USA Fencing and MOCA Team Up: Try Fencing After Your Museum Visit
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USA Fencing and the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) announced a collaboration on Sept. 24, 2026. The plan pairs fencing programming at MOCA's Manhattan home with an invitation for every museum visitor to try fencing at a club near them.
USA Fencing and the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) announced a collaboration on Sept. 24, 2026. The plan pairs fencing programming at MOCA's Manhattan home with an invitation for every museum visitor to try fencing at a club near them.
Official source: USA Fencing and the Museum of Chinese in America Team Up to Put a Blade in Every Visitor's Hand.
How the collaboration started
The partnership grew out of a MOCA x Fencing event in May. USA Fencing athletes Maia Chamberlain OLY and Alexander Massialas OLY, with University of Pennsylvania head fencing coach Andy Ma, ran demonstrations and conversation at the museum's Centre Street location. Both organizations wanted to continue after that night.
What each side will do
Under the collaboration, USA Fencing will:
- Stage periodic events at MOCA, bringing athletes into the museum's galleries and programming
- Promote MOCA to New York City members and supporters
- Support the museum's annual gala
- Collaborate with MOCA on social media content
In return, every MOCA visitor gets a chance to try fencing at a club in their own community through TryFencing.org, USA Fencing's program that connects newcomers to beginner classes at more than 750 clubs nationwide.
Why USA Fencing says the fit works
The official announcement cites these figures:
- 46% of USA Fencing members identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander, the highest share of any sport in the United States
- Fencing is the fastest growing sport in the AAPI community
- New York City is the federation's single largest market, with Manhattan its densest pocket of growth
- USA Fencing serves more than 50,000 members and 750 clubs nationwide
- MOCA has nearly 50 years of work preserving Chinese American stories, reaches over 50,000 annual visitors, and serves 10,000 students through exhibitions, education, and public events
What the leaders said
Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, described the partnership as less a business decision and more an overdue introduction. He pointed to immigrant families shaping the sport for generations and to the simple path from a museum afternoon to holding a foil at a local club by the weekend.
Michael Lee, MOCA President, said visitors come looking for connection, and that fencing offers a real one. He noted the Chinese American community has produced champions and that anyone can start as a beginner. MOCA is glad to send visitors out the door with somewhere to go.
For DMV families
You do not need to visit Manhattan to start. TryFencing.org is built to connect newcomers to beginner classes at clubs near them. Saber Nation is a saber-focused club at 4701 Sangamore Road, Suite LL2, Bethesda, MD, serving families across the Bethesda, Chevy Chase, DC, and Arlington area from that one salle.
More federation updates live on our USA Fencing News hub. For class questions, use Contact.