We love sharing resources that inspire our fencing community — and this one is worth your time.
Michael Aufrichtig has been the head fencing coach at Columbia University since 2011. When he arrived, the team had a 2-16 record. Within a few years, he had built them into three-time national champions.
His TED Talk — "One Touch to Glory" — is a fascinating look at how focusing on small details and building the right culture can transform results. Not just in fencing, but in anything.
We won't spoil it. Watch it yourself:
→ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfYxp4djCNM
Why we're sharing this
At PBFC, we believe that coaching is about more than technique. It's about creating an environment where athletes believe in themselves, pay attention to the details that others overlook, and commit to getting better every single day.
Coach Aufrichtig's story is a reminder of what's possible when the right coaching philosophy meets dedicated athletes. It's the same philosophy we bring to our strip every day — whether we're working with a 6-year-old picking up a blade for the first time or an adult discovering the sport later in life.
The college fencing connection
Aufrichtig's success at Columbia also highlights something we talk about often with our families: fencing opens real doors at the college level. Columbia is one of more than 30 universities with NCAA fencing programs — alongside Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Duke, and many others.
About 1 in 3 high school fencers goes on to fence in college. The path from a local club to an elite university is shorter than most parents think.
Start the journey
Every champion started somewhere. Your child's first class at Palm Beach Fencing Club is free.
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Palm Beach Fencing Club was founded in 1927 and is one of the oldest fencing clubs in South Florida. We offer youth, adult, and senior programs for fencers of all levels in West Palm Beach, FL.