About us
We've had the backs of Czech fencers since 1991
Because even d'Artagnan had his fifth musketeer.
Fencing is a beautiful sport. Even before "En garde" is called, every fencer must hone their precision, physical fitness, and mental resilience. Fencing can be a noble art as well as a tough sport that cannot do without a reliable weapon and high-quality equipment.
And we strive to ensure that the only thing you feel on the piste is the weight of the situation, not the weight of your gear. 5M is a Czech family business that, under the leadership of Olympian Jiří Beran, combines the tradition of Czech fencing with in-house manufacturing.
Where did 5M come from?My name is Jiří Beran. And I play a dual role at 5M
You might know me from TV. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, we won a sensational bronze for Czech fencing. While I am hidden under a mask on the piste, at 5M I put my skin in the game. I try to connect two completely different worlds.
- Bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics
- Fair Play Award from Rio (because character is more than victory)
- Engineer focused on technical product development
- Drummer, because both life and fencing need rhythm
I am a fencer
I know what it feels like when your épée betrays you in the final. I have 33 years on the piste behind me, a Fair Play award, and an Olympic bronze. Thanks to this, I can empathize with what fencers of all levels experience – because I've been there too.
I am an engineer
This is my other side. I look at equipment not just through emotions, but through numbers, physical properties, material stress, and grams. As an engineer, I know that "feels lighter" means nothing. Improvement must be measurable.
The Result?
At 5M, I won't recommend anything to you that hasn't passed through my hands. Consider it my personal guarantee of quality.
Podcasts about fencing, equipment, and career
Why do we manufacture our own fencing equipment?
Because good wasn't enough for us.
Every company has its story. Ours mirrors the development of Czech fencing. From a lack of everything in the beginning to the professionalization of fencing as a sport today.
1991
Dad started it all
In the nineties, my father Jiří Beran Sr. and his friend Honza Tůma founded the 5M company (you might notice the subtle reference to the legend of the fifth musketeer). Back then, Czech fencers had almost nothing to fight with, so it was a decision made out of pure necessity. They started finding at least some equipment and founded the SC Praha club to provide the community with basic facilities.
1992–2002
The Golden Decade
The company began to grow and for several years even had a brick-and-mortar store on Mánesova Street in Prague. 5M launched its own production of bags, fencing socks, bell guards, and other equipment right in the Czech Republic. We became the exclusive distributors for one of the world's best-known fencing equipment brands, Allstar.
2002–2007
Shift away from manufacturing
Growth slowed down, and the focus shifted from our own production purely to the distribution of Allstar products. When I was finishing my studies at CTU, I caught myself thinking far too often about how to move 5M forward. In 2006, I couldn't resist anymore and launched the first e-shop, 5mfencing.com. The second chapter of our family business began to be written.
2008–2025
New blood of Czech fencing
I fully took over the company from my dad in 2008. There was already enough equipment on the market, but development had stagnated. Fencers were hauling unnecessary weight, so I combined my dad's tradition with my technical education. We dusted off the machines and got into development. And subsequently into the manufacturing of our own line of 5M Supra equipment.
We didn't want to just import renowned foreign brands. We wanted to improve the equipment. For example, thanks to special fibers, our fencing suits are hundreds of grams lighter than regular competitors. In an all-day tournament, that means tons of saved weight.
We started developing new clothing not only for pros but mainly for recreational fencers and kids. I went into it with the vision of offering basic fencing clothing in good quality and at the best price to everyone as quickly as possible. We succeeded, and sports enthusiasts, parents, and children started taking an interest in fencing. The cuts of Victory clothing remain among the most popular on the market to this day.
Endowment Fund Šerm dětem
We are raising fencers who will defeat us
And we can't wait for that. An Olympic medal is a beautiful thing, but it will end up gathering dust in a display case. We really hope that 5M will leave behind something more. We believe that fencing is the best school of character, and that's why, through the Šerm dětem foundation, we give back to our sport what it gave to us.
- Tour de Schools
We get kids up from their computers and bring fencing straight to their gyms. By the end of 2025, over 10,000 children were able to try fencing in 75 locations across the Czech Republic. - Teambuildings
Selling experiences to companies and friends helps us finance the foundation. Thanks to this, we can spread the joy of the sport throughout the Czech Republic. - Grants and support
If a child has talent but lacks funds, we are here. The fund supports the creation of new fencing clubs and talented young fencers. - Fair Play values
We teach that after being hit, you don't get angry, you shake hands.
With every purchase at 5M, you help open the path to the piste for more girls and boys. Thank you for being in this with us.
Check out its website and find out what we do