>> HELLO EVERYBODY.

I AM DAVE SHUFFET COMING TO YOU FROM MY HOUSE.

ON THIS EDITION OF "KENTUCKY LIFE" WE MEET THE MAESTRO OF THE LOUISVILLE FENCING CENTER.

ALSO ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF VENOMOUS SNAKES FROM THE KENTUCKY ZOO.

FINALLY GOING TO BOWLING GREEN AND MITCHELL RICKMAN'S FUNCTIONAL POVERTY.

FIRST A GENTLEMAN FROM POLAND MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF AS HEAD COACH OF THE NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR FENCING TEAM.

IN A CITY KNOWN FOR THOROUGH BREADS AND RIVERBOATS, HERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT A NATIONALLY RENOWNED FENCING CENTER.

THE SKILL IS HONED BY LESLAW STAWICKI, A MAN WITH INTERNATIONAL FAME.

>> I GREW UP IN THE SOVIET UNION.

I WAS A COACH THERE.

I BELONG TO POLISH NATIONS, MY NATIONALITY.

IN 1972 WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPATRIATE.

20 YEARS I WAS A NATIONAL COACH IN POLISH OLYMPIC TEAM.

MY BIGGEST SUCCESS WAS IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES WHERE MY STUDENTS IN SEOUL TOOK THE SILVER MEDAL IN THOSE GAMES.

AFTER THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DENVER, COLORADO, IF I REMEMBER IT WAS 1989, THEY INVITED COACHES FROM EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCES TO TEACH THE AMERICAN FOLKS.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ASKED ME TO BUILD OR CREATE SOME PROGRAMS.

THE NAME OF THE GENTLEMAN WAS MIKE MASSECK, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES FENCING ASSOCIATION.

HE ASKED ME JUST TO BUILD SOMETHING FOR ONE YEAR.

AND A YEAR, TWO YEARS, THE PROGRAM WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ME FOR LONGER.

I AM HERE.

WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

SHE IS A GOOD FENCER.

YOU ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

I AM VERY PROUD OF WHAT I DID HERE BECAUSE I CAME TO LOUISVILLE.

IT WAS A VERY, VERY SMALL COMMUNITY OF FENCING.

I OFFERED FENCING FOR A BIG NUMBER OF SOCIETY IN LOUISVILLE.

WHAT I DID, I OPENED KINDERGARTEN FOR HUNDREDS OF KIDS COMING TO THE CENTER TO LEARN HOW TO FENCE.

I STARTED TO WORK WITH SIX-YEAR-OLD KIDS.

I DIDN'T DO THIS EVER BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

I WAS A COACH OF NATIONAL TEAMS.

I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, AND THOSE CHILDREN THEY TAUGHT ME HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH, HOW TO PRONOUNCE.

I ENJOY THIS TIME.

THE FENCING IS ONE OF THE OLDEST SPORTING ACTIVITIES IN THE WORLD.

SOMEBODY SHOULD TEACH YOU HOW TO USE THE SWORD AND THE PROPER POSITION OF MASTER OF MAESTRO TO TEACH TO USE THIS WEAPON.

WE HAVE A FEW WEAPONS.

WE HAVE FOIL, SABRE.

TWO OF THEM HAVE CONVENTION, RIGHT-OF-WAY.

ONE WEAPON DOES NOT HAVE IT.

THIS WAS PROBABLY THE DUAL WEAPON.

BUT THE EVENT WAS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT HEAVIER.

AND TO GO TO TEACH THEY USE FOIL.

IT IS LIGHTER, EASIER TO OPERATE WITH THIS WEAPON.

THOSE TWO WEAPONS ARE SCORED BY TOUCH.

THE SABRE YOU CAN SCORE BY SLICES, BY HIT, BY MOVEMENT LIKE THIS.

AND YOU CAN ALSO SCORE BY POINTS.

WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IN FENCING Y FENCING IS BEAUTIFUL, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A MODEL OF CHAMPIONS.

IF YOU WANT TO PLAY BASKETBALL, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY BE SIX FEET TALL.

IF YOU WANT TO SWIM, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE BIG ARMS, BIG FOOT.

IN FENCING, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IF YOU ARE LEFT OR RIGHT-HANDED.

WE HAVE TALL AND SHORT PEOPLE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE UNITED STATES, FRANCE, GERMANY, POLAND, EVERYONE CAN BE A CHAMPION.

