On Wedensday October 6th yet another new business opened in Springfield. Since 2019, over 100 new busiensses have opened in town. On hand to help cut the ribbon were Mayor Chris Weber, Deputy Mayor Alex Keiser, Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement Co-Chairs Scott Seidel and Mike Scalera.
ArtDu Fencing is an Elite fencing club that works with students of all ages from 4+ to Adults in all three weapons: Epee, Foil & Sabre. Their goal is to prepare athletes to be physically and mentally ready for all challenges in life including fencing. They strive for their students to go beyond their own reach and re-imagine the path to their dreams. They design programs for everyone: beginners, intermediate, elite, and veterans to attain their goals.
With the combination of Coach Sekou's & Coach Sarah Glassman's fencing experience along with Somari Tounkara's entrepreneurial skills, they have developed a fencing club that will enrich young athletes with the necessary skills they will need in the platform of life. They all have a passion to work with children in mentoring and training.
Coach and Owner Sekou is a certified FIE “Federation of International Escrime” Master Coach in Epee, Saber, and Foil. Originally from Dakar, Senegal, he had the lucky chance to start fencing at a young age. Between sports and education, he made his way to the international level. Traveling around the world and learning different styles of fencing. Sekou participated in many international competitions and training camps around the world. He loves working and mentoring young kids to reach their highest level. His experience is as the Head Coach at ArtDu Fencing, Head Epee coach at West Point Academy, NY, Head Epee Coach at New Jersey Fencing Alliance and he coached at Columbia High School, Oratory Prep, and Kent Place School. He is also Senegal National Team Coach Junior and Cadet as well as a USA Fencing Referee for NCAA and local competitions.
Coach Sarah Glassman started fencing as a young teenager and quickly picked up a love for fencing and its finesse. As she got older and while in college, Sarah started training children and other students in the sport as well as compete at a club level. After starting her career in education, Sarah become the head coach for Oratory Prepatory School Fencing Team and took the boys Sabre qualified to Squad States. She takes a holistic approach to coaching and makes sure to emphasize the importance of conditioning and strength training along with footwork and weapon: Trained in Coach Foil & Sabre, Oratory Prep Head Fencing Coach since 2017, Sabre Coach at Earlham College (2005-2009) and Varsity Fencer for Columbia High School (2001-2005).
Owner Somari Tounkara originally from Trinidad & Tobago came to the United States at a young age and grew up in New Jersey. She graduated from Rutgers’s University and went on to work in the corporate world as an IT Specialist and Project Manager. She also managed to own and operate her own restaurant at one time in Montclair, NJ.
