direct eliminations is defined with the fencer who places first facing the last one, while the second one will face the penultimate one, and so on.

The rounds in direct eliminations are 15 touches and the first to reach that score wins, the one who loses is eliminated and their competition ends.

The direct elimination phase will reduce the number of fencers until reaching the final fight that defines the champion of the event.

Alessia

Maidana

Name: Alessia Maidana Jaén

Nickname: Ale

Place of birth: La Paz, Bolivia

Date of birth: November 26th, 2014

Club: Frabol

Age: 9 years old

Weight: 26 Kg.

Height: 1,30 mts

Weapon: Foil

Orientation: Left -handed

TW: At what age and who inspired or motivated you to start fencing?

AMJ: I started fencing when I was 6 years old. Every day after school I waited for my brother and saw a poster showing the words “fencing classes”, and one day I asked my mother to sign me up.

TW: How many hours do you train every day?

AMJ: I train every day from Monday to Friday, for two hours. Sometimes it is just physical training and sometimes technical and tactical training.

TW: What diet do you follow when preparing for competitions?

AMJ: No, I don’t have any diet but I do try to eat healthy.

TW: Which opponent has been the most difficult for you on the strip?

AMJ: Samantha Custodio from Peru. I always lose to her.

TW: Do you listen to music to train or before competitions?

AMJ: No, I prefer to be silent.

TW: What dream do you have as a fencer?

AMJ: I dream of being the best and that’s why I train every day.

TW: What has been the happiest moment you have had to experience as a fencer?

AMJ: The moment when I won my first South American medal. I won a silver medal at the South American Championships in Lima in 2023.

TW: How do you recover from defeat?

AMJ: I feel sad. Sometimes I cry and sometimes I don’t.

TW: Which coach or coaches have marked your life as a fencer?

AMJ: I have two coaches. Richard Fariñas and Hiler Suárez.

TW: What has been your greatest achievement on the strip?

AMJ: The best medal was the one from Lima, Peru, because it was international.

TW: What do you love most about fencing?

AMJ: A good fight. Being there fighting is the best.

TW: What advice would you give to new fencers?

AMJ: I would tell them to try hard, because with effort they can do whatever they set out to do.

Master Raúl Peinador

fencing for children An ideal sport for development and training

Although it does not have the same popularity as other sports, fencing is one of the most complete and ideal disciplines for children, because its practice has a great influence on their training and development.

Known as pre-fencing or introductory fencing, fencing in children is essential for their comprehensive development says Spanish Master Raúl Peinador, who has more than 35 years of experience as a coach of the discipline.

For the Director of the Spanish Teacher Training School childhood has stages of intellectual, cognitive and physical development, with fencing being an important vehicle in this entire process.

At what age is it recommended for children to start fencing?

The practice of fencing has several stages It can be started at the age of 4 with what is called pre-fencing or introduction to fencing, which consists of carrying out recreational activities through play, which main objective is for the children to have fun. These classes are similar to kindergarten or daycare activities.

In these lessons, they are taught the most basic notions through games in order to keep them for the future. The child’s basic abilities and qualities are worked on, which will be essential at older ages.

In this way the children’s education system can be maintained until the age of 10, the age when they can begin training at a sports level in a more regulated way.

The ideal age to start training for competition and training our athletes in sports fencing is 11 or 12 years old. This is a slow process, which usually lasts between 10 and 12 years to train our fencer.

Why is fencing important for children?

Fencing, like any other sport, is important because it is fundamental for the overall development of children. There is an intellectual, cognitive development and then a physical one. Fencing, like any other sport, is essential in this process of growing up.

Furthermore, fencing is a sport that requires significant coordination of movement, development of intellect and the ability to process decisions in combat. This makes it an ideal sport to cover the physical and intellectual needs of children in their formation.

What benefits does fencing have for children?

First of all, it is a super fun sport. What child has not played swords with their classmates at school?

It is an individual sport but it is developed in groups and teams. You need a group of friends to be able to develop fencing, sparring, leg movements, etc.

