En-garde, pret, allez" are three words guaranteed to get Jason Visser's adrenaline pumping. 

And with good reason. The first-year BSc Sport Science student at Tuks is an avid fencer. When a referee utters these words to start a fencing duel, it is as if he goes into the "zone". During an encounter, only one thing matters. That is to be better than his opponent. 

Visser will compete in the epee and foil under-20 events at the African Junior Fencing Championships in Ghana. He aims to qualify for the 2023 World Cadets and Juniors Fencing Championships.

Fencing has been part and parcel of Visser's life since six. If he can have his way, he will "feint, fleche and lunge" for years to come. 

In his words, "fencing is like playing chess, but you only have seconds if not milliseconds to make a move or to react to your opponent's move where you use your whole body to play. Your movement is a creative expression of yourself and a testament to your skill."

“Fencing is the best sport anyone can participate in because it combines physical and mental agility with a focus on strategy and tactics. It requires quick reflexes but also demands that the fencer thinks ahead and anticipates their opponent's moves. The sport is known for its elegant and graceful movements, making it both a cerebral and visually stunning sport," Visser explains.

Visser trained for two weeks alongside the Swiss and German pentathletes at the University of Pretoria in the build-up to the African Championships. 

"It was a good learning experience as I observed their fencing techniques and training methods. I am also indebted to my coach Andrei Kovrijnykh. For the last 12 years, he has been instrumental in helping me finetune my technique. What amazes me is how he can always find ways for me to push myself to the limit."

Competing internationally can be expensive. Visser does not expect his parents to fork out money to fund his passion for fencing. That is why he took up waitering over December and January to earn money to pay for new equipment, competition fees, hotel costs, and airfare. To his surprise, XDSL Products agreed to sponsor him as well. 

"It was one of the best days in my life. When I received the news, I was completely shocked. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My heart was racing. My eyes were tearing up as I was filled with excitement and disbelief. All the hard work, dedication and sacrifice had finally paid off. Getting a sponsor was a defining moment in my life. I am determined to make the most of it,” said the 18-year-old.