THIS GUY COULD BE A WORLD CHAMPION.

THIS IS GOOD BECAUSE THE CHANCE OF EVERYONE WANTS TO DO THE SPORT, THE CHANCE IS EVEN.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I AM PROUD OF IS THAT WE HAVE A WHEELCHAIR PROGRAM.

>> ACTUALLY ONE DAY I WAS SWIMMING.

A GUY CAME TO THE POOL AND ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO TRY WHEELCHAIR FENCING BACK IN 1992.

I TOLD HIM I COULDN'T HOLD A BLADE IN MY HAND BECAUSE OF FINGER IMPAIRMENT.

HE SAID THEY WOULD MAKE ME A QUADWHEEL.

THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT PUTTING THE BLADE IN MY HAND, WHACKING SOMEBODY UPSIDE THE HEAD >> FIRST WHEN I MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1994, WORKING FOR THE 1996 ATLANTA PARALYMPIC GAMES.

THE MANAGER ASKED IF THEY WOULD START UP A WHEELCHAIR FENCING PROGRAM.

>> ACTUALLY, I PICKED UP A MAGAZINE ONE DAY CALLED "THE SPINAL COLUMN" AND THERE IS THIS GUY IN A WHEELCHAIR, ALL DRESSED IN A FENCING UNIFORM WITH MASK AND JACKET WITH A SWORD AND FOIL IN HIS LAP.

I DIDN'T KNOW THEY DID THAT.

I WAS LIKE WOW, COOL.

>> WE STARTED RECRUITING FENCERS.

AT THE SAME TIME THE UNITED STATES FENCING ASSOCIATION SET UP A PROGRAM HERE IN LOUISVILLE WITH THE HOPES OF PUTTING FENCING FORWARD FOR THE 1996 ATLANTA PARALYMPIC GAMES.

>> STARTED IN 1948 BY SIR GOODMAN FROM ENGLAND.

MANY THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE CAME AFTER THE SECOND WAR WITH SOME KIND OF DISABILITIES.

HE TRIED TO BRING THEM BACK TO LIFE, BACK TO THE SPORT.

IN 1948 WAS THE FIRST ACTIVITY, AND THE GROWING AND GROWING IN SYDNEY, >> TO ME IT IS ABOUT THE JOURNEY, HOW I GOT THERE, WHAT I DID TO PREPARE MYSELF.

WHEN I GET THERE, NATURALLY I WANT TO WIN.

BEYOND GREECE, THERE IS BEJING IN 208.

I DIDN'T COME AWAY DISAPPOINTED; I CAME AWAY READY FOR MORE.

I FINISHED FIFTH AT THE GAMES, BUT I CAN FINISH FIRST.

>> BECAUSE YOU ARE FENCING IN SUCH CLOSE QUARTERS, YOU CAN'T GET TOO FAR AWAY.

>> I HAVE THIS GREAT LEAN.

I HAVE A TENDENCY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO DO.

MOST OF THE TIME, THE OTHER FENCER CAN'T TOUCH ME.

THAT IS ONE OF MY ADVANTAGES.

I MAY NOT BEAT ANYBODY 5 TO 1; I MAY BEAT THEM 2 TO 1.

IF YOU LET ME GET AHEAD OF YOU, I'M GONNA WIN.

>> YOU CAN'T REALLY RUN AWAY FROM YOUR OPPONENT IN WHEELCHAIR FENCING.

I THINK IT IS A METAPHOR FOR PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS, FORCING YOU TO DEAL WITH YOUR SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> FOR ME, I WOULD CALL STAWICKI THE GODFATHER.

>> HE HAS AN INCREDIBLE REPUTATION, LOTS OF GOOD RESULTS BEHIND HIM.

HE WORKED FOR THE NATIONAL POLISH TEAM, TOOK THEM TO THE OLYMPICS A COUPLE TIMES.

WHEN I FOUND OUT HE WAS THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE WHEELCHAIR PROGRAM, IT WAS A VERY EXCITING TIME FOR US.

>> PRETTY MUCH HE IS THE GODFATHER OF THE SPORT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT HAS REALLY HELPED US ALONG.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THIS PROGRAM, ABLE-BODY PEOPLE ARE TOGETHER, ARE FRIENDS.

THEY TALK.

THEY FENCE TOGETHER.

IT IS INTEGRATION.

I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FACETS, THE INTEGRATION OF THIS BEAUTIFUL SPORT.

>> IT IS MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.

