Founder and Head Coach, Austin Fencing Academy

Andrei Kuryshka

   Andrei Kuryshka is a professional fencing coach with more than 30 years of experience in fencing and over 14 years of coaching at the national and international level. He is the founder and head coach of Austin Fencing Academy, where he brings a disciplined, thoughtful, and results-driven approach to athlete development.

   Andrei began fencing at the age of 6 in his hometown of Brest, Belarus. In 2004, at just 16 years old, he won his first senior national championship and quickly established himself as a top-level competitor. From 2006 to 2012, he competed at the senior international level, representing Belarus at World Championships, World Cups, and European Championships every season. Throughout his career, he won multiple national titles, reached finals at major international events, and became a finalist of the Junior and U23 European Championships, along with earning medals at numerous international tournaments. As part of the Belarusian foil team, he also earned team victories over top-ranked countries such as France, Germany, and the United States.

   Andrei is proud to be a student of the legendary Olympic champion and ten-time World Champion Alexander Romankov, whose influence helped shape his fencing style and broaden his vision of what is possible in the sport.

   In 2012, Andrei began his coaching career in his hometown of Brest. Later on, he moved to the capital city of Minsk, where he became Head Coach of the Belarusian national cadet foil team and worked within the Olympic reserve system. During this period, his students earned medals at European Championships and national championships across multiple age categories. This experience shaped his long-term approach to athlete development and competitive preparation.

   In 2018, Andrei moved to the United States, where he coached at the Academy of Fencing Masters, the largest fencing club in the country, and later at Silicon Valley Fencing Center, the top-ranked foil club in the US. Since then, his students have achieved significant success at the national level, including championship victories and podium finishes at the Summer National Championships, the most important fencing event of the year in the United States. His athletes have also won medals at regional and super regional competitions. While results matter, Andrei believes that long-term development, consistency, and character are what truly define a successful athlete.

   In addition to coaching, Andrei is an International FIE referee and has officiated final bouts at World Championships, European Championships, and World Cups. This experience gives him a unique perspective on high-level fencing and allows him to teach athletes the sport through a referee’s lens, helping them understand the nuances, rules, and realities of international competition.

   At the core of Andrei’s coaching philosophy is a simple belief: if you are willing to work hard, stay disciplined, and commit to the process, you can achieve far more than you imagine. Fencing is not just his profession; it is his life and passion. Every athlete under his guidance will improve. The only difference is how quickly that progress happens, which depends on focus, commitment, and a willingness to learn.

   Through Austin Fencing Academy, Andrei aims to create an environment where athletes feel supported, challenged, and guided with care and expertise. He values open communication, patience, and partnership with families, knowing that real results take time, consistency, and belief in the process.