The seminar At the Root of ZailiyskiyAlatauMountains

On March 13 – 19, 2007 the first seminar on fencing went in Asia and Oceania, arranged by the International Fund “For the Future of Fencing". This training seminar is a part of the program for enhancement of trainers’ qualification, which is successfully implemented by the Fund for two years.

The fund receives tremendous number of letters with requests to conduct similar seminars for the national federations around the world: America, Asia and Europe. Those letters include the words of gratitude and appraisal for the activities of the Fund, aimed at development of fencing.

Selso L. Dayrit , President of the Asian Fencing Confederation (ACF), on behalf of ACF has congratulated the Fund “For the Future of Fencing” with the arrangement of the workshop for trainers in Kazakhstan : "This really a noble and important initiative, aimed at the development of fencing in the Asian region, which residents make more than two thirds of the world's population .

47 coaches from 15 Asian countries will participate in an intensive five-day seminar. They will be able not only to improve their personal skills in teaching and coaching, but the seminar will also provide them an opportunity to share their own experiences and skills, as well as contribute to the development of friendship and common understanding on the international level.

Indeed, sport is not only competition, but cooperation as well. Its target is not only to gain medals, but to find friends and gain self-respect. In sports, it is important not only to defeat the competitor, but to overcome one’s own fears and weakness, develop self-confidence and pride of a real athlete and a become a worthy representative of the community of nations.

We sincerely appreciate the efforts of Boris Fomenko, Igor Pylnov and Yurek Kontsalski, trainers, who generously share their knowledge and experience. They are recognized experts in the field of fencing, who have brought up successful athletes.

I am sure that for all participants the seminar will be very useful. We hope that in future all fencing enthusiasts in Asia will have an access to the new developments. I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Alisher Usmanov, the founder of the Fund, who provided a possibility to arrange the seminar.

Many thanks to all of you..

These words of the President of Confederation created friendly and businesslike atmosphere at the seminar, inspired creative and constructive work of the participants and coordinators.


Oleg Peskov, the Director of the Fund in the countries of Asia and Oceania, was responsible for the arrangement of the Almaty seminar, chaired by Vitaly Logvin, the Vice-president of the Fund. GennadyKiryanov, the Fund Executive Manager, has also attended the seminar.

Seminar was held by: Boris Fomenko (Denmark), foil coach, Yurek Kanzalski (Canada), sword coach and Igor Pylnov (Russia), coach for sable.

Classes were held in two sessions oer day, three hours each.. Practical exercises were conducted in the form of private lessons, work in pairs and group sessions with elements of competitive practices. At the end of the seminar, all coaches passed tests. At the conclusion of the seminar trainers were awarded certificates of advanced training at the Seminar, as well as gifts from the International Fund “for the Future of Fencing” and Fencing Federation of Kazakhstan, video tapes of the seminar.

There was found come place for the seminar participants for cultural programme in the busy seminar program. Excursions were arranged to the capital of Kazakhstan, beautiful ancient city of Almaty.

According to the participants’ opinion, the seminar was held on a high administrative and methodological level. No negative comments were made. Participants have highly appraised the activities of the Fund, proposed to carry on similar activities, which will substantially raise the level of competition of fencing in the Asian region and asked to give their best wishes to Alisher Usmanov.