János Kevey Plaque

How did a Hungarian fencing master become a key figure in the revival of Polish fencing? Here, at the János Kevey Plaque in Warsaw, we uncover this intriguing story. The plaque commemorates János Kevey, a man whose life intertwined with the histories of Hungary, Poland, and the world of fencing. János Kevey, originally Richter, was born in Germany in 1907 to German parents. His family later moved to Kevevára, Hungary. He adopted the name Kevey upon receiving Hungarian citizenship. Kevey’s fencing journey began in Fehértemplom, blossoming under the tutelage of Gusztáv Tomanóczy in Szeged. He excelled, winning a university championship in 1930 and securing a spot on the gold-medal-winning university world championship team. János Kevey wasn’t just a skilled fencer; he was a decorated champion, claiming the individual épée title in Hungary in 1940 and eight team national championships. Unable to find work as a lawyer, he embraced the military and honed his skills at the Miklós Toldi National Defense Sports Teacher and Fencing Master Training Institute. Deployed to Warsaw in 1939, he returned before the war’s outbreak, rising to the rank of major by 1944. Despite a brief arrest after the war, he was released and resumed his passion: fencing. His contribution to Polish fencing earned him the Polonia Restituta Knight’s Cross, a brave act during wartime. János Kevey arrived in Poland in 1947, initially teaching all three fencing disciplines before focusing on the saber. He became instrumental in Poland’s fencing resurgence, disseminating László Borsody’s renowned fencing school. One of his most famous students, Jerzy Pawlowski, began training at just 14 and won Olympic silver in 1956. Later, Pawlowski broke the Hungarian saber dominance, winning individual Olympic gold in 1968. Kevey’s legacy extends beyond Pawlowski. He shaped world champions like Wojciech Zabłocki and Ryszard Parulski. The Polish team’s victory over the seemingly unbeatable Hungarians at the 1959 World Championships marked a significant triumph. Kevey’s rigorous training methods, blending physical and technical training, became legendary. He even had his students climb mountains with sacks on their backs for footwork drills. His innovative analysis of fencing actions led to the perfection of the flèche attack. János Kevey’s influence stretched to Italy. He coached there from 1959, training future champions like Wladimiro Calarese and Ronaldo Rigoli. He led the Italian saber team to Olympic gold in 1972. Returning to Hungary in 1970, he taught at BSE until retirement. Even at 80, he continued to train outdoors, his dedication unwavering. The János Kevey Plaque stands as a testament to a man who shaped the landscape of fencing in multiple nations. His legacy continues to inspire.