Golden State Fencing Academy

My 7-year-old son and 15-year-old nephew both attended the summer camp at Golden State Fencing Academy, and they absolutely loved it! This is one of the most professional and dedicated camps we've ever experienced.

The coach was incredibly committed — every day from 9 AM to 12 PM was spent truly teaching, not just letting the kids play. They practiced fencing matches daily, and the structure of the week was very thoughtful. For the first three days, the kids wore real fencing jackets and used rubber swords while the coach patiently taught them footwork, technique, and the rules of the sport step by step. Then on the fourth and fifth days, they switched to real fencing swords and had actual matches — it was such a realistic and exciting experience!

There were also fun games and drills built into each day, which helped keep the kids happy, focused, and engaged. They came home every day with new skills and big smiles.

The kids not only learned fundamental fencing skills but also developed a real interest in the sport. This is one of the most worthwhile camps we've found, and I highly recommend it to other families!

In fact, we've already signed up for next week's camp — and the kids can't wait to go back!

Fencing is a niche sport and for a niche sport, you need people who are not just experienced and seasoned instructors, but also genuinely cares about their students. Our time here with our child has not only been a place of athletic instruction but one where we have developed and created a community of friends.

The coaches (Alex, Nadiya, Anton) are not only approachable and humble (despite their successes), but also become the students' mentors in other aspects of life as well. They approach each student individually based on their strengths, weaknesses, and personalities. They quickly adapt to each unique individual both in class and at tournaments. It is easy to see how their coaching methods result in so many medals and wins.

Many places will claim they can train an athlete to be a competitive and successful fencer, but very few will provide the environment to create lifelong relationships.

I would highly recommend GSFA to anyone who is interested in fencing! My daughter has trained with Nadiya and Alex since the age of 6 and is now a recruited fencer for a Division 1 college. Nadiya and Alex are amazing, compassionate, talented coaches. Their students are not just known nationally since they frequently medal at national tournaments, they are also known internationally as they have represented the USA competing as members of the national teams! Nadiya and Alex are truly passionate about fencing and are well known throughout the national and international fencing world. But more importantly, they provide a nurturing, welcoming environment which allows the fencers to create life-long friendships! The coaches and other fencers from GSFA are family!

If you are looking for exceptional fencing training in a fun environment, GSFA is for you!