Our guest is Arya Chavan, a 13-year-old saber fencer with the Zeta Fencing club of Ashland, Massachusetts.
In this episode of First to 15, we're joined by Arya Chavan, a 13-year-old saber fencer with the Zeta Fencing club of Ashland, Massachusetts, who has already achieved junior national points and won a silver medal in her first cadet team event.
Get ready to be inspired as we discuss her journey, challenges, and aspirations in fencing, as well as her dedication to her education and other interests.
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First to 15: The Official Podcast of USA Fencing
Host: Bryan Wendell
Cover art: Manna Creations
Theme music: Brian Sanyshyn
EPISODE 24
[INTRODUCTION]
[00:00:01] BW: Hello, and welcome to First to 15, the official podcast of USA fencing. I'm your host Bryan Wendell. And in this show, you're going to hear from some of the most inspiring, interesting and insanely talented people in this sport we all love.
First to 15 is for anyone in the fencing community and even for those just checking out fencing to see what it's all about. Whether you're an Olympian, or Paralympian, a newcomer, a seasoned veteran, a fencing parent, a fan or anyone else in this wonderful community, this podcast is for you. With that, let's get to today's episode. Enjoy.
[INTERVIEW]
[00:00:40] BW: Today we have a special young guest who's making waves in the world of fencing. It's Arya Chavan. Arya is a 13-year-old saber fencer with Zeta Fencing of Ashland, Massachusetts. And she's already achieved Junior National points and won a silver medal in her first Cadet team event. That was in Fort Worth.
Get ready to be inspired as we discuss her journey, her challenges and her aspirations in fencing, as well as her dedication to her education and other interests. Welcome to the podcast, Arya.
[00:01:09] AC: Hi.
[00:01:10] BW: Thanks so much for being here. Let's dive right in. Can you tell us about your journey into fencing? How you got started and eventually became one of the youngest fencers to achieve Junior National points at just 13?
[00:01:24] AC: The journey started when I was eight years old. I stumbled upon it when it was recommended to us by one of my brother's karate's friend's parents. We then did some research on the sport. We came across a fencer named Eli Dershwitz and his connection from Zeta Fencing at the time.
And the head coach of Zeta at the time was Coach Zoran. And we went and visited the club but he said my brother was too young. But he said that I was the right age for it. I went and I started off with epe and later on transitioned into saber, a beginner class under one of my current coaches, Sergey. Then COVID hit and everything transitioned into Zoom.
After that though, I was promoted to our club's highest level [inaudible 00:02:08]. And it was under the current head coach Dimitri Boyko. Or as most people know him, Dima. Dima, like Coach Z, also widely renowned in the fencing world as an international fencer.
This February, I went to my first Junior Olympics and someone once told me that, as soon as you're on the strip, you always have an equal chance of beating your opponent. And with that mentality, I was able to get national points.
[00:02:36] BW: That's awesome. It's cool to hear that all those big names were kind of involved in your introduction to fencing, which is really cool. It's crazy to think that there's these people out here and they're inspiring the next generation. And then, in turn, that generation will be inspiring the next generation and it just kind of continues on and on.
I want to talk about Fort Worth and the March NAC, which is actually where we first met and where I met your dad who suggested that you'd be a great guest for the podcast. I want to know what your experience was like competing in that Cadet team event there and then eventually winning a silver medal. What was that like?
[00:03:12] AC: Yeah. There was actually a lot of commotion leading up Fort Worth. Our flight got delayed. Our other flight, we had to actually end up sleeping at the airport. And we arrived the venue at around 7 AM the same morning. But as soon as I got there, I had my teammates there to cheer me up and to kind of get me ready for the competition itself.
And we all walked in to March NAC kind of knowing that we wanted a medal. Knowing that we were there to get a medal. From the first round, we got a buy. And in our first [inaudible 00:03:43], we beat our first team with more than a 20-point lead, which is great for us. And in the next bout, which is semifinals, we fenced a worthy opponent. But we finally managed to pull through and get our medal.
And on our way to finals, there was a pretty big wait. All of us had kind of cooled down. But after finals, we walked away knowing that we really did try and we just got unlucky that we went up against a really good team. And we accomplished our goal. And the medal ceremony felt really surreal for the three out of four of us because it was most of my team's First National medal. We were all extremely proud of us and everyone that helped us.
[00:04:25] BW: Yeah, of course. And where is that medal now out of curiosity? Is it in a place of prominence in your house?
[00:04:32] AC: Kind of. It's just in my bedroom along with my other medals. But it's on a big little shelf.
[00:04:37] BW: That's awesome. The thing about fencing at your age is that you're not just a full-time fencer obviously. You're also a really successful and talented student. And you have tons of other interests obviously. How do you manage your time effectively when you know you want to train, you want to keep getting good grades in school, spend time with your friends, all of that? How do you keep it all in balance?
