BCAF Staff

BCAF COACHING STAFF

Maestro Mark Holbrow is the Head Fencing Master and founder of the Bucks County Academy of Fencing which opened in January of 1981 and celebrated its 25th year on January 2nd, 2006.

Maestro Holbrow holds his fencing master's certification from the United States Fencing Coaches Association and the Academie D'armes Internationale.  He studied under Stan Sieja, head Fencing Master for Princeton University, for seven years from 1974 to1980, and acted as his apprentice and Assistant Coach for Princeton from 1978 to 1980. Over the last 20 years, he has produced a number of cadet (under 17), junior (under 20), and senior national finalists in all three weapons.  In 1986 he was a member of the US team that competed in the World Fencing Masters Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.  He was the only member of the five-man team to qualify and compete in all three weapons at the championship. Although he considers epee to be his favorite competition weapon, he was on the three-man team who took the bronze medal for the US in sabre. 

In May 18 to 22, 2001, Maestro Holbrow was invited to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to take part in the US Fencing Association's new "Black Star" elite coaches training program.  Coaches having students in the top 32 of the US national point standings were invited to participate in this program.  Maestro Holbrow was one of 12 coaches from across the United States who took part in this program.

 

James Flint: Fencing Master certified by the US Fencing Coaches Association and the Academie d' Armes Intenationale. He studied with Stan Sieja, Fencing Master and former head coach at Princeton University, Lajos Csiszar Fencing Master of Salle Csiszar and former head fencing coach at University of Pennsylvania, and Michel Sebastiani, Fencing Master and former head coach at Princeton University. He was Women's Fencing Coach and Assistant Men's Fencing Coach at Princeton University from 1980 to 1983. A two time competitor in the World Fencing Masters Championships, in 1996 he was the silver medalist for combined three weapon result in Vichy, France. He is a former A classified Foilist and current A classified Epeeist.  , Maestro Flint was the 2003 National Veteran Men's Epee Champion in the 50-59 age group and member of the US team at the World Veteran's Championships in Limoges, France in September 2003.
 
Mitch Davis: Moniteur (instructor) certified by the USFCA and AAI in foil & sabre.  Mitch has been an instructor at BCAF for over 11 years.  He has more than 20 years of competition fencing experience.

   

Dirk Goldgar:  Moniteur (instructor) certified by the USFCA and AAI in foil, epee, and sabre. Mr. Goldgar is an independent computer consultant who resides in Pennington and has been an instructor with BCAF for over 14 years.  He has over 18 years of extensive competition experience in foil and epee.  He has dominated foil competitions at BCAF & has been one of the top ranked competition foil fencers in the Philadelphia Division for many years. Dirk holds a  "B" classification in Foil & earned his "A" classification in Epee at the NAC in Pittsburgh in December 2005. He is active in the Veteran's circuit & recently took 3rd in V50 Foil at Nationals in Atlanta, August 2006 and 3rd in V50 Epee at the Richmond NAC, December 2006.
 

 

 Jeremy Schmid: Moniteur d'Armes (instructor) certified by the USFCA and AAI in foil, epee, and saber and has been fencing for more than 24 years. Before teaching at BCAF in 1995, Mr. Schmid was assistant high school coach at Princeton Day School from 1993-1998. He fenced at North Hunterdon High School from 1983-1987 and at BCAF since 1986. He is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and was editor of The Swordmaster, the USFCA's international journal for fencing coaches from 199-2006. Mr. Schmid has coached finalists in USFA Youth Regional tournaments in men's and women's foil and women's foil finalists in Division II Nationals.

 

 Jim Ferrone:  Jim started fencing for North Hunterdon High School in 1987, and began instruction under Maestro Holbrow in 1988. He is currently a A-rated epee fencer, and has competed in several national and regional championship events. In 1999, he helped BCAF to an 8th place finish in the team epee event at Summer Nationals. He was the head coach at the Lawrenceville School from 1995-1997, taught fencing at a summer camp program in 1996 and has been coaching privately since 1998. Mr. Ferrone is currently a Moniteur d'Armes (instructor) certified by the USFCA in foil and epee.

 

Lisa Martini:  Started as a beginner at the BCAF in 1996 & enjoyed fencing for 4 years. She is now Co-owner and Operations Manager of the BCAF. She is here to answer questions, help with equipment ordering, keep track of class payments and schedules, etc.  Please feel free to talk to her directly or contact her with any questions, comments, or feedback.