It is a sport that forces you to think about how to be able to touch the opponent, without the opponent touching. They do it from the earliest ages, and it influences their cognitive development.

In addition to all the physical and coordinative work that fencing requires.

How much training time do you recommend for children?

For children between 4 and 6 years old I would recommend training once a week for 50 minutes of fencing game activity. The first steps of what we want to work on in the future, gradually introducing what sport is about. Using games to develop the basic physical abilities and qualities of children at these ages.

For children from 6 to 10 years old I would recommend training twice a week for one hour a day, where 80% is based on recreational activities and games, and 20% is a more systematized and regulated training, like the one we know.

From the age of 11, 3 times a week lasting 1 hour or an hour and a fifteen minutes.

From the age of 13 they can train every day, gradually increasing the volume without exceeding 2 and a half hours of training.

What should coaches who work with children avoid?

The first thing to keep in mind is that children need to have fun.

Every coach must know that children have improvement phases where their coordination, technique and tactics will improve depending on their age and their intellectual and physical development.

We cannot move forward too fast, because children will not be ready, so we have to work at every moment according to each age.

For younger children, training is based on coordinative activities, where the child develops in space and time. Using the game as a vehicle for the development of these capacities.

From the age of 12 years old they can start with basic techniques, where coordination exercises are the most important thing, without forgetting that the main idea is for children to have fun.

It is important to know that through games and recreational activities, activities different from what we know as high-level training, we can achieve training objectives so that children can have fun, learn and get hooked on our sport.

What is the coach’s relationship with parents like?

It’s very important. Firstly parents have to see that the teacher carries out playful, fun activities so that children are happy and show up wanting to do fencing.

Many times children do not want to go, but parents force them to attend and that is a mistake.

Children should want to go to fencing classes. They have to look forward to the day to go fencing, to see their friends and do all the fencing activities.

After they grow and begin the competitive stage and more serious training, parents must be informed of the work plan, the child’s objectives,

and the most important thing is for them to know that we are educating and training their child.

Winning is not always the most important thing. We are also training athletes who individually will have their objectives in the competition.

The results in the competition are important but at this stage the most important thing is the training. A fencing coach is a trainer and an educator, we have to teach them a series of values and physical qualities that will be fundamental later.

Parents have to know that there is training and educational work, and competition takes a backseat at these ages. We use competition as a tool in the training of our athletes.

What do you think is needed to promote fencing in children?

I think better qualified coaches for these ages are needed. Better training of the theory of pedagogy, didactics and training theories. Teachers who know their place in the training chain that every athlete must have in their formation. Since athletes are beginners at an early age, until they reach a high performance level.

Removing the importance of competition and results at these ages. The results must be sought later, when the fencer is already trained and begins his technical or highperformance stage.

Promoting the recruitment and promotion of a good group that will be the basis so that in the future we have well-supported and trained competition teams.

Alexander Massialas

The mark of a prominent

foilist

Name: Alexander Massialas

Nickname: Alex

Place of birth: San Francisco, California, EEUU

Date of birth: April 20th 1994

Club: Fundación Massialas

Weapon: Foil

Orientation: Right-handed

Profession: Bachelor of Engineering from Stanford University

Hobbie: Play basketball and soccer, listen to music and watch sports

His charismatic humility contrasts with his visionary conviction of winning every fight, a combination that has led the American Alexander Massialas to live a successful career since he was a child, becoming today’s number one in the world in his specialty.

The desire to follow in the footsteps of his father, Gregory Massialas, the three-time Olympian awakened in “Alex” his passion for fencing from an early age, a sport in which with perseverance and discipline, today he leads the world ranking in foil, his main weapon.

Alexander has experienced exponential sporting growth. This makes him an example for many athletes, especially for the youngest ones, who dream of reaching the pinnacle of fencing.

His father, his mentor

At the age of seven Massialas began his sporting career at his father’s club in San Francisco, United States, known as the “Massialas Foundation”, and where various fencers are trained today.

“When my father created his own club, I wanted to start immediately,” Alexander admitted to the International Fencing Federation (FIE), about his early start in the discipline.

