Bladework Television
The show that started it all.

Half Sportscast, Half Reality TV, All Fencing

In 2010, the tagline for Bladework was simple: "Half Sportscast, Half Reality TV, All Fencing". The mission, however, was far more ambitious.

Bladework was a groundbreaking TV series designed to introduce the Boston broadcast market to the intricacies of fencing in an accessible and engaging way. The format split each episode into two parts:

• The Journey – One half followed an 'everyman' athlete’s transformation from complete novice to competing in his first fencing tournament during the season finale.
• The Tournament – The other half showcased a high-level fencing competition, held at the Boston Fencing Club, with expert commentary and analysis to guide viewers through the action.

The series aired for a single 13-episode season on NBC Universal Sports Boston.

A Community Effort

The show’s creator, Michael Grosse, described it as a labor of love for the fencing community. "It was very much a community effort," Grosse recalled. "As an assistant coach at the University of New Hampshire, I relied on a team of fencers and coaches to help with production duties."

This team also reached out to top fencers across the Northeast to participate in the featured tournament. The competition included future national-level contenders like Adam Maczic, Alex House, and Peter Souders.

"For fencing fans, the roster was impressive," Grosse added. "But for a general audience, the names were unfamiliar, and social media wasn’t yet a major tool to bridge that gap."

Promoting Fencing in a Pre-Social Media World

In 2010, the digital landscape was very different. Web video was in its infancy, and social media platforms hadn’t yet become essential for business promotion. To generate buzz, the Bladework team got creative, staging eye-catching fencing demonstrations in unexpected places.

One of the most memorable promotions was the Sunset Duel, filmed on a bridge connecting Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine. Fencers Michael Grosse and Kate Dusinlleux, dressed in full epee gear, approached each other from opposite ends of a makeshift fencing strip, creating a striking visual for passersby.

This promo remains a personal favorite and can still be watched on YouTube:

Watch the Promo: Sunset Duel