A bit of a delay and some overdue updates…Ben is flying to Tokyo and Chris is recovering from a broken rib! What a great opportunity to to hear about what goes on in an Olympic and Paralympic village - sparring partners, holding camps, who gets into the village…Ben speaks from personal experience! Ben also has a story about how he got stuck in the Olympic village in Rio 2016 having lost his chaperone…not to be repeated! We also have our review of the Olympics… …stand out moments …how the results...
Aug 24, 2021•50 min•Ep. 22
“We are part of an historic Olympics"...the Women’s Foil Dream Team competing in the Tokyo 'Pandemic' Olympic Games We’re celebrating 🇨🇦 Day🍁 by bringing you an interview from the Women’s Foil Dream Team that are going to the Tokyo Olympics (sometimes referred to as the Pandemic Games) in FEWER THAN 30 days! Here’s a quick insight in their own words…“we’re quirky all the time, banter is our middle name”. In this whirlwind of an episode we get to know 3 of the 4 that will be on the plane (Jess...
Jul 01, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 21
After taking his first real break from fencing since he started in 1994, Richard joins us to discuss his career, travels and all sorts of nonsense while sipping his afternoon Oolong tea. We go through training habits and philosophies and how he believes that he managed to turn his hobby into his profession with some tips for fencers that want to do the same (including how he deals with jet lag). We also talk about the Olympic qualification process, a topic that Richard is extremely well position...
May 30, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 20
Be brave, have fun, stay curious. Play the game. This is our latest motto, which will always keep us going! Right? Ben and Chris talk about the latest developments in their training and what we can all continue to work on from home and what might change with the return of fencing looming… We cover our thoughts on the recent Sabre and Epee Olympic qualifiers (this was recorded before the Foil event in Doha) and label one athlete as the Federer of the fencing world. Of course, we also talk about t...
Apr 01, 2021•56 min•Ep. 19
“Commit to the moment so that you finish with no regrets - don’t ever lose hits on the things that you can control” As a two time Olympian, this is the approach that Johnny Davis, the Olympic Team Manager for British Fencing, took to his very successful Fencing career. Johnny talks us through his life to date…from Belfast to a big shot in the music industry to his fencing career. He explains how he has taken these experiences into his role with the British Team. Providing us with insights into h...
Mar 01, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 18
Dan Berke is a tech head turned fencer who spotted an opportunity to make life at his club a little easier through technology. Now it’s 2021 and you have probably all used Fencing Time in some capacity either as a fencer, tournament organiser or spectator. The app grew naturally, with word spreading regionally...then nationally...then finally to the FIE who now use it at the worlds biggest events. Dan still works as a software engineer while running Fencing Time and finding the time to speak to ...
Jan 28, 2021•59 min•Ep. 17
As COVID continues to reek havoc through all of Europe and with stricter measures being taken Nationally, what effect is this having on our mental health and our fencing? We thought it was time to check in with psychology again. In this episode Ben and Chris are joined by British Fencing’s Lead Athlete Development Programme Sports Psychologist - Dr Jonathan Katz. Jonathan’s expertise has taken him to multiple Paralympic Games, European, World and Commonwealth Championships, making him an ideal p...
Nov 04, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 16
Ben forgets how to keep score and Chris can’t put on a jacket...the longly anticipated return to fencing! It’s finally time...we’re back to sparring! It’s the moment where we get to see how much we have improved after all of our efforts during lockdown! Ben talks about his return to squad training and how tough a simple 5 hit bout can be after 6 months away and Chris explains how he is chomping at the bit for his first session back. With so many COVID restrictions in place, and rightly so, train...
Sep 19, 2020•49 min•Ep. 15
“The life skills that can be taken from fencing are massive” ‘The Fenced In’ podcast meets arguably Scotland’s finest fencer, ever! Growing up with all the odds stacked against him all Keith Cook ever wanted was a garden with a tree in it. Who knew what the world had in store for him instead… In this episode we talk to a fellow friend, team mate, coach, father and athlete. The now retired (not confirmed!) senior international medalist, former British Champion and head coach of Salle Holyrood exp...
Aug 15, 2020•50 min•Ep. 14
The fenced in podcast meets Maria and Sonia. British Fencing’s physiotherapist and sports therapist respectively. The dream team behind some of GB’s biggest successes! Maria and Sonia each run their own practice in different areas of London but that doesn’t stop them from finding them time support the fencers, and each other. Since Maria started, the GB team have qualified for the Rio Olympic Games, won numerous medals at World Cup, and with Sonia’s arrival followed not one but two World Champio...
Jul 24, 2020•59 min•Ep. 13
“In Hungary, if you want to be an icon you have to be Olympic champion" As he is the only athlete ever to have won a medal at both the Olympic and the Paralympic Games, it’s safe to say that’s exactly what Pal has achieved in a fencing career spanning 28 years, with a journey like no other! Ben and Chris discover what Pal went through from his first Olympics in Los Angeles 1984 to his last Paralympics London 2012. Describing his utter determination which resulted in his remarkable Paralympic tit...
