Shane is an accredited Level 3 Coach in Épée. For many years he was on Fencing Ireland’s Elite International Panel (most recently in 2019). He has been a member/captain of the Irish Veteran Team for over a decade, competing in the Home 4 Nations (most recently in 2025) and European Team Veteran and Grand Veteran Championship (most recently in 2024). Individually, he won the Celtic Championship (Épée) and competed in the individual FIE Veteran World Championship. Shane’s fencing story, up to October 2025, is told here: Failing Better: The Trials of a Veteran Fencer.
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Coaching Qualifications
Level 3 Épée (Prévôt) from Irish Academy of Arms & Academie d’Armes Internationale in 2021. [The next grade (Level 4) is Fencing Master Épée].
Level 2 Épée from British Academy of Fencing, Academie d’Armes Internationale, and the Irish Academy of Arms in 2018.
Level 1 Épée from Fencing Ireland in 2025 [Highest level awarded to date by FI].
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Overview of Prévôt Shane Whelan’s First Course: Fundamental Techniques Needed to Master Épée
| Sheet 0 | Guards |
| Sheet 1 | Footwork: Step, Lunge, Flèche, Etc. |
| Sheet 2 | Simple Attacks: Direct, Disengage, Counter-disengage, Coupé |
| Sheet 3 | Parries I: Counter, Semi-circular, Simple, Diagonal |
| Sheet 4 | Compound Attacks: Single Feint, One-two, Doublé, Etc. |
| Sheet 5 | Parries II: Successive, Contraction, Opposition, & Ceding |
| Sheet 6 | Counter Offensive: Stop Hits, Time Hit, Etc. |
| Sheet 7 | Evasions: In Quartata, Passata Sotto, & Rassemblement |
| Sheet 8 | Attacks on Blade I: The Beat , Change-Beat, Beat Disengage |
| Sheet 9 | Attacks on Blade II: Pressure, Froissement, & Coulé |
| Sheet 10 | Taking the Blade: Bind, Envelopment, & Croisé |
| Sheet 11 | Insights from Sports Psychology |
| Sheet 12 | Actions Suggested by Sports Psychology |