Like every child the right-handed fencer began to enjoy the excitement of assaults in different competitions in the children’s categories, where he managed to have outstanding performances that led him, at the age of 15, to join the United States Adult National Team.

A year later, in 2010, he became the youngest athlete to win a Division I men’s foil National Championship on the American circuit. A period in which he also managed to place himself in first place in the Cadet world ranking, which began to draw his promising future in the discipline.

“My father has been there my entire career. He and my other coach, Dean Hinton, have been there every step of the way,” Alexander noted for the official USA Fencing website.

Fencing in the blood Massialas

The practice of fencing is in the blood of the Massialas family. Started by Gregory Massialas, who in addition to participating as an athlete in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games, also coached the United States men’s foil National Team and was a fencing referee at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Likewise Sabrina Massialas, Alexander’s younger sister, has followed the family passion on the sport, with notable participations such as the silver medal in team foil at the 2017 World Championships in Leipzig, Germany.

Alexander Massialas

Victory above all things

Alexander challenges every touch and every round with pride, since his sporting philosophy is based on the fact that the objective is always victory, regardless of the instance and event in which he finds himself.

“I don’t like losing at anything and that includes board games, video games and fencing,” says Massialas, who was a member of the US men’s foil team that became the first team to win all five World Cups in a single season.

Inspiring the future

Massialas’ outstanding performance goes beyond sports results and transcends outside of competitions, with his work in “Massialas Fencing Tour”, an educational program with which he seeks to influence youth, in favor of sports growth and development.

“One of my personal goals has been to reach more young athletes and find unique ways to inspire the next generation of fencers,” says Alexander, about his initiative in 2022 to teach the fundamentals of fencing and attitude that athletes should have.

Massialas also contributes to the strengthening of the sport and its exponents, from the Athletes Commission of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), a body for which he was elected as a member in 2022.

“I wanted to join the Athletes Commission because I believe it is important for athletes to have a seat at the decision-making table. I believe I am well positioned to advocate for the needs of athletes,” he highlighted for USA Fencing.

“Alex’s“ milestones“

Since he was young, Alexander Massialas has exalted fencing with his brilliant career, marked by milestones that has made him an influential athlete in American sport.

1

Four-time NCAA All-American (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017).

2 In 2012 he was the youngest male member of the United States Olympic team in any sport.

4 In 2015 he was the first American foil fencer to win an individual silver medal at the Senior World Championships.

6 In 2016 he was the first American to win two medals in the same Olympic Games since 1904.

3

In 2013 he was a member of the first American men’s foil team to win a medal (Silver) at the Senior World Cup.

5 In 2016 he was the first American foilist to win an individual silver medal at the Olympic Games since 1932.

7 In 2019 he was a member of the first US men’s foil team to win a Senior World Championship title.

VALKYRIA fencing club

Training fencers for life

As a space to train people with sporting qualities and selfimprovement abilities for life. Valkyrie Fencing emerged five years ago as a club that has taken on the task of promoting and disseminating fencing in the city of Utah, in the western United States.

Under the technical advice of multimedalist and world champion Julie Seal Valkyrie Fencing Club opened its doors in 2019, with the main objective of promoting the practice of fencing and making it more accessible to the people of Utah and its surrounding areas.

“We have tried to include as many new people as possible, especially girls. We have a great program with which we focus more on training people with values than on having

high-performance athletes. We focus on the educational aspects of what fencing can do for people on an individual level,” Seal points out.

Five years of evolution

Although it began as a family space for the exhibition of the art of fencing in Utah, Valkyrie Fencing Club has been growing little by little presenting outstanding results in the different events organized by the American Fencing Federation (USA Fencing).

Starting with a small group of fencers the club now counts with more than 50 practitioners, aged between 6 and 60, who are trained under the principles of effort and camaraderie.

Valkyriefencing@gmail.com

www.valkyriefencingclub.com/ @Valkyriefencing

“The values that we try to instill in all of our members are, first of all, effort and caring for teammates. Making sure that your teammates understand as much as you do. Because here if your teammates are good, you are good. You are responsible for the performance of your teammates, as much as you are responsible for your own performance. It’s a real atmosphere of helping one another to understand.”

