Welcome Coach Kyle Yi to Cardinal Fencing Academy!
Updated: Aug 1
Homegrown at CFA 1.0 (2018-2022) Kyle began fencing at 14 with no prior experience and earned a spot on Penn State’s team in four years, proving that the right coaching and work ethic can take an athlete further than anyone expects.
At Penn State Kyle earned a BS in Kinesiology specializing in exercise science, one of the top ranked Kinesiology programs in the nation. There he also competed and supported the team as a Division 1 fencer for 5 years on one of the most decorated fencing programs in NCAA history.
Through his degree and experiences at Penn State he has gotten a deep understanding and foundation in human movement, physiology, and athletic development. His experience through Penn State Kinesiology and NCAA fencing has given him the tools to coach athletes not just to fence better, but to move and compete smarter at every level.
Combined with Coach Ilya's, Coach Alex's and Coach Inaki's laser focus on technical details and strategy during the lesson, we see a bright future for Kyle at Cardinal Fencing Academy! Welcome to the team.
A message from Coach Kyle: Dear all, I will be running Athlete Prep starting in September 2026. After observing the fencers during onboarding, It has come to my attention that our speed, endurance and coordination need to improve to stay ahead of our growing competition both locally and away.
We will begin the season by gradually ramping up over September and October. In Athlete Prep we will combine modern gym conditioning with fencing specific work, all designed to sharpen the exact explosiveness and stamina you need on the strip. I'll be incorporating plyometric work mixed with strength training.
Expect more conditioning in Group C as well, I am taking over the first 45 minutes to an hour of Tuesdays and Thursdays. That means a strict 10-minute buffer for warm-up games before we dive right into our fencing warm-up and the day's class.
The ramp up in both Athlete Prep and Group C covers stretching and recovery, which ideally should be done for 10 minutes or so after practice. I will do my best to develop the self discipline necessary to minimize risk of injury and recover faster.
Once we observe better habits, ideally by Thanksgiving, we will switch into high gear for explosivity.
I am also aware of the packed competition calendar and the spectrum of age and levels. I will adjust groups accordingly. Looking forward to working with you!
“If you believe you are the best, then you are the best”
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