Sports Hero

An Interview on Fencing
Chairperson of the Union Fencing Club—Coach Jason Chan

A film in the 1950s inspired a teenager's passion for fencing and led him toward his dream – this is the story of Coach Jason Chan, chairperson of the Union Fencing Club.

A swordsman in a film drew him to learning fencing

When Chan was young, his father often played a recording of an old film with a certain swordsman. He was attracted by the sense of justice that the swordsman in the film possessed and would like to become a swordsman himself. When he was in secondary school, he took a short fencing course that his school offered. This allowed him to get to know the sport and gave him a taste of being a swordsman. Later, he took part in a joint-school competition. The intensity and excitement of the competition made him fall in love with fencing. When he was 17, he met an athlete on the Hong Kong fencing team by chance. Then he was recommended to receive formal professional training at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, which started his career in fencing.

Organising a community sports club and becoming the youngest coach and chairperson

As an athlete, Chan took part in different competitions. For him, the most unforgettable one was the Tertiary Cup. He won his first individual épée championship and the approval and support of his family. In 1995, he set up the Union Fencing Club when he was only 19 and became the youngest chairperson of a community sports club at that time. He was became a coach and a chairperson at a tender age because he was ambitious, persevering and love fencing passionately.

Diversified teaching styles and attention to fencing skills and morals

Chan considers fencing his lifelong career and a way to nurture the younger generation. After setting up the Union Fencing Club, no matter whether it was preparing course materials, teaching, instructing his athletes in competitions and management he did everything himself and became a role model for the young. His teaching pays attention to both fencing skills and discipline. Therefore, he attaches special importance to the moral development of his students. Under his leadership the Union Fencing Club developed steadily. His students became better athletes and better people.

Chan also promotes fencing in the community. The Union Fencing Club provides a variety of courses which allow more people to learn more about this sport. The club now offers courses for young children, teenagers and adults. They are suitable for people of different ages and levels. Chan insists that classes should be small, to increase the interaction between the coaches and the students, who can then receive better guidance on fencing and morality. The club often promotes fencing in schools. It co-organises sports demonstrations and fun days with other organisations. It also holds friendly games to promote technical and cultural exchanges of athletes.

Traditionally, brandishing knives and swords is frowned upon. Chan thinks that fencing is actually safer than other sports. His youngest student is five years old. The oldest fencer that he has seen is over 65. This shows that fencing is suitable for every age. He told us that during the 2016 Olympics Games, public approval of fencing and support of its athletes increased significantly. After the Olympics, he was glad to see that more people enrolled for fencing courses. The LCSD is now providing funding to the Union Fencing Club for promoting fencing and for renting fencing venues. Chan hopes that more people will get to learn fencing and the image of the majestic swordsman will live on.