Coaching Staff

Bin Lu was formerly the head coach of the Sichuan Physical University Fencing Team in Sichuan, China. In 1993 one of his students was World Junior Epee Champion. Bin coached many medalists and finalists in China’s national championships. Bin Lu was the Chinese Men’s National Champion and the Asian Games Champion. Bin was also a member of the Chinese national team. Bin holds a degree in Physical Education from Sichuan University

Nicusor Alexe has fenced since a young age, winning the Romanian Juniors National title in 1969, at the age of 14. He was a member of the Romanian Nat'l Olympic Team (72-75) and active in Romanian fencing until 1986 when he relocated to the USA. He was active in fencing instruction in the Lancaster PA area for 20 years before starting L'Equipe Fencing Club in Leola. We are happy to welcome Coach Nic as our Intermediate Level and Youth Competitive Level foil instructor.

A native of West Berlin, Germany, J. Christoph Amberger has been fencing since 1984, competing in foil, saber and epee in Scotland, Germany, and the United States. He was an instructor for the German duelling Schläger while studying at the U of Göttingen and holds the rank of ikkyu in Tomiki aikido. His book, The Secret History of the Sword, is considered a classic of the Historic European Martial Arts movement. Chris focuses on building stamina, strength, skills & speed from the 1st class

Coach - Gary Brandon Gary Brandon has been teaching both youth and adults in beginner and intermediate foil for the York County YMCA for the past 8 years. He continues to be an avid foil and epee competitive fencer.

Russ has been with the Columbia club since its inception. He started fencing for recreation in 1981 at the University of Virginia and has fenced on and off since then. He leads the Adult Intro Class, the Adult Beginner Level, and the Intermediate Foil classes in Columbia. He has successfully completed Level 1 Instructor training in Foil and Saber at the USFA National Coaching Development Program's Coaches' College. Russ maintains current Red Cross certification on CPR, AED, and Sport Medicine.

Gabrielle is a graduate of the University of Maryland in College Park and has been fencing since January of 2006. She began her fencing education with foil, but currently fences epee competitively. Gabrielle teaches both foil and epee classes and private lessons for beginner and intermediate students.

Jon graduated from New York University and fenced epee for their varsity team. He is currently working toward a doctorate in clinical psychology at Loyola University. Jon is an experienced competitive fencer, and as a coach, emphasizes what he considers to be the three primary components of successful fencing: physical fitness, technique, and mental focus and concentration.

Dave assists with developing competitive fencers.
He has been fencing since 1971 and coaching since 1975. His collegiate resume includes coaching at both Clemson University and the University of Maryland. He has coached two NCAA All-American epee fencers. He has also had a top US finisher in a women's epee DIV 1 NAC. He currently also serves as the Epee coach for the team at the University of Maryland.

Jamie is a nationally ranked director for the USFA. He started fencing competitively in 1990 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. In 1995, while coaching at St. Johns College, he was Mid-Atlantic College Fencing Association oach of the year. He was a founder of the former Slayton Fencing Club of Columbia. His preferred weapon is the saber.

Bruce Milligan has been coaching at BFC since the club's founding, and prior to that, was a high school and college fencing coach. In 1988, while head coach at Vassar College, he was named Middle Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association "Coach of the Year." Bruce has competed successfully at the local, regional, and national levels in foil and epee. In 2002 and 2006 he was a member of the U.S. foil team at the Veterans World Fencing Championships. He currently holds an "A" rating in foil

Larbi is a three time Moroccan National fencing champion; two championships in foil, one in epee, as well as a 2nd place finish in sabre one year. Larbi represented Morocco at international competitions, including the Mediterranean Games. He trained in Casablanca, using the French fencing system. In 1986 Larbi moved to Connecticut, where he coached at Fat Dog Fencing Club and the Wallingford recreation department, before joining BFC.

James is a graduate of Towson state College and Simmons College and is currently a teacher and fencing instructor at the Severn School. James has been fencing since 1978. He has been a fencing instructor at Boston College, Phillips Exeter Academy, Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School, Harvard University Recreation Department and is a Camp Coordinator/Instructor at Camps Airy and Louise. James teaches fencing classes part-time here at BFCC.