Zbigniew Czajkowski
Encyclopedia
Zbigniew Czajkowski is a fencing
coach. Czajkowski has been dubbed "Father of the Polish School" of fencing. He has been coach to many champions, including Egon Franke - the first Pole
to earn an Olympic
gold medal in fencing.
interrupted his fencing career as, immediately after his graduation in 1939, he enlisted in the Polish Navy
to fight the Nazis. In September, 1939, Czajkowski, along with four other Polish sailors, was captured by the Soviet army and sent for interrogation to the city of Kobryn
. He was fortunate to avoid execution as the commissar in Kobryn was not interested in Czajkowski and sent him home. Czajkowski then made his way back to the Soviet controlled Lwów and, while waiting to be allowed to cross the Romania
n border to rejoin the Polish forces in France, continued his fencing training. In April, 1940, while on his way to the border, Czajkowski was again arrested by Soviet soldiers and this time spent over a year in various Soviet prisons, being interrogated and tortured. He was then sent to the Soviet labor camp in Vorkuta
, beyond the polar circle where he survived extremely harsh conditions until, in September, 1941, the new head of the labor camp decided to free him. During all his time as a Soviet prisoner, one of Czajkowski's main diversions was to hold a wooden spoon in his hand as though it were a sabre
and "practice" fencing - visualizing himself engaged in his favorite activity as a distraction from the hardships of his imprisonment. After being freed from Vorkuta, Czajkowski spent weeks making his way to Uzbekistan
, where he stayed for several months working on cotton and rice plantations. Before leaving, he also spent some time coaching fencing. On February 5, 1942, his birthday, Czajkowski rejoined the Polish Navy. He eventually was stationed in Great Britain
, at the Polish Naval Station in Plymouth
. Soon after D-Day
, Czajkowski received leave from the Navy and began studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh
in Scotland. He fenced for the Edinburgh University fencing club and the Scottish Fencing Club. He also began to do some amateur coaching for the Polish Students Association in Great Britain.
. Less than a year into his career as a doctor, Czajkowski decided to give it up because, as he put it, "Being a doctor is very depressing. You're always surrounded by sick people." He decided to, instead, become a full-time fencing coach.
In 1950, Czajkowski became the first post-war Polish National Champion in foil
. He also represented Poland many times as a member of its national team - particularly achieving success in sabre, his favorite weapon. His best competitive result came at the 1953 World Championships in Brussels
, where Czajkowski won a bronze medal in the team sabre event.
are Czajkowski's successes as a coach. In 1964, Czajkowski's student, Egon Franke became the first Pole to ever earn an Olympic gold medal in fencing when he won the individual men's foil title. Czajkowski spent many years as Poland's top coach, creating dozens of national, European, World, and Olympic medalists in all three weapons. His international success continued into his 70s when, in 1996, his student Magdalena Jeziorowska became European Women's Epee Champion.
Some of Czajkowski's notable students include:
, Artur Wasiolka, Michael Marx
, and Andrzej Gottner. Along with his medical degree, Czajkowski has a PhD in Physical Education and many honorary degrees.
Czajkowski, through experience and experiment, developed a highly effective methodology of training that has been emulated by coaches all over the world. He has written hundreds of published articles on fencing and its training, and thirty books including Understanding Fencing - The Unity of Theory and Practice, which was published in 2005 in the US, and has become immensely popular in the English-speaking fencing world.
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...
coach. Czajkowski has been dubbed "Father of the Polish School" of fencing. He has been coach to many champions, including Egon Franke - the first Pole
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
to earn an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medal in fencing.
Czajkowski During WWII
Czajkowski started fencing at the age of 14, while in high school. The outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
interrupted his fencing career as, immediately after his graduation in 1939, he enlisted in the Polish Navy
Polish Navy
The Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej - MW RP Polish Navy, is the branch of Republic of Poland Armed Forces responsible for naval operations...
to fight the Nazis. In September, 1939, Czajkowski, along with four other Polish sailors, was captured by the Soviet army and sent for interrogation to the city of Kobryn
Kobryn
Kobryn or Kobrin is a city in the Brest voblast of Belarus and the center of the Kobryn Raion. The city is located in the southwestern corner of Belarus where the Mukhavets River and Dnepr-Bug Canal meet. The city lies about 52 km east of the city of Brest. Kobryn is located at Latitude...