I AM WITH THIS SPORT.

>> WHAT I HAVE HERE, AN ACCURATE REPRODUCTION OF A UNION OFFICERS SWORD FROM THE CIVIL WAR.

WHAT AMAZES ME, HOW HEAVY THESE THINGS WERE.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE QUITE STRONG TO FIGHT WITH IT.

UP NEXT, JIM HARRISON TURNED HIS LIFELONG CURIOSITY OF REPTILES INTO AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AND A LIFE-SAVING LIQUID TO PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.

LET'S HEAD TO POWELL COUNTY AND THE KENTUCKY REPTILE ZOO.

WE ARE ONE OF THE BEST-KEPT SECRETS IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WE EXIST.

WE HAVE CLOSE TO 1,500 VENOMOUS REPTILES A FEW ALLIGATORS AND PYTHONS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

THE MAIN REASON WE KEEP VENOMOUS SNAKES, FOR THE PRODUCTION OF VENOM.

ALL ANIMALS ARE KEPT IN DISPLAY UNITS SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THEM.

KENTUCKY REPTILE ZOO IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF VENOMOUS SNAKES IN THE WORLD.

WE CAN'T SAY WE ARE THE LARGEST BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN TO EVERY COLLECTION.

BUT WE HOUSE ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE COLLECTIONS WITH OVER A HUNDRED SPECIES ON DISPLAY.

THERE IS NO ZOO IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAS MORE VENOMOUS SNAKES ON DISPLAY THAN WE DO.

THE REPTILE ZOO IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WHILE PROVIDING VENOMS FOR RESEARCH WORLDWIDE.

SOMETHING UNIQUE, WE COMBINE SCIENCE AND EDUCATION AT THE SAME TIME.

WE ALLOW SCIENTISTS TO COME HERE AND ACTUALLY DO RESEARCH PROJECTS AT OUR FACILITIES WHICH IS LOT OF ZOOS ARE NOT ABLE TO.

WHEN I WAS SIX YEARS OLD, I QUALITY MY FIRST NAME.

MY DAD BOUGHT ME A BOOK ABOUT SNAKES.

BY THE TIME I WAS 12 I WAS READING COLLEGE LEVEL HEPATOLOGY, CAUGHT FIRST RATTLE SNAKE BY 12.

WHEN I WAS 15 I WRESTLED ALLIGATORS.

WHEN I WAS 17 I WAS EXTRACTING VENOM FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH.

I WAS BORN IN KENTUCKY.

IT WAS A NATURAL THING FOR ME TO COME BACK TO KENTUCKY.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE FIELD CATCHING RATTLE SNAKES AS A KID.

I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED IT HERE.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, BUT I HAVE ALWAYS COME BACK TO KENTUCKY.

WE ALSO PROVIDE VENOMS.

WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW LEGITIMATE VENOM PROVIDERS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, ONE OF THE THREE THAT PROVIDE VEN ON FOR THE ANTI-SERUM PRODUCED.

WHEN I WAS BITTEN BY A COULD HE BE RARX I HAD PERFECT VISION FOR A WHILE, AND I USUALLY WEAR CONTACTS.

IT AFFECTED MY OPTIC NERVE.

BUT 10 MINUTES LATER I WAS DEAD.

YOU GIVE ONE THING UP FOR ANOTHER, I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT FOR FECT VISION TO BE DEAD.

IT IS INTERESTING ONE DROP OF VENOM CAN DO THAT TO YOUR BODY.

IT FASCINATES ME.

IF YOU ARE HANDLING AN ANIMAL, ANY KIND OF WILD ANIMAL SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO GET ACROSS TO THE KIDS, IF THEY LEAVE THE ANIMAL ALONE, THEY WON'T GET BIT.

THEY ASK ME WHAT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS SNAKE, I SAID THE ONE THAT JUST BIT YOU BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY ONE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

THE DANGER INVOLVED WITH HANDLING THE SNAKES IS WHEN YOU FEEL THE ANIMAL IS A TOY, OR HAVE YOU SEEN TOO MUCH ON TELEVISION WERE YOU THINK CAN YOU PLAY WITH THE ANIMALS.

PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE THEM.

THE NORMAL BEHAVIOR IS TO TRY TO GET AWAY.

IF YOU KEEP PUSHING, THE ANIMAL WILL EVENTUALLY BITE YOU.

WITH ME GRABBING THE ANIMALS, THAT INCREASES MY ODDS OF BEING BITTEN.

