CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 25 "Issac has grown physically during this time because he has started doing exercises for leg strength and to improve upper-body speed and hand-and-eye coordination. It's been amazing to see him mature in the sport. We've thoroughly enjoyed it," says Truett. Issac says the structure of fencing has helped him in other areas of life. "My personality has completely changed from before I started fencing. ere was really nothing structured in my life that I was in control of. en I started structured practice outside of fencing because I had a reason for it. I had a motivation outside of myself. I didn't think this was possible for me. I started to change other things in my life," says Issac. Outthink and outperform Kevin Di Cassio is a military veteran who retired aer teaching JROTC at Westover High School for 15 years. Di Cassio, who is from Pennsylvania and was part of the Penn State fencing team during his college days, has found the time to enjoy fencing again. Kevin Di Cassio says he loves the age diversity of fencers and being around like-minded, passionate people. "Every other sport seems to revolve around a ball. I think fencing is a good alternative. It's challenging mentally as well as physically. ere's more strategy involved. It's not just two people swinging blades at each other," Di Cassio says. "It keeps you in shape, and it's not a very high-impact or mind-numbing type of activity. You're trying to outthink as well as physically outplay another individual. Fencing gives you more diversity." While in the military, Di Cassio remembers reading an article about Guevarra starting a fencing club at Pine Forest High School. He filed that away in his mind until he had the opportunity to take up the sport. Aer fully retiring, he got the fencing itch again and found Guevarra. "He's a great instructor. I really like that he teaches the way the military teaches, in the method of crawl, walk and run. He starts you off with the basics and progresses into more intermediate lessons. "It's been a really great experience for me." Di Cassio says he loves the age diversity of fencers and being around like-minded, passionate people. "What I like about the academy is that it's very diverse. I fence students who are in junior high to those in the military. It's a great workout. I'm amazed how much the sport has grown," Di Cassio says. For anyone who wants to try the sport and not commit to a month's classes, All- American Fencing Academy offers a class for $20 every fourth Friday. Guevarra has some advice for anyone who is thinking about trying it. "If you love 'e Princess Bride,' 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' 'Robin Hood,' or 'Zorro' or once played swords in the backyard, come on out," he says. "If you love 'Star Wars' and have ever had a sword fight with a lightsaber or used a Christmas wrapping tube as a sword, come on out." Guevarra says one of his students said it best when a reporter asked him why he likes fencing. e student replied, "Because we all played swords." For anyone who wants to try the sport and not commit to a month's classes, All-American Fencing Academy offers a class for $20 every fourth Friday.

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