The British Academy of Fencing (BAF) is a membership organisation for those involved in coaching and coach education in the sport of

fencing Fencing is a group of three related combat sports. The three disciplines in modern fencing are the foil, the épée, and the sabre (also ''saber''); winning points are made through the weapon's contact with an opponent. A fourth discipline, s ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. The Academy claims to trace its roots to the reign of Henry VII and the Company of Masters of the Science of Defence, and was established in 1949. The Academy provides a comprehensive programme of support and teaching for coaches, and maintains a structured set of qualifications in the tuition of the three weapons used in competitive fencing, including basic, intermediate, advanced and diploma awards. As qualifications are attained, members are entitled to use a range of titles such as Provost, Maître d’Escrime, and Master. In addition, full masters of all three weapons adopt the title

Professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...

. While the title 'academy' implies that the organisation is based in a dedicated training school or other facility, the organisation is an association, and its members practice and train throughout the United Kingdom and abroad.

Events

The Academy organise regular residential courses to prepare coaches and prospective coaches for formal examinations.

Publications

The Academy publishes a newsletter called Academy News, as well as a range of guidance and training manuals for members.

Notable members

* Charles de Beaumont – British Olympic fencer. * Roger Crosnier – founder; technical adviser and coach to the British Olympic Team in 1948, and to the French Olympic team in 1952; author of the National Training Method of classical fencing; author of several books on the subject of fencing. *

Allan Jay Allan Louis Neville Jay MBE (born 30 June 1931) is a British former five-time-Olympian foil and épée fencer, and world champion. Early life Jay was born in London, England, and is Jewish. His father died fighting in World War II in 1943. He a ...

, British (épée & foil), Olympic 2x silver, world champion * Leon Paul – founder; Olympian and the last coach to train a British senior World Champion. * J.D. Aylward – founder; sword-collector and historian of the sword. * Leon Bertrand * Bob Anderson – British Olympic fencer and film fight choreographer. * Leon (Leonard) Hill, MBE – long-serving Chair of the Standing Sub-Committee on Technique and Training, and former National Coach. In the New Year's Honours 2012, Professor Hill was awarded an

MBE Mbe may refer to: * Mbé, a town in the Republic of the Congo * Mbe Mountains Community Forest, in Nigeria * Mbe language, a language of Nigeria * Mbe' language, language of Cameroon * ''mbe'', ISO 639 code for the extinct Molala language Molal ...

for his services to fencing. He had been the editor of the Academy's syllabus and training materials since the early 1970s. *

Edgar Seligman Edgar Isaac Seligman (14 April 1867 – 27 September 1958) was a British épée, foil, and sabre fencer. After the family moved to London he became a British citizen by naturalisation. Seligman competed in five Olympiads and won two silver me ...

, British (épée, foil, and saber), Olympic 2x silver (épée), 2x British champion in each weapon

Administration and governance

The British Academy of Fencing is governed by a committee. On 22 May 2013, The British Academy of Fencing was incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee, with exemption of use of the word "Limited".

Affiliations

The Academy has relationships with a number of international fencing organisations, including:
Académie d'Armes Internationale (AAI)
* UK Coaching (former Sports Coach UK) *The

British Fencing Association British Fencing (BF), formerly the British Fencing Association is the national governing body (NGB) for the Olympic sport of fencing in the British Isles (excluding the Republic of Ireland). History In 1902, the Amateur Fencing Association (AF ...

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:British Academy of Fencing Fencing in the United Kingdom Fencing organizations Organisations based in Suffolk Sport in Suffolk Sports organizations established in 1949 Sports organisations of the United Kingdom Stowmarket 1949 establishments in the United Kingdom