[00:05:01] AC: Well, I set a lot of alarms for myself and reminders. I try to finish most of my school homework in school. And as soon as I get back home, I grab a snack and then get straight to work. And then I have to usually go to my other activities. And after those activities, I have to go into my fencing classes, which are every day. If I have leftover homework, I'll usually finish it after fencing, which is kind of late in the night. And for hanging out with friends, I usually go on the weekends usually at tournaments with my fencing friends or on half days at our school.
[00:05:32] BW: Yeah, it's great when your friends are also fencers because then you can hang out at tournaments too, right? That's the way to do it. Also, you're not just a fencer. You also have experience as a competitive swimmer. And is there any parallel there? Did swimming help your fencing at all or vice versa?
[00:05:50] AC: Yeah, it actually helped a lot. I joined the swim team at the age of four. That was when I first started swim team. It wasn't that competitive on my first swim team. But over the three some teams I've been on, the last one being the most competitive, with each step, I build up my physical strength and as well as my mental strength. Because in swimming, your main goal is to always beat your own time and to not worry about who else is in the lanes next to you and who else you're kind of racing.
You kind of get the mental strength to keep on going and to only focus on yourself to constantly improve your technique or your emotional levels going into the races. You're always focused about yourself. You should never ever worry about the opponent. And I think that's very similar with fencing.
[00:06:36] BW: Interesting. Because, yeah, in swimming – I mean, really, if they wanted to, they could run a swimming meet where there's one person at a time right it's just you racing against the clock. But in fencing, yeah, you want to think about yourself. But in some ways, and especially in saber, you can't ignore your opponent because they're rushing toward you. You also have to kind of prepare for what that person's presenting to you in real time. It's an interesting contrast between the two for sure.
You also, as if that's not enough, you practice Indian classical dance. And has that influenced your fencing at all or vice versa?
[00:07:13] AC: Yeah, actually. Any classical dance is a really elegant form of dance, it's always structured. But at the same time very fluid. And I think, in a way, fencing is also can be an extremely elegant sport. Everything is planned out and under control. And I think in those two ways, fencing and dance are really similar.
I think fencing has definitely helped my dance, the stamina required advancing through all those [inaudible 00:07:42]rounds or performing like a 10-minute dance. You need to have a lot of stamina to get through those dances and those [inaudible 00:07:48] rounds both.
[00:07:49] BW: Yeah, footwork, stamina, having the right moves. There's more parallels than I first thought. That's really cool. And from talking to your dad, I know you have really strong work ethic and you're committed to school and your sport. Do you have any tips on how you maintain that level of dedication and that commitment?
[00:08:10] AC: Of course. I think, for me, I'm really passionate about fencing. This sport has kind of became my whole life. And for that reason, I kind of remain really dedicated to not only the sport but to my coaches, to everyone in my fencing community.
I also think club routine is like I go to practice every day for two hours and it's kind of just like a cycle that just repeats. And having a routine I think really helps me. And also, my friends at the fencing club helped me create a positive environment. With them, I am able to really enjoy the sport itself while I'm fencing.
[00:08:57] BW: Yeah. I mean, when it stops being fun, that's a sign that it's not for you. But as long as it's still fun, which it sounds like it is, then it's probably easier to maintain that level of dedication I would imagine.
One thing that I've heard others say on this podcast is that, a lot of times in fencing, you're going to end up losing more than you win. And so, that's a challenge that has to be faced within fencing and knowing that there is that prospect of having an early exit from a tournament or losing a close bout in the finals of the cadet saber team event, right? There are going to be challenges you face. Do you have some specific ones that you like to point to? Some challenges that you have had to tackle out on the strip or beyond? And how did you overcome them?
[00:09:43] AC: Well, for me, a lot of the challenges that I faced was with my mental strength. I think that I still do struggle with trying to make sure that fencing is always fun for me. And I just need to focus on the results and I should really worry about the process getting there.
I'm trying to kind of take it with fun and not be too serious with it. And you should always, always have a plan when you come to the strip. Because especially with cadet and juniors, most people, as a 13-year-old, are a lot bigger and stronger, faster than me. The goal there is to always outsmart your opponent. Never ever give up before the end of the bout.
[00:10:27] BW: Yeah. Because like you said earlier, you have a shot in every bout, right? Fencing is a physically demanding sport. And that's true whether you're 13, 30, or 80, right? I'm curious how you maintain the physical fitness that's required and also how you avoid injury. Because a lot of times in fencing if you're practicing too much, then that injury risk does come into play.
[00:10:54] AC: Yeah. I had swim team going for me when I was doing both sports at the same time. That really helped me stay in shape. I also think a big part about staying fit is to eat well. And I know I definitely struggle with eating well and to try to pick the healthier option out of the two.
[00:11:12] BW: Same. Same.