IF I WAS JUST LETTING THEM GO OR MOVING THEM AROUND I SHOULD NEVER GET BIT.

BUT GRABBING THEM USUALLY UPSETS THEM.

OF THE 16 INVENOMATIONS I HAVE HAD, TWO WERE WHILE EXTRACTING.

THE OTHERS WERE DOING SOMETHING UNUSUAL, MEDICAL CARE, OR FEEDING RESPONSES FROM ANIMALS COMING OUT OF THE CAVE.

THAT IS NOT A NORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR THEM.

I HAVE EXTRACTED VENOM FROM EVERY SNAKE BROUGHT INTO CAPTIVE TEE.

THERE IS NOTHING I WON'T HANDLE.

THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE AROUND, BUT NO SNAKE I WOULDN'T HANDLE.

ONE OF MY DOCTOR FRIENDS PUT ME ON A MONITOR TO SEE WHAT MY HEART RATE WAS.

MY HEART RATE STAYS NORMAL WHEN I CATCH A KING COULD HE BE RACHLT WHEN I DRIVE IT GOES UP TO A HUNDRED.

I AM MORE AFRAID OF PEOPLE IN CARS THAN I AM OF SNAKES.

EVERYTHING IN THE UNITED STATES SO FAR, EVERY SPECIES I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT AND SEE IN THE WILD, I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO VIETNAM TO BE ABLE TO HUNT FOR COBRAS IN THE WILD AND HOPEFULLY EVEN FIND A KING COBRA IN THE WILD.

I HAVE ALWAYS TOLD MYSELF BEFORE I DIE I WANT TO CATCH ONE IN THE WILD.

I HOPE IT IS NOT THE ONE AND THE SAME EVENT.

THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION, WHETHER OR NOT IT IS WORTH IT.

I STILL DO IT.

AFTER EVERY BITE I HAVE SPENT LESS THAN 24 HOURS IN THE HOSPITAL AND I ALWAYS GO RIGHT BACK TO WORK.

OBVIOUSLY I PROBABLY HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON LIFE THAN MOST PEOPLE.

MOST PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO DIE.

I JUST WORRY ABOUT HOW I AM GOING TO LIVE.

>> FORTUNATELY WE HAVE SOME COURAGEOUS SCIENTISTS OUT THERE IN THE JUNGLES OF THE WORLD LOOKING FOR RARE, VENOMOUS SNAKES WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN CREATE THE ANTIVENIN.

NOW TO A SAFER OCCUPATION, POTTERY-MAKING.

LET'S VISIT THE BOWLING GREENS STUDIO OF MITCHELL RICKMAN WHOSE POTTERY IS BEAUTIFUL AS WELL AS FUNCTIONAL.

LET'S SEE HIS CREATIONS COME TO LIFE.

>> BASICALLY I DO FUNCTIONAL POTTERY.

I DO SOMEONE-OF-A-KIND PIECES, BUT PRIMARILY CUPS OR PLATES OR BOWLS, STUFF FOR EVERYDAY USE.

I OFFER THREE PATTERNS, CONTEMPORARY BLUE AND GREEN, TRADITIONAL SPONGEWARE WHICH YOU WILL SEE IS A TRADITIONAL PATTERN, YOU SEE ANTIQUE POTTERY.

THEN I DO SOME EARTH-TONE BROWNS, EVERYTHING FROM A LITTLE CANDLE HOLDERS TO LARGE PITCHERS.

I DO SOMEONE-OF-A-KIND PIECES ALSO.

MY IDEAS COME FROM JUST TRADITIONAL SHAPES.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I ONLY DID SPONGEWARE WHICH IS WHAT I DID AT OVERCAST POTTERY IN NASHVILLE.

THAT IS HOW I FELL INTO DOING SPONGEWARE.

BUT AS THE COUNTRY ANTIQUE VEIN DIED OUT, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY LADY IN THE WORLD HAD A COUNTRY KITCHEN AND THE SPONGEWARE WENT OVER WELL.

BUT I HAVE BRANCHED OUT INTO OTHER PATTERNS, MORE CONTEMPORARY STUFF.

PEOPLE STILL LIKE EARTH TONES IN THEIR POTTERY.

BASICALLY I TRIED TO -- IN MY PIECES I TRY TO MAKE THEM ALL FUNCTIONAL, AS WELL AS PRETTY.

