Mika'il Sankofa

Mika'il Sankofa (born Michael Lofton, 10 December 1963 in Montgomery, Alabama) is a world recognized sabre fencer and coach. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics.^[1]

Background

During his fencing career, Sankofa trained under Tanya Adamovich, Csaba Elthes, Peter Frohlich, Szabo Adrosh, Christian Bauer and Lazlo Szepesi.

A graduate of New York University with a BA in Economics, Sankofa is a former publicist who has worked for firms such as Ernst & Young, Grey Advertising, Kirshenbaum, Bond & Partners and Shandwick International.

From 1990 - 2009, Sankofa served as co-founder, director of athletics and fencing coach for the Peter Westbrook Foundation.^[2] He was responsible for running a year-round class for over 200 participants, including a number of elite-level athletes. Sankofa's students have included three NCAA champions, five national champions, six junior world team members, the 2005 Junior Olympic men's cadet and junior sabre champions, the 2005 Junior Olympic women's sabre champion and the 2005 national cadet men's sabre champion.

Sankofa also serves as head fencing coach at the United Nations International School as well as the head sabre coach at the Ross School's summer program in East Hampton, New York. He runs the Sankofa Sabre Camp ^[3] in East Hampton, conducts clinics and does color commentary for fencing competitions around the country.

In 2006, Sankofa received his Maestro’s degree with honors from Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary.^[4]

Sankofa served as the head coach for the Stevens Institute of Technology men's fencing team 2005-09.

Sankofa served as an analyst for NBC Sports' coverage of fencing at the 2008 Summer Olympics.^[5]

He currently owns and coaches at Thrust Fencing Academy in Nyack, New York. The academy is dedicated to enriching the lives of students age 5 to adult, through the Olympic sport of fencing.

Records

Sankofa had an outstanding career as a competitive sabre fencer. He was a member of the United States Olympic Team in 1984, 1988 and 1992, and reached the pinnacle of his sport when he captured US national sabre championships in both 1991 and 1992.

He took part in the Pan-American Games as member of Sabre Team Silver in 1987 and 1991. In addition, Sankofa was a ten-time National Team Sabre Champion, in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, and 1995.

Sankofa was also a four-time NCAA champion for the Violets, capturing the sabre title in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987.^[6] He is the only male fencer to ever win four NCAA individual championships.

Hall of Fame

In 1994, he was inducted into the NYU Sports Hall of Fame,^[7] and in the summer of 2005, he was inducted into the United States Fencing Association Hall of Fame.^[6]

Notable students

Sankofa's notable students include:

• Adrian Bak - 2008 Junior World team member
• Dan Bak - 2008 Junior Olympic Sabre Champion; 2008 Junior World team member
• Luther Clement - 2008 NAC Senior Sabre Champion
• Adam Crompton - 2003-2004 NCAA Men's Sabre Champion, 2003 Pan-American Sabre Team Champion
• Ras Davidson - 2006 Junior World Cadet Men's Sabre bronze medalist; 2005 Junior Olympic Sabre Champion (Cadet & Junior); 2004 US National Cadet Sabre Champion; 2005, 2006, 2007 US Junior World team member; 2005 National Cadet Men's Sabre Champion; 2005 Junior Olympic Cadet Sabre Champion; 2005 Junior Olympic Junior Sabre Champion^[8]
• Loweye Diedro - 2008 Junior World team member
• Michael Mills - 2009 Junior World team member; 2009 NAC Junior Sabre Champion
• Ibitihaj Muhammad - 2005 Junior Olympic Junior Women's Sabre Champion^[9]
• Marty Williams, Jr. - 2008 US National Junior Sabre Champion

See also

• USFA
• USFA Hall of Fame

References

External links

• "Coaches & Staff - Mika'il Sankofa". The Peter Westbrook Foundation. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-05-06.