About School

History
Official history of the Sergey Mishenev Art of Fencing School, derived from the corporate legends as well as specific research which was made in 2003. for better understanding, we classified the history of the school in three periods: Tsarist, Soviet and Modern. The Tsarist period is connected primarily with two great masters of fencing: Baltazar Fisher and Ivan Siverbrik. Swiss fencer Fisher came to Saint Petersburg in 1760-s. In 1770, he founded the first private fencing school, in the house of merchant Perkin, in front of the Admiralty (Nevsky pr., 2). The lessons were held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The price for the tuition was 2 roubles a month. Besides, Fisher gave fencing lessons in the Gentry College. The first fencing competition was arranged by Fisher in 1778. After that, the competitions were held monthly.
In 1790, fisher published the first fencing course book in Russia, The Art of Fencing. The book described the main principles of the French fencing school. The pictures were supplemented by Nicol Vaksel. Fisher’s favorite student, Ivan Siverbrik, became the most prominent teacher of the art of fencing in Russia. He gave lessons in a large number of higher educational establishments in Russia. He became the first Russian professor of the Art of fencing. He also had a fencing gym in his apartment. Siverbrik preserved the foundations of the school, but developed the art of fencing in accordance with the innovations of the 19 century. He was the first to add Russian national features to the art of fencing.
Siverbrik was an outstanding teacher. He taught students for almost 50 years. His students continued the tradition of the art of fencing in Russia. The most prominent of them was Alexander Mordovin. He became a prominent fencer in the Soviet Russia. He also moved the fencing school to Moscow. In Moscow, the most prominent fencer was Victor Dobrovolsky, the co-author of the first course book on fencing and wrestling. After Dobrovolsky, the tradition was continued by Leo Matsukevich.
Matsukevich was a champion of the “classic” trend in the Soviet art of fencing, as opposed to the “tactic” trend. However, he greatly revered the main achievements of the “tactic” trend.
Matsukevich’s student, Anatoly Zhivchikov, became thee champion of Moscow on June, 22nd, 1941. after the World War II, Zhivchikov taught the art of fencing in Moscow. His favorite student, Nikolai Chugunov, restored the past significance of the “classic” school and returned the center of the art of fencing to Leningrad by founding a fencing school in 1958. now this school is called Riposte Art of Fencing School. Chugunov started the new, modern, period of the art of fencing in Russia. Now this tradition is continued by Chugunov’s student, Sergey Mishenev.

Activities
The Sergey Mishenev Art of Fencing School preserves the rich traditions of the Russian art of fencing. The school provides the following activities:

Tuition – is the basic mission of the school. The course is based on the classic fencing (thrust and chop). The students excelled in these disciplines, are admitted to the classes of heavy weapons.
The course includes theory and practice lessons, as well as competitions, which are held three times a year: Autumn Open competition, Chugunov competition, and Summer elite competition.
The students may choose the type of classes: individual, pair or group classes.
The course includes a wide range of traditional fencing implements: fencing with closed eyes, weighting materials, shortened weapons, etc. All teaching programs have a long tradition and are approved by Saint Petersburg Sports Committee.

Show performance – besides fencing teaching courses, the school has also developed a wide range of fencing shows and performances, including fencing plays. The school has a trick team, whose members are taught fencing as well as acrobatics, dancing, eurhythmics, and acting techniques. The team takes part in the school’s performances and various concert programs and films.


School Administration

Mishenev Sergey Victorovich.
President of the Sergey Mishenev Art of Fencing School.
Chernova Galina Nikolaevna.
Vice-President of the Sergey Mishenev Art of Fencing School, fencing teacher
Kechek Gayane Alexandrovna.
The director of the fencing gym, fencing teacher.
Tomashevskaya Ekaterina Valeryevna.
Teaching course administrator.