Ari Simmons on What Fencing Teaches About Grit and Avoiding Burnout

<p><strong>Season 2, Episode 13</strong><br /><strong>Guest:</strong> <strong>Ari Simmons</strong> — U.S. Men’s Epee; Cadet World Champion; 4x All-American (Notre Dame); Coach/Mentor; Co-host, <i>The Direct Elimination Podcast</i></p><p><strong>What we cover</strong></p><p>Origin story: from Alliance Fencing Academy kid to cadet world champ</p><p>Why the sport still “gives him life”—and how fencing builds the person off the strip</p><p>Closing the junior-to-senior gap in U.S. men’s epee: mentorship, shared training, professionalism</p><p>The Seth Kelsey effect: a national coach who’s been there—and still laces up</p><p>College path: the candid Notre Dame story (gap year, fit, and what coaches now look for)</p><p>Burnout: intention, process-over-outcomes, compartmentalizing roles, and taking real time off</p><p>Mentoring with KM Fencing: common trends he sees (and why some kids need more play)</p><p>Content, community, and making the sport more accessible to the next generation</p><p>Li...