Dan Kellner

Winter Fencing Camp with Olympian Marcus Mepstead

JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST-EVER BBFC WINTER FENCING CAMP!

  • Date and Location: December 27-29, 2023 @ Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club

  • Schedule: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm each day, early drop-off (8:30am) and late pick-up (5:30pm) is available for $100

  • Instructors: BBFC Head Coach Dan Kellner, Coach Jose Samora, and Olympian Marcus Mepstead

  • Skill Levels: This is a full-day, fun, and safe fencing camp for children 6+, tweens, and teens from beginners to those who want to improve their existing skills. This camp is great for local level fencers to those who are competing nationally and internationally.

  • Price: $600.00 ($300 due at sign up, $300 due on Dec. 1), Day rate available on request

  • Equipment: All necessary equipment will be provided. If your child has their own equipment, they are welcome to bring it and store it at the club during the camp.

  • During the camp, children will participate in age- and skill-appropriate group instruction, games, conditioning and coordination exercises, footwork, blade work, tactics, and bouting.

    Kids will have a great time learning the fundamentals of the sport, improving their skills, and will be fencing bouts with each other before they know it!

MARCUS MEPSTEAD

  • Marcus is a British Olympic foil fencer, who competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro and 2020/21 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. A team bronze medalist at the 2010 and 2013 European Championships and team gold medalist at the 2015 European Games. In 2016, he won the foil title at the British Fencing Championships and in 2019 was Vice-World Champion.

  • In 2014 Marcus graduated with a 2.1 BSc Honours degree in Economics and Geography at the London School of Economics. Whilst studying he was part of the University of London Union team that earned promotion to first division. He was awarded full purples for his involvement as well as building a new sports ambassador role within London School of Economics.

  • In 2023 Marcus won the International Olympic Committee’s Climate Action Award for Sustainable Travel.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Camp goes from December 27 - 29, Wednesday - Friday, 9am - 5pm each day.

Location: If you haven't been to the club before, we're located at 68 Jay Street, between Front Street & Water Street. The entrance to the building is next to a large UPS drop box. BBFC is on the 5th floor, #508, all the way at the end of the hall and to the right when you get off of the elevator.

Please remember to send your child with a water bottle, lunch, and snacks, and/or money to buy food. We will be escorting those campers who need to buy lunch to the deli on the ground floor of the building.

Campers should wear shorts, a t-shirt, and sneakers, as well as bring sweatpants/leggings/fencing pants. We will be doing a lot of exercise, and proper, closed-toe sneakers are required. Campers will not be allowed to fence in shorts. (We have a limited number of fencing pants to borrow in case someone forgets proper attire.)

We will provide all necessary fencing equipment if you don’t have any. If you have your own equipment, please bring it! You are welcome to store it at the club for the duration of camp. 

Feel free to bring any card games, board games, or books for our lunch break.

Please let us know of any allergies/medical conditions we should be aware of. Do not bring peanuts or peanut products to the club.

Fraser Ward Joins BBFC as Senior Saber Coach

Fraser Ward joined Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club in 2023 as Senior Coach of the saber program. Born on the beautiful island of Guernsey, Fraser's love for fencing began at the age of 13. He quickly developed his skills and represented Great Britain in international competitions until 2013, winning international medals and national championships along the way.

Fraser's passion for fencing didn't stop there. In 2007, he attended his first coaching course and discovered a new way to channel his love for the sport. He went on to study physical education specializing in fencing at Semmelweis University in Budapest, where he graduated with distinction in 2009.

Fraser has put his skills to the test in the United States since 2015. He built a saber program at Atlantic Fencing Academy in New Jersey and coached at the Tim Morehouse Fencing Club in Manhattan. His hard work paid off when his students won several medals at National Championships, proving his technical skills, discipline, and organization were second to none.

As a coach, Fraser is known for his ability to develop confident athletes who are passionate about fencing. He inspires his students to believe in themselves and encourages them to strive for excellence through his infectious dedication.

Now at Brooklyn Bridge, his experience, knowledge, and passion for the sport make him the perfect leader for the saber program.

A Day at BBFC: A Photo Essay by Moxie Harfeld

@moxievisions

Moxie Harfeld is a member of BBFC and a graduate of Full Sail University's Film Production Program. She graduated at the top of her class as the recipient of the Advanced Achievement Award and four (4) Course Director Awards.

After graduating from Full Sail, Moxie briefly worked at QVC Studios as a Production Coordinator. She then became a Staff PA on the Netflix Film, Hustle.

In January 2022, Moxie made the move to New York where worked as a Production Assistant on shows such as BULL, FBI, Gossip Girl, The Untitled Mike Daniels Project, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Moxie expanded her network in the New York area which allowed her to transition from working in the production department to working in the camera department. In August 2022, Moxie officially joined Local 600 International Cinematographer’s Guild. She worked as a Digital Loader on TV shows and Feature films such as Wu Tang: An American Saga, FBI, Dear Edward, Let the Right One In, and From Paradise with Love.

The Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club Turns 12!

Brooklyn Bridge Birthday Logo

When I opened BBFC in 2010, I never imagined that it would grow the way it has. I started the club with just , 4 strips, and 13 students, but it never would’ve happened without the support of my then-pregnant wife, Sasha, as well as a ton of invaluable hands-on construction from Miles Manning, Frederic Gindrey, and Cyrus Summerlin, with consulting support from Buckie Leach.

I planned on BBFC being a feeder club to the larger foil programs in the city. I just wanted to provide a higher quality fencing education than was currently available at the time. However, if you want to hear the universe laugh, make plans. 

I am so grateful and appreciative to everyone who has stepped through the doors at 68 Jay Street, #508 over the last 12 years, as we have been able to expand to over one hundred fencers, a staff of 5 full-time coaches, and 11 strips. The success of BBFC is due in large part to our amazing staff: Senior Coach Henry Kennard and Coaches Jose Samora, Michael C. Green, and Jean Goto, as well as past staff members Brendan Meyers, Robert Nunziato, and Katya Belkina.

I’m also proud to say that BBFC’s competitive results are recognized at every level of the sport. From winning local tournament medals to Olympic ones, we help athletes achieve their athletic dreams using an empathetic coaching model that uses fencing as a metaphor for life to help young people handle the stresses of everyday life.


Thank you!

Dan