Welcome to

We are building the next generation of leaders through the sport of fencing.

The Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork, and Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded by Olympic fencer & Brooklyn native, Nzingha Prescod.

We provide fencing instruction, learning & educational opportunities, character building & leadership experiences to underserved youth of NYC at no-cost to families.

We offer a variety of programs to support youth year round.

PISTE Academy

A high-performance fencing program that provides school year-round intensive training. This program is for students who can commit to consistent training and want to pursue competitive fencing.

Fencing in the Park (FITP)

FITP is a summer program that introduces the sport of fencing to youth in the Brooklyn community. The program is usually hosted outdoors and is intended for youth with little no prior fencing experience.

NYC Schools Program

PISTE partners with NYC public, charter and independent schools, to provide our curriculum as a physical education alternative, an elective, or after-school program.

Educational Enrichment

Academy students participate in academic tutoring, chess lessons, and also experience a range of educational programming such as music, art and design, and journalism.

Explore Programs

Principles of Fencing

Fencing demands a commitment to self-control in order to develop intensive skill and mental acuity. Focus and deliberate intention is necessary to pursue greatness.
Known as physical chess, fencing requires mindfulness of self and your opponent. Strategic thinking is built through intentional reflection, thoughtful planning, and calculated analysis of each situation.
Every moment in fencing is an opportunity to create solutions. Each match requires fencers to confront adversity, evaluate the options, and execute strategy with confidence.
As a martial art, fencing activates your body, mind, and spirit to work in unison. We value the physical, mental, and emotional rigor in fencing that develops powerful and capable individuals.
An individual sport rooted in self-reliance, fencing is also a relationship-based sport that promotes success through teamwork and mutual respect for your opponents.

Over 600 students participated in our programs in 2022

Nzingha Prescod

Founded by

“My experience is a testament to the power of sport. I was the only one in my neighborhood with access to Olympic caliber coaching and we want to change that. Fencing empowered me to access incredible successes in my athletic, academic, and professional life.

The mission of our program is to share this gift with the next generation of Brooklyn.”

-Nzingha Prescod, Founder & Executive Director