A unique, first-of-its-kind fencing tournament is coming to the Rochester area next month.
Two fencers practice at Ludus Fencing Studio in Greece Monday, March 23, 2026 ahead of Forever Sporting's over-60 fencing tournament April 4. Forever Sporting's over-60 fencing tournament will only feature fencers who are 60 years old or above.
It's being held Saturday, April 4 at the Ludus Fencing Studio on Arcampus Drive in Greece."The sport is like chess in motion. Its very strategic," said Tomi Lahcanski, founder of Forever Sporting. "You have to expect the moves and anticipate the moves form the opponent, try to get him off his game, and impose your strategy and your move. So it is really chess in motion, on top of being very aerobic and anaerobic." Some participants gathered for a practice session Monday night, when they could spar with anyone at the facility. "In any one day, I could be fencing with somebody a high school kid or somebody who is older than me, and they're just as competitive," Lahcanski said. "That's the beauty of the sport. Doesn't matter if you're a man, woman, kid — it's competitive." The group behind the event said its mission is to create opportunities for competition, camaraderie and active living among older athletes who refuse to stop moving. "It keeps you sharp," said Semion Kiriakidi, owner and coach at Lodus Fencing Studio. "It keeps you physically, mentally, emotionally active.""I fenced in high school and I fenced in college," said fencer Steven Susman. "I stopped when I was 25." "I started fencing again at 65, and I won't tell you how old I am, but more than 10 years since I've been doing it again.""The very first time I did it, I hated it. The second time I did it, I hated it," said fencer Ron Kirshner. "By about the third or fourth time, I kind of still hated it, but not as much. So if you go and do it, you have do it with the idea that it's a brand new thing, so you have to give it time. It looks simple, just poke somebody, but it's not simple at all, and that's really one of the lures of it.""My advice to anybody over 60 or even younger is just get into it," Lahcanski said. "You can start appreciating and having fun with very little skill and you build on it." Competitors will also have the chance to square off against fencing master Thomas Mahnken. If someone beats him, they will win the "Spolia Opima" distinction, and will take Mahnken's mask cord and donate it to Forever Sporting, where it will be preserved and displayed at future events.Quadruple amputee athlete accused of shooting man, dumping body in Maryland A man who is a quadruple amputee is locked up in Virginia following a deadly shooting in Charles County, Maryland, according to the sheriff's office.Savannah Guthrie returned to Instagram with her first post in nearly three weeks amid the ongoing search for her 84-year-old missing mother, Nancy.A man is awaiting sentencing after being convicted of murder and other charges for a drive-by shooting that killed a man walking home in Rochester in 2023.A man faces charges after the police said he followed a St. John Fisher University employee toward campus and made unwanted physical contact with her.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Prize-winning lottery ticket sold in RochesterRochester, N.Y. — The New York Lottery announced one top-prize winning ticket was sold in Rochester for the March 20 Take 5 evening drawing.The winning ticket,
Read more »
Rochester Police Officer Injured in Shooting Released from Hospital; Suspect Identified and Search ContinuesA Rochester police officer shot while on duty was released from the hospital Saturday. The suspect has been identified, and the police continue the search. The incident involved a confrontation with a man named Shatique Cato, who has a history of violent offenses. The officer's family credits his training for saving his life.
Read more »
Rochester Hosts Bachelor Auction and Announces Lottery WinnerRochester held its 16th annual Bachelor Auction to raise funds for cancer support and saw a winning lottery ticket sold. Additionally, a Rochester police officer injured in the line of duty has been released from the hospital.
Read more »
Local Celebrations, Lottery Win, and Community Updates: A Snapshot of News in Rochester and BeyondThis news update covers several significant events in the Rochester, N.Y. area. A woman celebrates her 100th birthday, a lottery ticket yields a top prize, a man survives a stabbing, and a police officer recovers from a shooting.
Read more »
Rochester airport director speaks about airport travel during TSA funding lapseRochester, N.Y. — A record number of TSA agents have called out but it is a different story in Rochester.
Read more »
Innovation Square announces expansion plans into former Xerox towerRochester, N.Y. — Rochester is raising the curtain on an exciting expansion into Rochester's arts scene.
Read more »