THEY ARE ALL SAFE FOR FOOD, GREAT FOR BAKING, MICROWAVEABLE.

BUT I DO FUNCTIONAL PIECES.

NOW AND THEN I WILL DO A VASE OR SOMETHING JUST FOR MY OWN ENJOYMENT.

NOW AND THEN I COME UP WITH NEW JDZ ON THOSE RATIO CASES.

WHEN I MAKE A PIECE AND I AM GOING TO MAKE A PITCHER.

I LIKE TO WEIGH MY CLAY.

THAT WAY I KNOW HOW MUCH CLAY I HAVE.

THAT WAY YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW BIG THE PIECE SHOULD BE AND STILL HAVE A COMFORTABLE WEIGHT.

AFTER I WEIGH IT OUT, I WILL WEDGE IT.

ALL I AM DOING HERE IS JUST TWISTING THE CLAY, PUSHING IT BACK INTO ITSELF AND PUSHING ALL THE AIR OUT OF IT.

WE DON'T WANT ANY AIR BUBBLES IN OUR CLAY.

IF YOU HAVE AN AIR BUBBLE WHEN YOU WORK WITH IT ON THE WHEEL, IT CAN DO NASTY THINGS TO IT.

IT CAN POP OR KNOCK IT OFF CENTER.

BASICALLY EVERYTHING STILL HAS TO BE WEDGED EVEN THOUGH WE USE A PREMOLINDIC CLAY.

FIRST YOU WANT TO GET THE CLAY RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL.

AFTER THAT, YOU WANT TO STAY ON CENTER AS LONG AS YOU CAN.

THEN YOU WANT TO OPEN IT UP.

THEN YOU CAN START TO PULL IT UP.

AS YOU PULL IT UP, THE WALL WILL GET THINNER.

YOU WILL GET A LITTLE SLOWER.

YOU HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL AS YOU GO.

BASICALLY YOU ARE STRETCHING THE CLAY BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS USING THE CENTRIFICALETTERS FORSZ OF THE WHEEL TO HELP YOU MAKE THE POTS.

>> IF YOU SEE MY STUDIO, YOU CAN COME WATCH ME WORK ACTUALLY.

LY DO A POTTERY DEMONSTRATION FOR YOU.

BASICALLY YOU WILL SEE RACKS OF POTTERY.

I HAVE CUPS, SOUVENIR ITEMS, ALL KIND OF GOOD STUFF.

WE PROBABLY DO AT LEAST 50 DIFFERENT ITEMS HERE.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY FAVORITE PIECES.

I ENJOY VASES AND ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECES MORE THAN ANYTHING BUT I STILL ENJOY MAKING POTS.

I HAVE MADE THEM FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND I STILL ENJOY SITTING DOWN AT THE WHEEL AND MAKING POTS.

I JUST LIKE THE FEEL OF THE CLAY RUNNING THROUGH MY HANDS.

IT IS REWARDING TO TAKE A BLOB OF CLAY AND SEE IT ACTUALLY TURN INTO SOMETHING.

THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT WHAT I DO, WHEN PEOPLE COME BACK AND BUY MORE OF MY POTTERY BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT, THAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT I GET A REPEAT CUSTOMER.

I KNOW I HAVE DONE WHAT I WAS SETTING OUT TO DO.

I HAVE MADE SOMETHING NOT ONLY AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, BUT FUNCTIONAL.

THAT IS ONE THING.

WHEN YOU MAKE A LOT OF POTS SOMETIMES YOU LOSE -- WELL I TRY NOT TO, BUT IT IS EASY TO LOSE TRACK.

I MAY HAVE TEN OR 12 SITTING HERE, BUT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BUY ONLY ONE.

WHEN THEY BUY THAT ONE THEY WILL TAKE THAT POT HOME.

IT WILL BE THE ONLY ONE THEY HAVE.

SO I TRY TO KEEP IN MIND WITH EACH PIECE, I PUT CARE INTO EACH AND EVERY POT FOR THAT VERY REASON.

EVEN THOUGH I MAY HAVE TEN OR 12, I KNOW THEY WILL ONLY HAVE ONE.

I TRY NOT TO LOSE TRACK OF HOW SPECIAL EACH PIECE IS.

>> THE NICE THING ABOUT BEING AT HOME, YOU CAN BE WITH FAMILY, LIKE MY DEAR OLD DAD HERE.

I HOPE YOU ARE AT HOME WITH YOUR FAMILY TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.