LAUSANNE, Switz., March 18, 2025 – “Officially, this is a dream come true!” was the comment from one participant at the FIE Budapest Training Academy, a series of three-month, Level-2 programmes, one for each weapon (epee, foil, sabre). Providing high-level coaching education for qualified coaches, participants earn an FIE-recognised diploma and a homologated diploma from the Hungarian University of Sports Science.
Various sessions at the Academy include coursework in psychology, physiology, sports theory and biometrics in combination with coaching education classes and practical exercises. The mission of this educational endeavor is to improve coaching skills that may be used effectively to develop and train fencing athletes of all levels.
The feedback and comments from coaches participating in this year’s sabre programme is resoundingly positive. The attendees come from seven countries, including Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, Moldova, Peru, Sweden and USA. Here are excerpts from their comments regarding their Academy experiences:
“The Academy staff are incredible and kind, and the University of Sports Science teachers are the best. I came to learn as much as I can about techniques on fencing lessons, especially from Zsolt Nemcsik, the course mentor.”
“I find myself very happy, we are from different cultures, countries, languages, but no matter what, all of us are very responsible, gentle, disciplined and it makes this experience more comfortable. We have fun during practice, help each other, and have significant values.”
“My goals from this program include creating networking, agreement cooperation, alliances planning and training camp programs to start development systems with environmental opportunities, and improving the competitive system of El Salvador fencing team through invitational wellness retreats in my Academy.”
“The fencing instruction has been amazing. Both Zsolt and Nandi have been incredibly nice and welcoming. The information they provide is top notch and their approach to how to run the class is engaging and informative, and this diploma will help attract students to our club. I feel that this new information will allow me to provide better training to my fencers and to take them to the next level of fencing.”
“This programme encourages me to visit our clubs and motivate them to make fencing sport in their clubs and make it easy for coaches to open academies everywhere to increase number of fencers, making continous education for the current coaches about new methods and updates in coaching methodology.”
“This course is perfect for improving our performance as a coaches. The foundations are aimed at all populations, which allows us to teach this sport in a more professional way. It gives me a higher status as a coach, which allows me to do a better job and more professional, improving in the performance of the athletes.”
“In my opinion, there are many points that need to be mastered in practice. A formed motor habit can only be corrected over time. Analyzing a fencing bout, it is clear that victory goes to the one who makes fewer mistakes.”
“I can say for sure that my participation in this program and obtaining the diploma upon completing this course will strengthen my coaching authority, which will undoubtedly attract parents to send their children to fencing. Since there are no saber fencing specialists in my national federation, my fencing club will be in demand, and as a result, the popularity of fencing in the country and in my city will increase.”
“I think the FIE academy provides the largest benefits to people from countries with poor or no available high-level education in the weapon of choice.”
“The fencing lessons have been very well-structured and informative. They are very thorough, both in the teaching of the movements themselves and in the reasoning behind the specific details.”
“The course, both through the university lectures and the practical sessions, has helped highlight many aspects of my own coaching that need improving.”
“Outside of fencing, Budapest is a very beautiful city with a lot of different sights and activities.”
The 2025 sabre programme has completed, with epee taking place from April 28 – July 18 and foil from July 28 – October 17.
Please note that applications to the foil programme are still being accepted, up to May 23.
For full information and to apply for the programme in this or coming seasons, please click here for details. For questions, please contact Ezequiel.Abellonavas@FIE.ch.