Fencing for life

Beyond training outstanding fencers on the strips, Valkyrie Fencing Club is dedicated to training people with the knowledge and skills to overcome life’s battles.

Utah, Estados Unidos

For the organization fencing provides the opportunity to try again every time you fail, thus giving the possibility of achieving greater satisfaction by overcoming that frustration and learning something that did not seem like it could be achieved before.

“Fencing provides a safe space to fail over and over again. It’s something we’re going to need later on in life, no matter what job we endeavor to do, what career we are in. As we have families, as we raise our own children, as we move forward into the world with all of the challenges that we have in the modern days. Being involved in a discipline that gives you a chance to fail and overcome, fail and overcome, that is priceless.”

Fencing for everyone

Although, at Valkyrie Fencing Club the main weapon taught is foil, the coaches teach classes in all three weapons, with the aim of training complete fencers.

“Mostly everyone gains experience in all three weapons, everyone handles at least two. Our fencers have a good time learning the three weapons, I think it is very useful for them, when going out into the world and facing other clubs. There is no club where they cannot participate because they do not know how to fence in all three weapons.”

Fencing to transform lives

As part of the growth and desire to continue transforming lives through fencing, Valkyrie Fencing Club has incorporated wheelchair fencing classes and plans to include classes to help diverse people on the autism spectrum.

“Long term, we would like to help promote fencing in Utah at a high school level. Parafencing, and kids on the spectrum, are our long-term programs. We would especially like to bring fencing to those less represented populations,

the Hispanic population and all minorities. We want to see more fencing in these groups, we work very hard here to help make that happen and encourage a lot of those kids to show up and get started.”

A boost of courage

For Valkyrie Fencing Club, fencing is based on the courage that its practitioners must have to achieve the goals they set, a value that transcends all aspects of life.

“You can have the best technique, you can have really good cardio, you can have incredible balance, but what sets you apart from everyone else, the one element that matters the most is courage. We need courage, in every other place of our lives, we need courage and we need a place to practice courage. Fencing gives us that.”

Astrid

Bravo

Bravo Ortega Perú

21st, 2010

Right-handed

TW: At what age and who inspired or motivated you to start fencing?

I started when I was three years old when my mom took me to clubs to play, and that’s how I fell in love with fencing. Also because my brother already practiced fencing, and that led me to start this sport.

TW: How many hours do you train every

Every day I train about an hour and

TW: What diet do you follow when preparing for competitions?

Ten days before competitions, I avoid eating meat and dairy.

TW: Which opponent has been the most difficult for you on the strip?

Every opponent is different, so I don’t have anyone specific I can mention.

TW: Do you listen to music to train or before competitions?

ABO: Yes. Before competitions I like to listen to upbeat music like pop, rock in English and also rock in Spanish.

TW: What hobby do you have apart from fencing?

ABO: In my free time I study and listen to music.

TW: What dream do you have as a fencer?

ABO: My biggest dream, and it is what I prepare for every day, is to be able to go to the Olympic Games.

TW: Have you had any difficult moments as a fencer?

ABO: The year 2022 was quite difficult for me, because I had several injuries and that bothered me.

TW: What has been Astrid’s happiest moment in fencing?

ABO: I think the moment of winning the Pan American Children’s Championship 2023 and the three medals I got in the South American Championship 2023 because it was not my category.

TW: How do you recover from defeat?

ABO: The following morning I wake up thinking about what I did and didn’t do. Then I go to train harder with the intention of winning the next round.

TW: Which coach or coaches have marked your life as a fencer?

ABO: My coach Jeferson Espinoza has greatly influenced my sporting life. He has been part of all the medals I have achieved.

TW: What has been your greatest achievement on the strip?

ABO: The medals I won in the 2023 South American Championships because they were in two higher categories than mine.

TW: What is the phrase or philosophy of life you identify with?

ABO: Always keep going.

TW: What advice would you give to new fencers?

