Jamaican Fencing Association

[kia027]

Who knew?

http://www.thesevanblog.com/2011/07/james-mcbean/

James McBean


Sevan: How did you get into fencing?

James: I received my black belt in 1995, and prior to that, my instructor had promised me to use a sword, but he told me to wait until I got my black belt, which I did in June. Then he passed away in December of that same year when I entered into high school. And you know, coincidence would have it that one of the faculty members at my high school was a fencing coach…Hank Powell. He walked up to me one day and said, “Hey, why don’t you come and try this sport?” I wasn’t too self-aware at the time, but I guess I was going through some depression at the loss of my instructor, so I was pretty much zoned out and figured I would go into fencing, try it and respectfully tell this person that I wasn’t interested and that I was going to do basketball…naturally, right? So I took him up on his offer. I went to practice wearing my big, heavy basketball sneakers and a pair of jeans, and I never looked back.




Funny enough boykia started fencing the same way Got his black belt in Tae Kwon Do and then moved onto fencing

https://www.facebook.com/JamaicanFencing

[MsExced]

Re: Jamaican Fencing Association

Great story...we need more to come forward and share their story.

Much success to you James

[Xavier]

Re: Jamaican Fencing Association

Great story. There is a story on their facebook page about a young lady from Britain who wants to represent Jamaica in fencing.


Young Brit wants to represent Ja at fencing

BY DANIA BOGLE Observer staff reporter
Source: Observer



JAMAICANS have been known to compete in some of the unlikeliest of sports, and Tia Simms-Lymn seems prepared to carry on that tradition.

The 12-year-old, who was born in England to mixed British and Jamaican parents, wants to be the first individual to represent the 'land of wood and water' in the sport of fencing at the 2016 Olympic Games to he held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Read more: Observer

[Gen]

Re: Jamaican Fencing Association

yes was reading on Tia as well

[Xavier]

Jamaican diaspora on future Olympic teams

Hope she makes it to Brazil. Jamaica needs to embrace her quickly.

The other day someone commented "she is not jamaican she nuh grow ah jamaica" on our facebook page post about Jamaican swimmer Alia Atkinson...

Jamaica has the potential to take a bigger team if they tap into the Jamaican diaspora. The would welcome the diaspora with open arms as another country and the parents are footing the bill/development of this athlete while Jamaica get's the glory.

[Gen]

Re: Jamaican diaspora on future Olympic teams

agreed.

not just with the olympics but also seeking out and mentoring the JA youth here in the US, whether the kids are born here or just here getting their degrees.

Remember Penn relays ? I liked the idea that the local businesses set up a tent there to assist the athletes with food or even just a phone call if they needed it.

In difficult economic times, sports and art are the first to get cut from schools so it's important to find a way to keep these programs going.

[kia027]

Re: Jamaican Fencing Association

Yes I read up on Tia as well.. She is doing very well in the Y12 category. Epee and Foil too Ok so that is two for the JFA

any more?