Times Newsweekly: Arts And Leisure

Fencing Made Easy At Woodside Center
Young And Old All Invited To Join

story and photos by Ralph Mancini
While some may view fencing as a foreign and somewhat exotic sport, many Queens residents are discovering a true passion for it through one-on-one training provided by coaches at the Woodside Fencing Center, where lessons are offered in a family-style setting.

A typical Saturday afternoon at WFC headquarters consists of both adults and children of all ages, who are exposed to the rules of the game and who participate in several stretching and warm-up techniques before a sword is placed in their hands.

Two novice fencers duke it out under the close supervision of coach Witold M. Rak (seen standing in background).

As founder and head instructor of the Woodside location, Witold M. Rak takes great pride in encouraging even the smallest of children to participate in drills and sword duels under the supervision of his staff.

Unlike, the methods used in the old European style of fencing, Rak often allows his students to begin handling weapons on their very first day of training.

As a former eight-year competitor in Northern Germany and member of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the sport of fencing, Rak has developed a diverse set of followers under his guidance—some of which are currently assisting him as coaches.

One of his most loyal trainers is a New Orleans native who goes by the name of Stingray.

A seven-year veteran of fencing, Stingray promotes the sport as a great cardiovascular activity and told how it helped him regain flexibility after he began having trouble tackling simple everyday tasks, such as putting on his shoes.

Coach Rak (pictured in back row at right) and his coaches pose with a few weekend regulars during his latest Saturday afternoon session at the Woodside Fencing Center

But even with all the physical benefits provided by the activity, Stingray maintained that in order to be a quality fencer, one must be just as focused on the mental aspect of fencing as he or she is on the physical end of it.

“Fencing is 50 percent mental and 50 percent physical,” he said. “You need three, five, or even seven moves down in your mind before you even begin.”

One’s mental approach before taking on an opponent, he continued, often supersedes the importance of someone’s athleticism or physical stature.

“There’s a bit of finesse and deception to fencing,” he explained. “It’s physical chess. Just because you’re over six feet and can bench press 5,000 pounds doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be a good fencer. A lightweight, smaller framed person can [sometimes] fence just as well.”

Experienced competitors, he shared, frequently win their bouts within the first two seconds of their duel by getting inside the mind of their opponent, who can be immediately vanquished.

Stingray wears the cap of manager at the facility and assists in instructing people on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

In guiding newcomers in preparing for the rigors of fencing, Stingray goes to great lengths in emphasizing the importance of warm-up drills by having them pedal two types of exercise bikes that help build strong thighs and calves.

Although, he doesn’t advise the participants to partake in yoga or pilates, he employs some forms of cross training, as well as a bit of martial arts in his teachings.

While the techniques may seem to border on being a bit complex for most children, some of the younger students at the Saturday session were very enthusiastic about the challenges lying before them at the fencing center.

Youngsters, such as Alex Terepka, 7, of Glendale, who turned his back on gymnastics to better immerse himself in the in the one-on-one intensity offered by the art of fencing.

“It’s all about balance and using your mind and body,” said his mother Annamaria, who also brings her older nine-year-old son Nicholas to weekly Saturday classes.

Cecilia, 11, of Sunnyside, on the other hand, is encouraged by how much she’s learned in just two weeks of taking classes.

“My first time here, I was just poking around with the sword. Now I know what I’m doing and what I should be doing.”

Cecilia was accompanied by sister Berniece, 9, her father, David, as well as her mother, Jean Carubia of Community Board 2—all of whom took part in the day’s activities.

Much older youngsters, such as Alex Makuch, 18, were also on hand. Standing at well over six feet, the aspiring marine officer towered over his adversaries.

When asked why he chose fencing over more popular mainstream sports, Makuch observed, “I was never really much of a team sports kind of guy when I was in high school. I figured something like this would help me out just to build my confidence up and now I’m playing numerous varsity sports in college.”

As an undergraduate at New York Maritime College (Bronx), the freshman looks forward to signing up for fencing meets held by his school. In the past, Makuch competed in the Empire State games and finished third overall.

Vivian Sauer, 13, added some international flavor to the proceedings as both she and her father, Rüdger, were in town from Hanover, Germany to visit with coach Rak.

The younger of the Sauers claimed to be “very impressed” with the level of fencing exhibited by Coach Rak’s students.

Others, such as Olivia Ravert, 14, started training with coach Rak and company as a way for her to become more well-rounded when it comes to the variety of physical recreation activities in the offing for a girl her age.

Ravert, who was joined by her father Robert who had just recently returned from his latest tour of duty in Iraq, is also an avid horseback rider.

In his many years of training, Rak always sought to introduce his favorite pastime to as many people as possible from all walks of life.

His dream led him to organize grass-roots fencing programs in Harlem, where he’s currently the co-founder/director of the East Harlem International Fencing Club.

Coach Moses Sistrunk was one of his first students when Rak first ventured into the area and began teaching classes in the Our Children’s Foundation program when Sistrunk was 12 years old in 1990.

Despite being a full-time school aide for the Department of Education, the 29-year-old acknowledged that his true calling in life is instructing people in the art of fencing, especially children who allow him to “explore their imagination” moreso than adults do who typically just want to be taught in a more straightforward and matter-of-fact manner.

Sistrunk’s unorthodox training methods include the usage of wrestling stances and maneuvers to help youngsters master certain movements.

Students are often advised by the Harlem native to create their own style and fencing repertoire.

“The most important thing is to be yourself when fencing; don’t try to be like somebody else. Be yourself, have fun and stay focused,” he said.

A disciplined workout regimen, according to him, is only required of those looking to test their abilities in competitive tournaments.

“You don’t have to really be big,” he noted. “It’s more about speed than just being a body builder. It’s about using a lot of leg power. If I don’t do anything with my legs, I’m in trouble as far as fencing is concerned.”

Everyone at the center is introduced to a variety of weapons used in the sport. The foil, epée and sabre are three different types of swords typically utilized in fencing. Rak and his coaches will always make sure that their students are adept as using each one.

In business since 1986, Rak hopes that his Woodside location continues to be a destination point for all local fencers for many years to come.