COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — At this year's Summer Nationals in Phoenix, USA Fencing will offer more for attendees than just bouts and bladework. 

Our National Events team continues to expand the beyond-the-strip opportunities for fencers at national tournaments, and this year they’ve curated a rich lineup of presentations and educational sessions aimed at empowering fencers and spectators with knowledge on various significant topics — from neurofencing to body image to artificial intelligence to SafeSport.

Each session offers an excellent opportunity for fencers, coaches, parents and fans to learn, network, and engage in meaningful discussions.

All of the sessions below will take place in Room 123, located just steps from the main competition hall.

Neurofencing

Dates and Times: July 3, noon to 1 p.m. and July 7, noon to 1 p.m.

Description: Supriya Nair, a foil and epee fencer from Redmond, Wash., discusses the latest updates to her research into the importance of warming up before fencing for a project she calls "Neurofencing."

SafeSport Educational Session — Minor Athletes (ages 8-13)

Dates and Times: July 3, 4 to 5 p.m.

Description: Leaders from USA Fencing dedicated to preventing abuse and misconduct in sports will lead a conversational session on topics such as one-on-one interactions, grooming, consent, and reporting. All attendees will be required to complete a parental consent form.

SafeSport Educational Session — Parents

Dates and Times: July 6, 4 to 5 p.m.

Description: Leaders from USA Fencing dedicated to preventing abuse and misconduct in sports, will lead an educational session geared towards parents on topics such as the MAAPP, reporting procedures, and how to spot grooming behaviors.

Body Negativity in the Sports World

Date and Time: July 4, 4 to 5 p.m.

Description: Megumi Oishi, a student-athlete at Northwestern University, founder of The Athlete Narrative, and an advocate for body positivity in fencing and beyond, will lead a thought-provoking session on body negativity in sports, aiming to raise awareness and instigate meaningful conversations on the topic.

Leadership Academy Graduation

Date and Time: July 6, 6 to 7 p.m.

Description: The Leadership Academy graduation celebrates the achievements of emerging leaders in fencing and serves as a source of inspiration for others.

Enhancing Fencing Lunge Performance through AI and VR Analysis

Date and Time: July 2, 5 to 6 p.m. 

Description: Don’t miss a fascinating presentation about a fencer’s study that aims to enhance fencing lunge performance by leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR). By utilizing the 2D Google Cloud Platform Video Intelligence APIs, Deepmotion 3D Animation APIs, and the Oculus Quest 2 through the Unreal Engine VR application, this research aims to prevent knee injuries and improve overall performance.

Mental Training

Date and Time: July 2, 11 a.m to noon and July 6, 2 to 3 p.m 

Description: National team epee fencer and mental training coach Corwin Duncan will delve into the psychological aspects of fencing, demonstrating how mental training can drastically improve performance.

Schedule at a Glance: Presentations

All sessions offered in Room 123

Schedule at a Glance: Meetings

All meetings held in Room 126BC