The term retreat in the sport of fencing refers to stepping back or away from your opponent. That is just what Andrei Samorodov, a coach for the Palo Alto College Fencing Center, did two years ago. Not from an opponent, but from his home in Stavropol, a city in southern Russia.

As Captain of the 21st Unit Brigade of the Russian Army, Samorodov was stationed in Chechnya. During his service, the

fascists of Russia heavily influenced the military. They asked all the soldiers to prove their loyalty to the Russian Army by killing a civilian of Chechnya. This is when Samorodov realized the war in Chechnya was not about ideals, but it was a war of money.

“Kill the black, kill the black!” was a popular chant among his soldiers, according to Samorodov. “There are some Russians with dark skin and black hair. Usually Russians have light skin and blonde hair,” said Samorodov.

Samorodov tried to influence his soldiers not to kill these dark-skinned civilians of Chechnya. “Nobody could push me to do anything. I was a captain. Captains push soldiers to do what they want done,” Samorodov said.

After refusing to kill civilians, Samorodov was severely beaten and taken to a hospital. When he recovered from his injuries, he went to his superior officers and told them what happened to him. His superior officers did absolutely nothing.
Samorodov was once again ordered to kill civilians, and he refused. Afraid for her husband’s life, his wife Lyudmila told him to come back home to Stavropol so they could talk. They spent one night deciding what to do. Lyudmila encouraged Samorodov to leave the country. He did just that, leaving behind his wife and two children, Oksana and Yevgeny.

His first intention was to stay in Canada because of the large Russian community there, but they did not accept his visa. So he flew to Mexico City, where they accepted his visa. He then traveled to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, where one night on a desolate area of the U.S.-Mexico border, Samorodov swam across the Rio Grande River and into the United States.

He eventually arrived in San Antonio, and he asked his neighbor if she knew of any fencing centers. As a young teen, Samorodov enjoyed the sport of fencing. He was an elite fencer and was a member of the Russian National Junior Team. He was directed to the Palo Alto College Fencing Center.

Vinnie Bradford, Director for Fencing Programs at Palo Alto College, had the opportunity to work with Samorodov and offered him a coaching position with the program. He accepted and has been with the program for two years now.

With Samorodov’s immediate family many miles away, he became part of a new family at the Palo Alto College Fencing Center.

“I need Palo Alto Fencing, like Palo Alto Fencing needs me,” Samorodov said. “We are all here like a big family.”

Bradford feels the same about Samorodov. “He has been a very important part of the success of the Palo Alto College Fencing Center,” she said.

Kate Gober, a freshman at Health Careers High School, participates in the fencing program. “We really do appreciate Mr. Samorodov. He is really nice, understanding and has helped out our fencing team a great deal,” she said.

Asked if he would consider returning to Russia, Samorodov said, “I like and respect Russia. You have a lot of nice people in Russia, as you do here in the United States. Maybe I will go back, but not anytime soon under the current circumstances.”

“I have been with Samorodov for two years and he has showed a lot of strength and focus,” Bradford said. “It has taken incredible strength not knowing if and when his family would ever arrive. He kept his focus and took all the steps necessary to get his family to the United States.”

Andrei Samorodov’s wish finally came true when his wife and children arrived in the United States on Monday, Nov. 12, 2001, after a two-year separation.

To be successful in the sport of fencing, self-discipline, personal control and strength of character are vital. Samorodov proved those same traits are also vital in the game of life.