ABO: I would tell new fencers that perhaps fencing can be somewhat complicated at first, with practice and good peers, anything can be achieved.

TIPS for new fencers

Stepping on the strip for the first time is usually a moment of mixed sensations, often overriding the fear of being hit or harmed by weapons. However, emotion quickly overcomes that feeling and passion takes over the athlete.

The first days of fencing practice are fundamental moments to create that great bond between the art and passion of this sport with the new exponents, therefore, TouchéWorld Magazine / Kids offers ideal advice that the Fencing Academy establishes for those children and young people who are starting to practice fencing.

There are few blows or injuries

Although it is played with a weapon, the margin of injuries during training or competition is small, since fencing is one of the safest sports you can participate in.

Making sure you know how to use fencing protective equipment and listening carefully to the coach about safety guidelines will allow you to enjoy the sport without worrying about harm.

Work on endurance

Although it may seem otherwise, fencing requires great physical condition from the athlete to withstand the different and intense combats in which they must participate during events or competitions.

That is why, it is important to incorporate activities such as physical preparation which help to improve, such as swimming or running for at least half an hour three times a week.

Get used to being touched

Fencing is a combat sport, and therefore you are constantly receiving thrusts, especially when you are just starting out. It’s a situation you have to get used to.

It is recommended to use complete equipment, including a chest protector, which helps to feel more confident when being touched.

Adapt to the positions

Perhaps at first the positions in which you must place your feet to move correctly are uncomfortable and annoying, since they are positions to which the muscles are not used to and must be worked on.

For this reason, it is important to do stretching work, before and after training.

Focus on footwork

Although handling the weapon is key in fencing, it is also true that movement is vital to being successful on the field, especially when you are starting to practice fencing.

It is advisable to allocate part of your training to leg work, in order to move on the strip effectively.

Start with the basics

Many times the excitement and adrenaline of the first days handling a fencing weapon generates the curiosity to rush forward with new movements that you have not yet been taught, which can cause a setback in basic learning.

For this reason, it is best to go step by step with the lessons taught by the coach, especially when you are starting out. It is advisable to repeat the movements and postures over and over again, until it is internalized and mastered correctly.

Kalleby Álvaro

Name: Álvaro Kalleby

Place of birth: Sao Paulo, Brasil

Date of birth: February 25th 2010

Club: Club Athletico Paulistano

Weight: 64 Kg

Height: 1,73 mts

Weapon: Foil

Orientation: Right-handed

TW: At what age did you start fencing?

AK: I started fencing when I was 6 years old.

TW: Who inspired or motivated you to start fencing?

AK: I always liked to play sword fighting and when I discovered fencing I fell in love with this sport.

TW: How many hours do you train daily?

AK: I normally train every day from 1:45 to 2:30 in the afternoon. Apart from physical preparation and injury prevention physiotherapy, which I do 2 to 3 times a week.

TW: What diet do you follow when preparing for competitions?

AK: I try to eat a lighter diet before competitions.

TW: Which opponent has been the most difficult for you on the strip?

AK: I consider the most difficult one is Luiz Foschini, from Brazil.

TW: Do you listen to music to train or before competitions?

AK: No, I don’t usually listen to anything. I prefer to concentrate without any music.

TW: What hobby do you have apart from fencing?

AK: I really like playing soccer.

TW: What dream do you have as a fencer?

AK: I dream of winning an FIE World Cup in foil and my biggest dream is to win at the Olympic Games.

TW: What has been Alvaro’s happiest moment in fencing?

AK: When I won the Children’s Pan American Championship in Uruguay for the first time, in August 2023.

TW: How do you recover from defeat?

AK: I wake up thinking about what I did well and what I need to improve. I keep searching in my head how to train to improve more and correct my mistakes.

TW: Which coach or coaches have marked your life as a fencer?

AK: Guillermo Bettancourt, Ricardo Ferrazzi and Régis Trois de Ávila.

TW: What advice would you give to new fencers?

AK: I would tell them to always train hard and put in a lot of dedication and above all give their best in competitions.

