Fencing Is My Life

I'm a French amateur epeeist and read this book last summer. I found it quite inspiring. It's more about the courage, spirit and hard work of a top-level fencer than technique, which makes it all the more enjoyable. For technical details about foil fighting or fencing in general, one can read other great books. You'll find the numerous anecdotes about refereeing, doping and "sold" bouts and the exploration of the USSR sport machinery very enriching. Furthermore, the fencing world described by Golubitsky is a modern one (he fenced mostly in the 90's and is now a trainer), which makes the book a must-read for every fencer, whether he or she is a foilist, an epeeist or a sabreur, since no specific details about foil are given (or hardly any). Long live our beautiful sport !

As an amateur yet passionate fencer myself, I was curious about reading this book. What I read inspired me beyond the fencing. It is a book of a great character, passion, belief, dedication, struggle, inspiration and never-give-up attitude. I always admired world league athletes, and Sergei definitely deserves a place in the overall sports Hall of Fame for his achievements. In this book you literally feel his pain, struggles, desires, doubts, disappointments and problems he encountered during his long career and a hope, hard work, dedication, inspiration, stubbornness and talent that helped him to achieve these unbelievable heights. As you read thru this book, you would not read a story of wunderkind of fencing. Even his physical characteristics that he described in the book, 182cm height and 82kg weight, are very average to give any advantage in fencing. But what made him to get into sports Hall of Fame is his character and his character only. I definitely would recommend it to be read by every athlete, even if sometimes fencing terminology is confusing and unclear. Moreover, you would believe that if you, a normal average person, decide to take a path to a success, put all your dedication and hard work, don't give up your hope and inspiration - you can achieve phenomenal results. Maybe not quite of Sergei's - after all, he is unique - but high enough to fulfill your desires. Not only that I started to admire him more as a person, with whom I would really want to meet, but I started to admire him for the fact that he showed that the goal is yours to set and achieve, yours and nobody's else. Be it in fencing or in life as general. I read a lot of inspirational books that teach you to dream and achieve this dream, but unlike others, he does not teach you that. I doubt he even meant to, but page after page this is an inspirational source you would discover. That what in my opinion makes this book so different.

The book "Fencing Is My Life" is an inspiring true story of Golubitsky's rise to the top of the fencing world. Even though time has past me by, Sergei's words have inspired me to want to fence competitively once again. I loved the stories of the great and mysterious "Soviet Sports Machine." Having grown up in a "Salle" and been fencing since the 80's my father use to tell me stories of the Soviets during this time before the Berlin wall came down. To hear first hand accounts of the politics and the intense training was such a treat to read. This book is a must read for every fencer no matter where they are in their fencing career or ability. Having had a chance to train with Sergei while he was in Holland and participate in various camps with him I can say that it was and is the highlight of my fencing career. Sergei is a great fencer, coach, and for those who have gotten to know him a friend.

This is the sport biography of Sergei Golubitsky. You will find details about his life, his feelings and the highlights of his career. Golubitsky will transmit you his passion for fencing and tell you many stories regarding sport fencing. If you are interested in the history of modern fencing this is a must. Specially interesting are the details concerning the sport corruption and political issues concerning the former Soviet Union. But don't except to find almost any technical or tactical information in this book. I'ts not a fencing manual. It's just the personal story of one of the greatest foilist of all times.

An inspiring story of a life devoted to its calling! The reader is caringly taken through the ups and downs, the daily struggles, the disappoinments and heartaches, and the thrill of victory. A tough, grinding, enormously challenging maze of hurdles and off-ramps - but Golubitsky shares with us how he managed to stay on the road to championship. A great read!

Good description of Soviet fencing. No doubt who wrote this. If you know Golubitsky you know he wrote it. Good description of the demands trials and tribulations of world class fencing.

Sergei Golubitsky gives an incredibly interesting and honest account of his rise to the top of the sport of fencing. He recounts triumphs and disappointments with frankly and with the aim of sharing his mistakes with aspiring fencers so they do not make the same ones. This is highly enjoyable reading for any fencer who will identify with his struggles and triumphs but would also be valuable for any athlete.

Bought as a gift, read the book myself some years ago, the guy is the hero and being born in the USSR I loved all his stories.

I bought this for my 15 year old son after he fenced with Golubitsky at the Marathon Fleuret in Paris this year. I haven’t even given it to him yet because I can’t stop reading it and I don’t even Fence. I flicked it open when it arrived and immediately saw a funny story about the British Fencer Johnny Davis, who is one of my son’s two coaches. I love this book. I’m going to purchase a second copy for one of his club mates. It makes me want to put my son on a plane to California to train with him for a week! As a non fencing parent, it also gives me a lot of understanding of the mental focus and training to be great. Greatness may be in my son’s future or it may not. Either way, the lessons he can learn from Sergei’s story will serve him well in many aspects of his life!

It helps giving inspiration to my students who love fencing. Golubitsky is a good role model of hard working fencers who put all effort to achieve the goal. He also emphasizes the important of getting good footwork and how hard he work in basic before progress to be good fencers. In politic side, he also shows how the socialist country system is and we can learn something about this. thanks for passing on this experience.

Excellent book, Sergei Golubitsky has a really enjoyable writing style. Highly recommended for fencers and family of fencers as gives a real insight into the world of competitive fencing.

This is the sport biography of Golubitsky. He will transmit you his passion for fencing and tell you about his feelings throughout his entire career. You will also find information about politics concerning the USSR and the unfair play of the Eastern Bloc in the time of the Cold War. All of that is quite interesting, but don't expect to find much technical or tactical information about fencing. You can use it as an inspiring text and to learn about the modern history of fencing, but remember this is not a technical manual and you will not learn much about fencing itself with it.