FENCING CAN DO WONDERS.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

Peter Westbrook began teaching the sport of fencing 13 years ago, with the honorable, but simple, goal of instilling senses of discipline and pride in some high-risk kids near his New York neighborhood.

Westbrook never fathomed that one day he would be taking a transatlantic flight to watch three of his students compete in the Olympics. Then again, those in the fencing community have long since learned never to be surprised by anything Westbrook accomplishes.

Of the nine members of the U.S. fencing delegation, three - siblings Keeth and Erinn Smart and Akhnaten Spencer-El - are Westbrook's students. Westbrook qualified for every Olympic Games between 1976-96 even though he grew up in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Newark. N.J..

Westbrook, whose father was an African-American and mother Japanese, won a bronze medal in 1984 and decided to use his clout within the sport for good. He started a foundation that teaches fencing, yes, but more importantly, he wants his inner-city kids to have a sense of self-worth.

``Fencing changed and transformed my life,'' said the 52-year-old Westbrook. ``Without fencing, I wouldn't be where I am today, so this was something I needed to do. It wasn't about being magnanimous or righteous. It was just my duty, similar to the way a multimillionaire gives back.''

Westbrook isn't just there to provide footwork lessons and pats on the back. Kids who stick with his program are held to high standards of behavior and academic progress. If they become good fencers along the way, so be it, but Westbrook sees himself, first and foremost, as a needed authority figure.

``Some people have called it a boot camp, but I don't know,'' Westbrook said. ``To stay with it, you have to excel because if you don't, you'll be out of your league. If I recall correctly, that has only happened two or three times, where the kid just doesn't want to do anything to help his own improvement.

``I have a heart of gold but a fist of bronze. I'll tell them straight up, `I'm not your momma or your daddy, boy. If I tell you to do something, you better do it.' I tell them that right up front, but then I give them a lot of love, and they allow me to be in their lives.''

They have, to an astonishing degree. Westbrook started with six students, one of whom was 11-year-old Erinn Smart, whose older brother Keeth joined shortly thereafter Through the tireless promotion of his foundation, Westbrook's ranks grew, and he estimates he has upward of 130 kids for each class.

The foundation provides tutors and scholarships for those who thrive academically, and not surprisingly, Westbrook also has a knack for teaching fencing.

But while the accomplishments of students such as the Smarts and Spencer-El make Westbrook proud, he also finds joy in non-competitive endeavors.

``I see where some of the kids came from and where they are and because of this, they're not doing drugs and they're not getting involved in gangs,'' Westbrook said. ``I heard so many great things from the parents, and after getting that feedback, I realized, `Wow, this is more than I ever dreamt of.' ''

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

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