From Last to First: A Parent's Guide to Fencing Success

With the exciting sport of fencing steadily becoming more mainstream in the UK, US and around the world, parents are spending thousands each year to help and encourage their children to train and excel in this unique Olympic sport. Fencing can be a mysterious world to the uninitiated, and parents and young fencers will have many questions about the sport, the fencer’s potential and the dos and don’ts. From Last to First aims to answer all these questions and many more. Written by a team comprising Jon Salfield, a leading Youth Development and High Performance coach (London Olympics 2012), and Daniela I. Norris, an experienced author and fencing-parent of an international youth fencer, with input from Strength and Conditioning and Psychology experts, and a foreword from a multiple champion and highly-regarded author, it is meant for anyone who wants to know how to support their young fencer from the start of their fencing adventure, all the way through to success at international competitions.

Jon Salfield has been a professional fencing coach for over 20 years. A former international fencer and professional musician, he was Team GB's sabre coach at the London 2012 Olympics. Jon is considered the most prolific British sabre coach of the modern era. He has an extraordinary breadth of experience, from working in Primary schools to coaching national teams at Senior, Junior and Cadet World Championships. Jon lives in Truro, Cornwall, UK, where he heads up the club that introduced him to fencing, Truro Fencing Club.

Daniela I. Norris, a former diplomat and political writer turned inspirational author and speaker, is the author of three books of non-fiction, two novels and a collection of short stories. When she doesn't write, read or sleep, she can usually be found at a fencing salle.