. He was fortunate to avoid execution as the commissar in Kobryn was not interested in Czajkowski and sent him home. Czajkowski then made his way back to the Soviet controlled Lwów and, while waiting to be allowed to cross the Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n border to rejoin the Polish forces in France, continued his fencing training. In April, 1940, while on his way to the border, Czajkowski was again arrested by Soviet soldiers and this time spent over a year in various Soviet prisons, being interrogated and tortured. He was then sent to the Soviet labor camp in Vorkuta
Vorkuta
Vorkuta is a coal-mining town in the Komi Republic, Russia, situated just north of the Arctic Circle in the Pechora coal basin at the Usa River. Population: - Labor camp origins :...
, beyond the polar circle where he survived extremely harsh conditions until, in September, 1941, the new head of the labor camp decided to free him. During all his time as a Soviet prisoner, one of Czajkowski's main diversions was to hold a wooden spoon in his hand as though it were a sabre
Sabre
The sabre or saber is a kind of backsword that usually has a curved, single-edged blade and a rather large hand guard, covering the knuckles of the hand as well as the thumb and forefinger...
and "practice" fencing - visualizing himself engaged in his favorite activity as a distraction from the hardships of his imprisonment. After being freed from Vorkuta, Czajkowski spent weeks making his way to Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
, where he stayed for several months working on cotton and rice plantations. Before leaving, he also spent some time coaching fencing. On February 5, 1942, his birthday, Czajkowski rejoined the Polish Navy. He eventually was stationed in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, at the Polish Naval Station in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. Soon after D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, Czajkowski received leave from the Navy and began studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in Scotland. He fenced for the Edinburgh University fencing club and the Scottish Fencing Club. He also began to do some amateur coaching for the Polish Students Association in Great Britain.
Back in Poland
In 1949, Czajkowski returned to Poland, along with his new wife, Wendy Cochrane-Czajkowska. They lived in Cracow, where Czajkowski finished his final year of studies at the very reputable Jagiellonian UniversityJagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
. Less than a year into his career as a doctor, Czajkowski decided to give it up because, as he put it, "Being a doctor is very depressing. You're always surrounded by sick people." He decided to, instead, become a full-time fencing coach.
In 1950, Czajkowski became the first post-war Polish National Champion in 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:...
. He also represented Poland many times as a member of its national team - particularly achieving success in sabre, his favorite weapon. His best competitive result came at the 1953 World Championships in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, where Czajkowski won a bronze medal in the team sabre event.
Coaching Success
Far more outstanding than his own personal successes on the pistePiste (fencing)
In modern fencing, the piste or strip is the playing area. Regulations require the piste to be 14 metres long and between 1.5 and 2 metres wide. The last two metres on each end are hash-marked to warn a fencer before he/she backs off the end of the strip, after which is a 1.5 to 2 metre runoff...
are Czajkowski's successes as a coach. In 1964, Czajkowski's student, Egon Franke became the first Pole to ever earn an Olympic gold medal in fencing when he won the individual men's foil title. Czajkowski spent many years as Poland's top coach, creating dozens of national, European, World, and Olympic medalists in all three weapons. His international success continued into his 70s when, in 1996, his student Magdalena Jeziorowska became European Women's Epee Champion.
Some of Czajkowski's notable students include:
- Bogdan Gonsior - 1963 World Championship Bronze medalist in épée
- Egon Franke - 1964 Olympic Champion in foil
- Elżbieta Cymerman - nine-time Polish national champion in women's foil, silver medalist at the World University Games, gold medalist at the Socialist Countries Championships
- Jacek BierkowskiJacek BierkowskiJacek Bierkowski is a Polish fencer. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympics.-References:...
- 1975 World Championship Silver medalist in sabre - Magdalena Jeziorowska - 1996 European Champion in women's épée
Czajkowski in Academia
Since 1980, Czajkowski has been director of the Fencing Department at the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice where he has educated over one hundred fencing masters, including some of the most revered in the world, such as Edward KorfantyEd Korfanty
Edward Korfanty is a Polish-born American fencing master, U.S. National Women's saber coach, Olympic saber coach, and a former Men's Veterans Saber World Champion.-Fencing:Korfanty was a member of the Polish national fencing team from 1972 to 1984...
, Artur Wasiolka, Michael Marx
Michael Marx
Michael Marx is an American foil and epee fencer and fencing master. He is the brother of Robert Marx, who has also represented the U.S. in multiple Olympic fencing events...
, and Andrzej Gottner. Along with his medical degree, Czajkowski has a PhD in Physical Education and many honorary degrees.
Czajkowski, through experience and experiment, developed a highly effective methodology of training that has been emulated by coaches all over the world. He has written hundreds of published articles on fencing and its training, and thirty books including Understanding Fencing - The Unity of Theory and Practice, which was published in 2005 in the US, and has become immensely popular in the English-speaking fencing world.