Jul 06, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 12
The ‘Fenced in’ podcast brings you its third guest: Paralympian and current World Number 1 - Dimitri Coutya. In this episode you’ll learn all there is to know about wheelchair fencing and the incredible story behind the former double World Champion. Dimitri talks us through his inspiring story at the Rio Games and how this spring-boarded him on to claim world titles in both Epee and Foil. With enlightening content about psychological wellbeing in lockdown and how just having a happy head can do ...
Jun 17, 2020•43 min•Ep. 11
“We are fencers - we are trained to deal with change and adapt at a moments notice ” An opportunity, that is how our latest guest views the current situation. Dan Kellner talks us through his inspiring story as a fencer. With both highs and lows, that didn’t stop it from becoming a roaring success including being the first American in 33 years to win the Pan-American Games and finish 4th with team USA at 2004 Olympics Games. The story doesn’t stop there, we discuss the move into his coaching car...
Jun 08, 2020•48 min•Ep. 10
“Tough times don’t last, but tough teams do” This is exactly the mantra the head coach for Great Britain’s Sabre team lives by. Jon joins Chris and Ben to discuss how his club Truro is not only surviving but thriving in lockdown! Having established, and still leading, the Cornish club’s high performance programme he explains what has gone into producing some of GB’s best sabreurs and how, in a time like this, no club should lose momentum. Nearly an hour was spent talking to Jon but it could have...
Jun 01, 2020•53 min•Ep. 9
Diet. Nutrition. Stoke the fire and feed the flames. This episode is about understanding what you put into your body and how it can be as effective as the training you do. Ben and Chris talk about how their food intake has changed since lockdown and some examples of their favourite meals. Spoilers: Ben will eat anything and Chris is obsessed with peanut butter. ‘Ask us anything’ features two questions about the elements of training and how to manage breaks at competitions. Please remember to rat...
May 26, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 8
What’s just as important as your training? Recovery and how to schedule it! Ben and Chris delve deep into recovery to understand how being smart will get you back to your best quicker than before. Exploring the idea of periodisation through concise planning, you’ll get what you need to develop a structure to your training, helping you to peak at the right times whether you’re fencing domestically or internationally. ‘Ask us anything’ features a great question about visualising matches against op...
May 19, 2020•51 min•Ep. 7
Deep into lockdown and it’s time to power through! This lasted edition is exactly that - strength and conditioning! Ben and Chris build on the foundations from last weeks episode by discussing what physical training looks like for different levels of fencer and what key areas should be developed to avoid the pitfalls of injuries as well as making measurable differences to your game. The conversation evolves into how these gains can be made without the traditional training aids, and how both have...
May 12, 2020•46 min•Ep. 6
In week 5 of lockdown, Ben and Chris get their teeth into mobility, stability and flexibility - isn't that a mouthful! They talk about how this foundation supports fencing at any level, and how can it be developed or practised in your own home. Exploring common misconceptions and discussing injury prevention, this chapter shows the best way to prepare an athletes body for basic practise right through to professional training with knowledge gained from years of experience in doing both right and ...
May 04, 2020•37 min•Ep. 5
Ben Peggs and Chris Mollard - who both represent GB in the sport of fencing - bring you the next chapter of their podcast, following on seamlessly from last weeks episode on tactical analysis. This week they discuss footwork and technical training - what it is, why it’s important and how to find new ways to do it at home. In this extended episode Ben and Chris take a deeper look at a range of technical elements, delving into a greater analysis of how modern foil is developing. Featuring a new se...
Apr 27, 2020•55 min•Ep. 4
Ben Peggs and Chris Mollard bring you another informative episode on tactical analysis - how to do it and how not to! They discuss how this can be done, both at home and at training, so that you can start to see measurable differences in your fencing. These include how to approach a bout, determine what needs to change and how to put together feedback on yourself so that fencers can determine how best to prepare for the restart of competitions. We did a video with the popular YouTuber CyrusofCha...
Apr 20, 2020•34 min•Ep. 3
Ben Peggs and Chris Mollard - who both represented GB in the sport of fencing - bring you the second chapter of their latest podcast. This week they talk about psychology and the challenges of staying positive and keeping a good state of mental health in these bizarre times. Addiction, motivation, challenges and mental health are all covered. Fencing, at any level, is a social sport so staying motivated while training alone can be hard! They talk about what can be done to help ‘manage the mind’ ...
Apr 14, 2020•41 min•Ep. 2
Ben and Chris who have both represented GB in the sport of fencing talk about what they have been doing in the first week of lockdown in the UK and how to keep fit and healthy while maintaining a high level of adapted fencing training! Please like, rate and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. We are also on Twitter @FencedInPodcast (https://twitter.com/FencedInPodcast) - follow us and get in touch for your questions to be answered!
Apr 01, 2020•59 min•Ep. 1
