A BIT ABOUT WHO WE ARE

Isabel P. Alvarez
Founder and Head  Fencing Coach

Profencing is the Premier Fencing Club in Central Ohio and an official club member of the United States Fencing Association of the division of Columbus-OH, since 2007.

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I am Isabel Patricia Alvarez, Profencing's founder,  and head fencing coach. Fencing has been my life since I was 11 years old. I had been in the sport of fencing for more than 40 years. I competed for Colombia at world cups and world championships until the qualification for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.  Although at one point in my fencing career I placed among the top ranked foil fencers in the world, and ranked 3rd in the Pan-American Zone , my biggest accomplishment has been founding Profencing in 2004.

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Profencing is a Fencing Training Center for the development of the youth and of high performance fencers. The principles of Profencing integrate the optimal development-physical and mental- of all participants within a safe and healthy environment for the learning, practice and enjoyment of the sport of fencing.

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The core of our Fencing Training Center is our Elite Youth Fencing and Fencing 4Life programs. The Elite Youth Fencing Program trains and develop competitive fencers from ages 8 and up. The Fencing 4Life Program is an ongoing open fencing program for all ages and skills, who wants to enjoy the sport of fencing as a recreational and fun activity. 

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During my fencing career I had been lucky to meet extraordinary people who had a big influence in my life and in my career as a fencer and as a fencing coach. I trained under Coach Buckie Leach, former foil Coach at Fencers Club in New York and U.S. Olympic Coach in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 Olympics.  Also I had the privilege to train under Gia Abashidze , former foil coach at Ohio State University and at at Penn State University. They were the ones who taught me the fencing techniques and tactics that now I try to pass on to my students. I hope to be an inspiration to my students as my coaches were to me.

I personally believe that in the sport of fencing as in anything else in life, striving to become the best is a long journey that requires, dedication, constant learning, innovation and hunger for more knowledge, but most importantly: Passion!