Testimonials

My name is Kateryna Chorniy. I am writing on behalf of Yuriy Mazur. I have been representing the Ukrainian National team for more than six years now and am currently a student-athlete at Pennsylvania State University. I have visited a huge number of camps, competitions, and countries with the purpose of improving my fencing skills. I have been a national team member since 2016 and have achieved some success over that time. I won multiple individual and team events in cadet and junior categories as well as established my name on the international arena. I have earned a solid number of medals at the World Cups and won the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Argentina.

Even though I had a different fencing coach in Kyiv, over the period of practicing in Ukraine I experienced working with Mr. Mazur as well. We have been to a substantial number of national team camps and competitions together. When my coach was not able to travel with me, Yuriy would help me to mentally prepare myself and help during the bouting. I was always happy to receive his help because I saw how patient and knowledgeable he was with his own students.

During the World Championship in Verona, Italy, 2018, Mazur was a head coach of the women's fencing team while I was one of the four members. First, it is one of the most important events in the career of a fencer every year. I was very stressed and even the fact that my coach was there did not help me that much. At the same time, coach Mazur noticed that and gave me a pep talk, explaining to myself that my goal is to do my best and suggested what to do over those few days to improve my performance. I was very grateful for his advice.

During the competition day, he would talk to me about the opponent who I was about to face to see if I had a gameplay, which helped me to concentrate on my fencing. Last but not the least, I performed well enough to earn myself a spot at the Youth Olympic Games; however, was still devastated that did not win the World Championship. Yuriy helped me to set my mind straight and not to get desperate because of my loss. I was very happy to be supervised by his advice and expertise.

Nowadays, I am mostly a collegian fencer and still using some of the lessons that coach Mazur taught me. Moreover, I would like to notice that the above example is just one of the multiple situations when he was willing to help me and guide me through my fencing journey.

Another thing that I would like to notice is the fact that coach Mazur has a unique approach to coaching that differentiated him a lot from coaches back home. He analyzes bouts, implements new exercises and is open-minded towards his student's ideas - those are the qualities that many world class coaches possess. He really cares about his student and the fencing community. I believe that's a coach that any country would be grateful to have!

My name is Yeva Mazur, and I am writing in support of Yuriy Mazur, a fencing coach who has profoundly impacted my life. I have been working with Mr. Mazur since I was a little kid, and his dedication and passion for fencing have enabled him to help me and other fencers who trained with him to reach our full potential—even in a small city with limited opportunities.

Thanks to Yuriy, I achieved my goals as a professional athlete. With his help, I became a member of the Ukrainian national team, won the Ukrainian Championships seven times, became vice champion of Europe with the Ukrainian national team, and was recruited to one of the top fencing collegiate programs in the USA—at The Ohio State University.

Yuriy has a unique ability to believe in his students, sometimes even more than they believe in themselves. This unwavering faith helped me push past my limits and accomplish more than I ever thought possible. His support and guidance in high-pressure moments, such as during a World Championship, are proof of his strength as a mentor and coach.

His coaching style is exceptional—personalized, analytical, and open-minded. He takes the time to analyze bouts, create new exercises, and incorporate his students' input. He genuinely cares about his students and the fencing community, always investing his time and energy to help us succeed. He often stayed late to work with me when I needed extra help, even when it wasn't his responsibility. That extra effort made a huge difference in my development.

Yuriy Mazur is an exceptional fencing coach who has made a tremendous impact on my life and the lives of many other young fencers. His dedication, passion, and thoughtful approach to coaching have helped his students achieve not just athletic success, but also become better people. Any fencing team or country would be fortunate to have him as a coach. I wholeheartedly believe in his commitment to excellence and to helping young fencers succeed.

Coach Yuriy is one of the best leaders I ever had the opportunity to learn from. He has taught me important life lessons as well as fencing lessons. I have a lot of admiration and deep respect for Coach Yuri, who I consider my mentor, as do many of his students.

From the beginning, I could sense Coach Yuriy's intense passion and love for fencing. He puts his heart and soul into the sport, as he does with his relationships with his students. His passion and commitment are the most intense I've ever witnessed. His dedication to strip coaching me to get the results I needed in many competitions, directly helped me get into my dream school. With his amazing and tireless coaching, private lessons, and constant feedback, I received my A rating and secured my admittance to the collegiate NYU Fencing Team.

His expertise is nothing that I've seen in my 10 years of fencing. Having gone through many different coaches, I can confidently say that I have never had a fencing coach who brings such a passion and unique perspective to coaching this sport. He has great technical and strategic methods of fencing, as well as the best conditioning routine for strength and endurance for athletes. Coach Yuriy is also a very kind and caring person who genuinely cares about the well-being of his students. I have fond memories of him giving me snacks and drinks during competitions and offering me whatever I needed at the time, to ensure I was well-conditioned and equipped to compete at my best.

Every one of Coach Yuriy's students loves and appreciates his dedication to the sport and their personal growth. It was a great honor to be mentored by Coach Yuri. There is nothing negative I can say about him, other than he cares too much!