Protein shake, child AN ALTERNATIVE THAT HELPS THE ATHLETIC

Although there are different myths and theories about the intake of protein in shakes Sports Nutritionist Ivett Khawan (@nutrideportevzla), based her statement on scientific studies and clears up doubts, clarifying that protein shakes produces the same results in the body, as well as its consumption in food. She ensures that its intake is not harmful.

For the specialist protein shakes are a great alternative, especially for children who find it difficult to consume protein in food. This type

of drinks helps children to cover their protein requirement.

“If children have a very high caloric expenditure, due to doing long days of training a day (4-8 hours), their need for protein also increases. The protein shake helps cover that need,” she highlights.

However, Khawan states that protein shakes do not replace a main meal.

“It saves time, instead of preparing a more elaborate snack, especially for those children who don’t like protein or don’t eat the right amount. So it’s a way to get what they need.”

How do you know which protein shake to give your kids?

There are different shakes. Some are only protein, while others contain carbohydrates and proteins. Their intake depends on the needs of the child, who must be evaluated by a specialist in nutrition in order to know the requirements.

“Proteins are not selected by age because for example, eggs or chicken are recommended for both children and adults. What matters is how much each person should consume”.

Rodríguez miguel

Name: Miguel Alejandro Rodríguez Llovera

Nickname: El Cerrador

Place of birt: Caracas, Venezuela

Date of birth: Noviembre/11/2013

Club: Dragones de Caricuao

Weight: 32 Kg.

Height: 1.30 mts

Weapon: Épée

Orientation: Right-Handed

TW: At what age and who inspired or motivated you to start fencing?

MARL: I started at the age of 4 in the Dragones de Caricuao Club, motivated by the times I went to my sister’s training sessions -Valentina García Llovera-, who is also a fencer.

TW: How many hours do you train every day?

MARL: I train every day, around three hours between the physical part and the fights.

TW: What diet do you follow when preparing for competitions?

MARL: The truth is that I eat everything, especially I like chicken -laughing-

TW: Which opponent has been the most difficult for you on the strip?

MARL: Diego Palma is a rival of the Quinta Crespo Fencing Club who, is quite difficult to face.

TW: Do you listen to music to train or before competitions?

MARL: No, I prefer to be silent to concentrate.

TW: What hobby do you have apart from fencing?

MARL: I used to play baseball, but now I focus solely on fencing.

TW: What dream do you have as a fencer?

MARL: My dream is to bring many medals to Venezuela.

TW: Any fencers you admire?

MARL: My teacher Eliana Lugo, who represents Venezuela in Épée in international tournaments.

TW: What has been your happiest moment in fencing?

MARL: When I became national champion last year 2023 in an event in Caracas.

TW: How do you recover from defeat?

MARL: I get sad but my family always motivates me.

TW: What anecdote do you remember during a competition or training session?

MARL: I remember a training session where I lost my shoe and all my teammates started laughing. It was a very funny moment that I enjoyed.

TW: Which coach or coaches have marked your life as a fencer?

MARL: Coaches Eliana Lugo, Geiser Tomoche and Ricardo Blanco.

TW: What has been your greatest achievement on the strip?

MARL: The National Championship that I won in 2023. I felt a lot of joy that day because I’d put in a lot of effort on it.

TW: What do you like most about fencing?

MARL: Everything. The training, sharing with my teammates and the excitement of each competition.

TW: What advice would you give to new fencers?

MARL: I would tell them to be constant in training.

Halcones de Batahola Sur club

Shaping champions for life

With the intention of reaching the humble children and young people of the neighborhoods of Nicaragua Halcones de Batahola Sur was founded in 2005, a fencing club that through sport has dedicated itself to training and inserting good citizens into society, turning them into champions of life.

More than 20 years of experience support the admirable work that coaches William Calderón and Ana Ramírez began in the Batahola Sur neighborhood of Managua, when in their own home they decided to take advantage of their fencing knowledge to teach and promote the

sport, instilling values in children and young people.

“We sought to ensure that lowincome children had the opportunity to participate in a sport of this type, such as fencing. So, we started receiving children from the age of 10 to young people approximately 25 years old in our home” recalls Calderón.

