For Jacob Traschenko Pochmara of Clarkston, a visit to the Michigan Renaissance Fair was an inspiration.
‘I saw the knights and I thought, ‘I want to do that,?? said Pochmara, 14.
The Clarkston Junior High School student stuck with it, and has been studying fencing for the past eight years. He placed in the top 10 in national competition last month.
‘I’ve been training for it for three years ? this is the first year I got results,? he said. ‘I had a lot of confidence going in, a lot of mental preparation.?
He competed in the Capitol Clash SYC (Super Youth Circuit), Feb. 6-8 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. He earned an eighth place finish out of 58 competitors in Cadet Men’s Foil.
He also fenced at the 2014 Michigan Renaissance Festival’s tournament, placing first in Y14 and third in senior mixed foil.
‘I like it, it’s unique ? there aren’t many activities for you where you can use swords,? said Pochmara, whose parents are Ellen Traschenko and Steven Pochmara, and brother, Nicholas. ‘There’s rich history to it. It’s one of few sports that has been in every modern day Olympics.?
He went to two fencing clubs before finding Renaissance Fencing Club of Troy. He competed at a tournament there, and has been a student there for the last five years.
“They are more competitive, with more interesting training,” he said.
Jacob works with Coach Anatolie Senic on footwork, wall target, drills with a partner, and attack and parry during two hour practices, four times a week.
“I’ve learned to slow down my attack, self control, take it slow,? he said.
He’s preparing for Summer Nationals competition with private lessons with coaches, working on competitive fencing, specializing on the foil.
‘It’s the most intricate, more elegant,? he said. ‘You plan how to evade the blade.?
His goals include fencing in college at the varsity level, eventually earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, while studying to become a neurologist.