[00:11:15] AC: And with the injuries, I think that stretching also is really important. My club, it's mandatory to stretch before you even start your footwork. I think that stretching is so important. I have a lot of injuries because I wouldn't stretch when I first started. I think that you need to really take your warm-up into care to always make sure you're getting a little warm and then you're stretching it right after.
[00:11:40] BW: Yeah, you can see why people don't. I mean, I have the same problem too. I'm like I want to just get right into it. I don't want to do the stretching and the warming up. It sounds like it really does pay off for you and others.
How about the mental side? We talked about that a little bit earlier. But when you're going into a tournament like a Junior Olympics or like a March NAC, how are you mentally preparing yourself for that competition?
[00:12:03] AC: Well, in particular, since I began fencing with my coach I previously mentioned, Dima Boyko, my fencing has improved a lot. And it's not only from working with him for my technique, but my coaches have also helped me my mental preparation. And they've helped me with strategic and tactical thinking on the fencing strip itself. I always feel like I go into a bout prepared with everything that they've taught me.
And I think there is a lot of pressure. And that part about the fun, I think that ties in here. Because as soon as you do something difficult and challenging, as soon as you add a little bit of fun into it, I think that that stress level goes down significantly with a little bit of fun.
[00:12:47] BW: And then like before pulls, let's say, do you have music that you listen to? Do you have something you like to tell yourself? Something you like to be doing before you start those pulls?
[00:12:58] AC: Yeah, actually I love listening to music. It depends on the mood for the day. But I usually like to listen to upbeat music to get me hyped for the competition. I'm trying out different strategies. One that I really like is a 5-4-3-2-1 strategy, which is essentially five things you hear – five things you see, four things you hear, three things you touch, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. That really helped me calm down. It helped me focus on my surroundings, especially at like a Nationals or JOs. That can help me just get into the zone. Realize that I'm here and it's my time to show everything I've learned up till here.
[00:13:36] BW: Yeah. That's awesome. I love that 5-4-3-2-1 strategy because it really forces you to think about something other than the actual competition. Because otherwise, I imagine the pressure could build up.
You've accomplished a lot. But I imagine from what little I know about you, that you feel like you're not done. You want to do more, right? What are some of your long-term goals in fencing? And what's your kind of attack plan for them?
[00:14:02] AC: I'm really passionate about fencing. As soon as I started it, I kind of knew that I wanted to do it as long as possible. I guess my answer to that question would be to just stay connected to fencing. Whether it's refereeing, coaching, or being a fencer myself. I think I just want to always stay in the fencing community as long as possible.
[00:14:24] BW: It's interesting you say refereeing because I don't hear a lot of 13-year-olds say that that's in the cards for them. That's something that interests you as well, is stepping off the strip and becoming a referee perhaps in your future.
[00:14:38] AC: Yeah.
[00:14:39] BW: That's really interesting. How about advice that you have for fencers your age, younger, even older fencers who might be just starting out and they're saying, "Wow. A medal at a NAC, that would be awesome. But how do I get there?" What is your advice for them?
[00:14:54] AC: Well, there's a lot of things. But I'll keep it short. I think that there are a lot of support systems in my life. One mainly being my parents. At the end of the day, it's them that are paying for all my fencing. Them that are spending time with me to go over my videos. And it's them that are driving me to practice every single day.
And I guess what I'm trying to say is to always say thank you. There's absolutely no shame in being grateful for your parents doing all this stuff for you. Flying out into different states with you every weekend. Missing out on their work for your fencing. You should never be afraid to say thank you.
I think another thing would be to stay with the sport. You never know what'll happen if you quit. I think, in my opinion, I have came very close at a point mentally where I thought that I'm done and I can't improve at the sport. But you never know what'll happen if you stay with the sport.
And a lot of fencing is to never give up no matter where you are in your fencing career even if you're number one at the Olympics or you're just starting out. You never know what will happen when you just stay with it.
And I think lastly, just enjoy the journey. Don't worry too much about the destination. Results will come with the work you put into it. Yeah, just don't be focused on the results. Just have fun. Laugh it off with your friends. Stay focused.
[00:16:20] BW: I love that. Yeah, be grateful, keep at it and have fun. That's such great advice. And Arya, I'm grateful to you for joining us. And shout out to your dad for suggesting you, because this has been a great conversation. And you've been a great guest here on the podcast.
Arya Chavan of Zeta Fencing Club, thank you so much. And best of luck to you this season and beyond.
[00:16:42] AC: Thank you for having me.
[OUTRO]
[00:16:45] BW: Thanks for listening to First to 15, the official podcast of USA fencing. We'll be back with our next conversation in a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, you can stay up to date on all the latest fencing news by following us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. And if you like this podcast, please help us grow and reach more people by leaving us a rating or a review.
Until next time, I'm Bryan Wendell. And I hope to see you real soon out on the strip. Bye.
[END]