Today, with two established headquarters, Halcones de Batahola Sur is one of the main fencing clubs in Nicaragua and the region. Beyond training national and international medalists, it has guided

Halcones de Batahola Sur

willcamartz@yahoo. es

Managua, Nicaragua

young athletes towards becoming professionals in different university careers.

A hundred athletes and good citizens

The success of the club is reflected in the quality of people who have been trained at the school, where more than a hundred fencers have left their mark, achieving medals at the national and international level, both in the discipline and in society.

“In our club, more than 100 fencers have stood out and graduated at

university level. They fulfill their professional duties, an achievement where fencing has been part of that motivation and discipline.”

Massifying the sport from the earliest ages

The Halcones de Batahola Sur Club has a sub-headquarter called Halcones de Modesto Armijo, located in a school and directed by coach Ana Ramírez.

This headquarter has become a seedbed. When young people graduate from high school, they go on to train at the main club, Batahola Sur. “Good fencers have come from

there who have raised the name of the club and the country.”

Fencing and its influence on children

Fencing is a sport that develops different qualities such as strength, endurance, flexibility, and speed, directly influencing the well-being of children.

“The practice of fencing is beneficial for children and all its practitioners, since the training influences their physical fitness, and helps to avoid diseases such as being overweight, therefore, it also helps to avoid other conditions that may arise from this.”

References in Nicaragua and the region

The work they do daily in the club has shown its results on the podiums of the events, where the name of Halcones de Batahola Sur has become a fixture at the top of the medal tables.

“Since we started, we have had the honor of leading the national medal tables. At the international level, our athletes have contributed with gold medals to the country in the Central American Championships, we even have recently made history by achieving all the medals in the Men’s Individual Saber event. in the last Central American Championship”.

Ricky

Dixón

Name: Ricky Niel Dixon Duarte

Place of Birth: Managua, Nicaragua

Date of Birth: April 6th 2011

Club: Spartan S´

Age: 12 years old

Weight: 50 Kg.

Height: 1,60 mts

Weapon: Épée

Orientation: Right-handed

TW: At what age and who inspired or motivated you to start fencing?

RNDD: I started when I was 8 years old, motivated by my uncle - Brayan -, who invited me to a fencing lesson. From that day I liked it and started taking lessons.

At the time of the invitation, I didn’t know anything about fencing. It was a sport I didn’t know anything about.

TW: How many hours do you train every day?

RNDD: I train for two and a half hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, where we combine the physical skills and resistance with the technical-tactical skills.

TW: What diet do you follow when preparing for competitions?

RNDD: I don’t do any type of diet, but what I actually do, is that a week before the competition I try to eat healthy and at exact times.

TW: Which opponent has been the most difficult for you on the strip?

RNDD: Someone who always makes it difficult for me in combat is my cousin Brayan. Especially in saber. It is quite difficult to face him.

TW: Do you listen to music to train or before competitions?

RNDD: The truth is that our coach doesn’t let us listen to music to stay focused.

TW: What hobby do you have apart from fencing?

RNDD: I like to play soccer in my free time.

TW: What dream do you have as a fencer?

RNDD: To be world champion. That is my biggest dream and that is why I train a lot.

TW: Have you had any difficult moments as a fencer?

RNDD: In 2022 there was a moment when nothing was good for me. Everything was going wrong for

me and I couldn’t win medals in competitions. It was a difficult time, however later I focused and began to be more disciplined and the situation improved in the competitions.

TW: How do you recover from defeat?

RNDD: I work harder. I train a lot more, to do better in the following competitions.

TW: What has been your happiest moment in fencing?

RNDD: The happiest moment as a fencer was the first time I won gold in épée during a national championship.

TW: Which coach or coaches have marked your life as a fencer?

RNDD: There are two special coaches. Stanley Murray Ramírez and Jacinta Yacarelis Zelaya. Both have helped me improve as a fencer.

TW: What has been your greatest achievement on the strip?

RNDD: Having been a double Central American champion during the last Championship in Nicaragua in 2023. That has been the second happiest day of my life.

