Sergei Gritsaev taught his first student to swing a saber more than 30 years ago in his native Ukraine. Throughout the course of those three decades, also Sergei progressed and went on to train the country’s national team for the world championships. Now, assisted by two other coaches, he hones Salt Lake City’s finest competitive and recreational swords folk at Utah Swords Academy. There, he teaches his students the art of manipulating fencing’s three classic blades: foil, épée, and saber. No matter the chosen blade, Sergei begins each course of study by focusing on footwork and vocabulary. After students learn to walk the walk and talk the talk, lessons progress to more complex blade techniques, including feints, defenses, and long-legged lunges.