Throughout my 15-year sports career, Yuriy and I spent a lot of time together outside the sport hall—we went to competitions and sports meetings, where we trained and gained experience with other athletes. Thanks to Yuriy's work, I achieved many sports results in world arenas and international tournaments. I became champion of Ukraine in cadets and juniors (2007–2010), one of the top 8 senior fencers in Ukraine (2011), and a member of the Ukrainian national team for cadets and juniors (2009–2012). I took second place at the Teheran World Cup Juniors (2010), and was a multiple prize-winner and finalist of international competitions.

Yuriy Mazur is a very talented coach who finds strong qualities in a person and develops them. Motivating and charging for success is his strong point. He is always ready to support and move forward—a great coach who is fully devoted to his work and has an individual approach to each athlete. He is well known in the fencing world as a professional in his field.

For all the years we spent together, Yuriy was not only a coach but also a wonderful mentor who taught me life principles and gave valuable advice in difficult times, for which I am very grateful.

I write in strong support of Coach Yury Mazur, under whose guidance I have trained since 2013 and achieved representation of Ukraine at the U17 World Championship in 2021.

Coach Mazur's expertise encompasses both technical development and mental preparation at the highest levels. Throughout my career representing Ukraine in national and international competitions, he consistently provided crucial mental support during competitions while continuously refining my technique during training sessions. His dedication and commitment to fencing are truly inspiring and have been instrumental in elevating the level of fencing in Ukraine.

His ability to adapt his coaching approach to any athlete sets him apart. Coach Mazur possesses the rare talent to work effectively with everyone from beginner children to professional athletes. He demonstrates exceptional skill in identifying each fencer's strengths and weaknesses, then knowing precisely how to motivate and inspire them to achieve their goals.

A perfect example of his coaching versatility occurred at the 2021 European Cadet Circuit in Belgrade. Our Ukraine2 team entered as underdogs, low-seeded and facing strong competition from the tournament's beginning. Three of my teammates had never trained under Coach Mazur, yet he quickly found the right approach for each of them. He united us as a cohesive team and developed specific tactics for each opponent we faced. Against all odds, we advanced to one step away from the finals and won the bronze medal match against team Russia, finishing third out of forty teams.

Coach Mazur's commitment to continuous improvement distinguishes him professionally. His coaching style is both unique and effective, characterized by an open-minded approach to students' suggestions and innovative training methods. He actively expands his expertise by attending coaching courses and camps abroad, ensuring he remains current with the latest developments in fencing.

His vision for international development has provided invaluable opportunities for his athletes. Coach Mazur organized international training camps with national teams from Italy, Hungary, and Poland, allowing his students to learn directly from world-class athletes and coaches. These experiences have been transformative for many of his fencers' development.

I am confident that Coach Mazur will make a significant contribution to American fencing. His proven track record of developing athletes from beginners to international competitors, combined with his innovative approach and commitment to excellence, will greatly benefit the fencing community.

I write in enthusiastic support of Coach Yury Mazur, who guided me throughout my entire competitive fencing career and was instrumental in every achievement I accomplished.

Coach Mazur possesses the rare ability to identify potential in ordinary athletes and develop them into champions. When I began training, I had an average build for an athlete – neither tall nor short, neither thin nor heavy. Yet Coach Mazur consistently emphasized that all athletes start on equal footing, regardless of physical attributes. He instilled in me the fundamental principle that work is the key to success, both in sports and in life – a philosophy I continue to apply today.

His approach to mental training sets him apart from other coaches. As an emotional athlete, I struggled with nerves during crucial moments, particularly at 14-14 scores. When sedatives affected my reaction time, Coach Mazur introduced me to yoga, helping me develop mental calmness and focus. His exceptional communication skills enabled him to motivate athletes effectively, particularly understanding how to speak to teenagers with the sensitivity and care this age group requires.

Coach Mazur's character extends far beyond technical coaching. In 2020, when my backpack containing documents, money, and belongings was stolen in Udine, Italy, and Ukrainian Federation representatives couldn't assist me, Coach Mazur was the only coach who stayed to help. As a minor in a foreign country, I was in a vulnerable position, yet he remained until my father arrived and we resolved the crisis together. He helped not because of my national team status, but because of his genuine care for his athletes.

His innovative training methodology and international vision greatly enhanced my development. Coach Mazur initiated joint training camps between Ukraine and Italy, providing invaluable experience that directly translated into medals at Ukrainian and international competitions. Italian athletes and coaches showed tremendous respect for him, impressed by his sportsmanship, his athletes' success, and the obvious affection his students had for him.

What distinguished Coach Mazur was his hands-on training approach. Unlike coaches who simply assigned tasks while standing aside, he participated in every exercise alongside his athletes. His training programs were never monotonous – he created varied, engaging sessions that kept athletes motivated and progressing. This personal involvement and example-setting earned deep respect from all his students.

The impact of Coach Mazur's guidance extends well beyond athletic achievement. The advice and principles he taught me continue to guide my decisions in education, career, and personal life. His understanding of fencing's mental aspects and ability to work effectively with athletes of all ages make him truly exceptional.

The US fencing community will greatly benefit from Coach Mazur's expertise, character, and proven track record of developing both successful athletes and well-rounded individuals.