TW: Do you have any life phrases that you identify with and always keep in mind before or during a competition?

RNDD: I always pray. I leave everything in God’s hands.

TW: What advice would you give to new fencers?

RNDD: I would tell them to pursue their dreams with perseverance and discipline to achieve them.

Matthew Chen

Matthew Chen

Santa Mónica, California Mónica, California pounds feet, 3 inches Right

TW: At what age and who inspired or motivated you to start fencing?

MC: I started fencing at the age of 9. I became interested in fencing when I enrolled in an after school fencing program at my elementary school, Carlthorp School in Santa Monica, California.

TW: How many hours do you train every day?

MC: I train 2-3 hours per day.

TW: What is the diet you follow in preparation for competitions?

MC: I try to eat a lot of carbohydrates before competitions. During competitions, I eat light and ensure I stay hydrated.

TW: Which opponent has been the most difficult for you on the strip?

MC: I have come across many tough opponents with varying fencing styles.

TW: Do you listen to music to train or before competitions?

MC: Sometimes we have music at the club while we train and during competitions, I listen to my playlist during warmups.

TW: What hobby do you have apart from fencing?

MC: I am an expert skier.

TW: What dream do you have as a fencer?

MC: I would like to be able to represent the United States in international tournaments.

TW: Have you ever had a difficult moment as a fencer?

TW: How do you recover from defeat?

MC: I try not to be too hard on myself and endeavor to maintain perspective and mentally reset. I believe losses are learning experiences that you can use to build upon.

TW: What anecdote do you remember during a competition or training session?

MC: In the summer of 2023, my coach, Tarek Ayad, invited the head coach from an elite university fencing program who showed us the importance of 1-touch bouts. I still remember this drill and implement in my competitions.

TW: Which coach or coaches have marked your life as a fencer?

MC: Definitely Tarek Ayad at Elite Fencing Club

TW: What has been your greatest achievement on the strip?

MC: Winning 5th place in Y14 at the 2024 March NAC

TW: What is the phrase or philosophy of life you identify with?

MC: Believe in yourself and never give up.

TW: What does fencing mean to you?

MC: Fencing is my passion. I love the competition and the strategy involved. Through fencing I have gained confidence, mental toughness and have become more disciplined and resilient. In addition, I have made great friendships through the fencing community.

TW: What advice would you give to new fencers?

MC: Don’t focus on tournament results but instead focus on enjoying the sport and having fun.

Important THE DIET OF THE ATHLETE child must be special!

Nutrition is essential in life, especially in children who play sports starting at an early age. That is why, Sports Nutritionist, Ivett Khawan (@nutrideportevzla), highlights the importance of nutrition that young athletes should have, in order to guarantee their health and performance.

For the specialist, children and teenagers are population groups for whom physical activity plays an important role however, she considers that even more care should be taken about their diet.

Khawan assures that the diet of a child who plays sports must be special compared to another who does not practice any type of physical activity, since more calories are required.

“Generally the calories required by an athletic child compared to another child of the same age and gender are 200 – 1500 higher.”

According to the nutritionist, energy/ calorie requirements depend on various factors, such as gender, age, body composition, the sport chosen, days and hours of training per week.

“For example, a 12-year-old child who does not do physical activity should consume approximately 1400 calories, while a child of the same condition who does light sports should consume 2100.

“Those who do moderate or intense sports should consume 2350 and 2600 calories, respectively.”

Likewise, protein requirements must be greater due to the growth and muscle mass that child athletes must have to achieve their best sports performance. “An increase in caloric expenditure due to physical activity, and the lack of protein replacement, produces a negative balance, which is translated into malnutrition,” she highlights.

The nutritionist recommends to emphasize the adequate intake, in the aforementioned case, it would be

1 to 2 grams for every kilogram of the child’s body weight.

Among the proteins recommended by Khawan to integrate the diet of athletic children and teenagers, she mentions the consumption of eggs, red meat, chicken, pork, fish, cheese and charcuterie. “We must remember that our children are our responsibility, so investing in health and sports performance is essential at an early age.”