A USA Fencing-sanctioned tournament hosted by the Grand Rapids Advanced Fencing Academy (GRAFA) for both youth and adult fencers.

The Grand Rapids Fencing Academy (GRAFA) invites members of the community to the Third Coast Cup, the region’s largest fencing tournament November 7-9 at the MSA Fieldhouse. The tournament is open to the public.

“A large variety of fencers from more than thirteen states come to Grand Rapids to compete in this tournament,” said Maestro Mikhail Sarkisov, co-founder and co-head coach of GRAFA. “Athletes range in ages and levels, from children to college students to adults.”&#x20;

GRAFA Third Coast Fencing Cup 

The Amateur Sports Act of 1978 specifically named the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as the coordinating body for amateur athletic activity in the U.S. directly relating to international Olympic athletic competition. The Act included provisions for recognizing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) for the sports on the programs of the Olympic and Pan American Games.

USA Fencing is the recognized NGB for the sport of fencing in the United States. USA Fencing was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA) by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union. The AFLA changed its name to the United States Fencing Association in 1981.

USA Fencing is affiliated with the Féderation Internationale d'Escrime(FIE), the international federation for fencing founded in Paris in 1913.

USA Fencing was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in Pennsylvania in 1964 and in Colorado in 1993 in compliance with the Amateur Sports Act and opened its national office in Colorado Springs, Colo. in August of 1982.

GRAFA Third Coast Fencing Cup

All Ages Fencing Tournament