The American Fencing League, or AFL, was founded on March 25, 2005 in Salem

Salem, Oregon

Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...

, Oregon

Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, by a group of fencers

Fencing

Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...

 seeking independence from the United States Fencing Association

United States Fencing Association

The United States Fencing Association is the national governing body for the sport of fencing in the United States.The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union...

. It is a non-profit organization for fencers who wish to enjoy fencing using non-electric foil

Foil (fencing)

A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...

, sabre

Sabre (fencing)

The sabre is one of the three weapons of modern sport fencing, and is alternatively spelled saber in American English. The sabre differs from the other modern fencing weapons, the épée and foil, in that it is possible to score with the edge of the blade; for this reason, sabreur movements and...

, and épée

Épée (fencing)

The épée is the modern derivative of the dueling sword, the smallsword . Épée is French for "sword"....

. The AFL provides rules, maintains a classification system for members, organizes competitions, and provides training for fencers, teachers, and officials. Currently, the AFL is composed of three different divisions: Pacific Northwest, Central Virginia, and the National Division representing clubs that aren't represented by one of the other two divisions.

Rules

Competition is currently on local, divisional, and sectional levels with the first national championship held on August 25-26, 2007. The current rules are based primarily on the 1940 rules of the old Amateur Fencers League of America

Amateur Fencers League of America

The Amateur Fencers League of America, or AFLA, was founded on April 22, 1891 in New York City by a group of fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union. As early as 1940, the AFLA was recognized by the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime and the United States Olympic Committee...

 (which became the USFA

United States Fencing Association

The United States Fencing Association is the national governing body for the sport of fencing in the United States.The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union...

 in 1981), and to a lesser extent on the 1957 rules. AFL fencing is not as purely athletic a game as Olympic fencing

Fencing

Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...

. It has longer "phrases," longer time limits, 1-touch épée rules, a different approach to the principle of "right of way," and a revival of 3-weapon bouts. Standard (non-electric) weapons are used.

The AFL is sometimes mistaken for classical fencing

Classical fencing

Classical fencing is the styles of modern fencing as they existed during the 19th and early 20th century. According to the 19th-century fencing master Louis Rondelle,...

.

AFL National Championship

The AFL National Championship is held at the end of every competition year. Four individual events are competed in: Foil, Sabre, 1-touch Epee and Three-Weapon. Team competitions are also held in each of the weapons. The first three national championships were held during the summer, in either July or August. Starting in 2011, however, the National Championship will be held in January. This is done so it is offset with the USFA

USFA

USFA may refer to:* U.S. Fire Arms Manufacturing Company* United States Football Alliance* United States Fencing Association* United States Fire Administration, a United States government agency* United States Food Administration...

 National Championships.

National Championship venues

Year	City, State	Host Club
2007	Salem, Oregon Salem, Oregon Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...	Salem Classical Fencing
2008	Glen Allen, Virginia Glen Allen, Virginia Glen Allen is a census-designated place in Henrico County, Virginia, United States. The population was 12,562 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...	Salle Green
2009	Salem, Oregon Salem, Oregon Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...	Salem Classical Fencing
2010	Will not be held
2011	To be announced	To be announced

Note: No tournament will be held in 2010, due to the AFL shifting the national championships to winter.

National champions

Year	Place	Individual Foil	Individual Épée	Individual Sabre	Individual 3-Weapon	Team Foil	Team Épée	Team Sabre	Team 3-Weapon
2007	1.	Josh Conner, unattached	Joel Klepper, Southern Oregon Fencing Center	Joel Klepper, Southern Oregon Fencing Center	Josh Conner, unattached	Salem Classical Fencing: Rafael Villarreal, Joshua Keatley, Alexander Rippey, Lindsay Pirelli	Southern Oregon Fencing Center: Joel Klepper, William Richmond, Desiree Miatke, Zach Markovich	Southern Oregon Fencing Center: William Richmond, Joel Klepper, Desiree Miatke, Zach Markovich	Southern Oregon Fencing Center: Joel Klepper, William Richmond, Zach Markovich
	2.	Rafael Villarreal, Salem Classical Fencing	Will Richmond, Southern Oregon Fencing Center	Will Richmond, Southern Oregon Fencing Center	Joel Klepper, Southern Oregon Fencing Center	Southern Oregon Fencing Center: Joel Klepper, William Richmond, Desiree Miatke, Zach Markovich	Salem Classical Fencing: Michael Heggen, Rafael Villarreal, Cory Partlow, Lindsay Pirelli	Salem Classical Fencing: Joshua Keatley, Michael Heggen, Lindsay Pirelli, Cory Partlow	Salem Classical Fencing: Michael Heggen, Rafael Villarreal, Joshua Keatley, Lindsay Pirelli
	3.	Jared Beilby, Salem Classical Fencing	Desiree Miatke, Southern Oregon Fencing Center	Joshua Keatley, Salem Classical Fencing	Rafael Villarreal, Salem Classical Fencing

Year	Place	Individual Foil	Individual Épée	Individual Sabre	Individual 3-Weapon	Team Foil	Team Épée	Team Sabre	Team 3-Weapon
2008	1.	Joshua Keatley, Salem Classical Fencing	Walter Green, Salle Green	Walter Green, Salle Green	Alexander Rippey, Salem Classical Fencing	Salem Classical Fencing: Alexander Rippey, Isabel Ford, Cameron West, Joshua Keatley	Salle Green: ', , ,	Salem Classical Fencing: Joshua Keatley, Cristina Ford, Cameron West	Salem Classical Fencing: Alexander Rippey, Cameron West, Joshua Keatley
	2.	David Cogley, Unattached	Alexander Rippey, Salem Classical Fencing	Joshua Keatley, Salem Classical Fencing	Joshua Keatley, Salem Classical Fencing	Salle Green: , , ,	Salem Classical Fencing: Cameron West, Cristina Ford, Isabel Ford	Salle Green: , ,	Salle Green: , , ,
	3.	Isabel Ford, Salem Classical Fencing	Joshua Keatley, Salem Classical Fencing	Alexander Rippey, Salem Classical Fencing	David Cogley, Unattached

Year	Place	Individual Foil	Individual Épée	Individual Sabre	Individual 3-Weapon	Team Foil	Team Épée	Team Sabre	Team 3-Weapon
2009	1.	Joshua Keatley, Salem Classical Fencing	David Cogley, Fenian Academy of Fencing	David Cogley, Fenian Academy of Fencing	Joshua Keatley, Salem Classical Fencing	Fenian Academy of Fencing: David Cogley, Philip Englund, Paul Englund	Not contested	Not contested	Not contested
	2.	Cameron West, Salem Classical Fencing	Ted Kanicki, Fenian Academy of Fencing	Joshua Keatley, Salem Classical Fencing	David Keatley, Salem Classical Fencing	Salem Classical Fencing: Cristina Ford, David Keatley, "Joshua Keatley", Cameron West
	3.	David Cogley, Fenian Academy of Fencing	Joshua Keatley, Salem Classical Fencing	Paul Englud, Fenian Academy of Fencing	David Cogley, Fenian Academy of Fencing

Note: Names of team captains are in italics.