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San Francisco Fencers' Club
Category: Active Life Sports Clubs Sports Clubs [Edit]
4000 Balboa St(between 41st Ave & 42nd Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94121
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
(415) 668-3623
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 10 pm
Sat 9 am - 5:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
About This Business:
All you have to do is show up. "80% of life is just showing up..." (W. Allen) and we take that to heart. If you allow us to help you - your only… read more »
5 reviews for San Francisco Fencers' Club
5 reviews in English
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Review from Carol B.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/28/2012
My young teen has been going here for 3 years. The club has been great about not just accommodating his special needs, but truly welcoming him while holding him to high standards. He works with Guillaume, the french coach, who has been fabulous, teaching him fencing & sportsmanship, and always making him feel appreciated. Miriam & Nader in the office are very supportive & caring too. My son has learned a lot about fencing & responsibility, which has increased his confidence.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/26/2012
My young teen has been going here for 3 years. The club has been great about not just accommodating… Read more »
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Review from Theresa L.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012
Do not make the same mistake as we did by joining this club!! The beginning level lessons seem ok if you have no fencing experience, but soon, you will be pressured into taking expensive private lessons by the club manager/owner "Miriam", or by one of the coach's who get paid additionally for private lessons. Private and advanced level lessons are the most expensive we experienced the SF bay area. The club is small and cramped, so there is very little room to sit and wait for your kid to finish class. No nice nearby cafe's or restos in the neighborhood. . The Club Owner/Manager "Miriam" has an uptight, volatile, bossy attitude, has no personal skill or experience in actually fencing, (although her children fenced) , and lied to me on too many occaisions... The only great coach is Alex F, who is wonderful and loved by all... but unfortunately he is always reserved for advanced level "competitive" fencers . Coaching fees ($$$$) for fencing tournaments are huge additional costs and can include paying for the coach's, gas, hotel, food and then coaching fees for the tournament!! . There are much better fencing programs in the SF Bay Area. Try anywhere else for beginning to competitive fencing programs. (there are 5 other good clubs I'm not allowed to mention here, but you can Google them.. ) All of that said, all could change for this club if it would just stop raising fees, get better coaches and get rid of the awful, arrogant, dictatorship of the Owner/Manager.
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Review from Caitlin H.
San Francisco, CA
4/26/2009
I have been fencing at SFFC for over 2 years in the adult intermediate class. Great facility, great coaches, tons of fun!
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Review from Tammy N.
San Francisco, CA
10/13/2007
I can only speak to their children's program as my son has been taking lessons here since we moved two months ago. The instructors are fabulous. They immediately made my son feel like he belonged there and that they were enjoying teaching him. The other children in my son's class are quite nice as well. The main person in charge is an extremely nice woman, Marium. I think she has a lot to do with the real club tone that has been set.
The cost is very reasonable. The days and times offered are very convenient. There are multiple sessions per week for my son's skill level so if we have to miss his normal class, he can easily make up another session.
A side note: The people running this club have gone above and beyond by offering to help us with lots of other "transition" issues related to moving. They have all been geniunely thoughtful and interested in helping us find the things that make city life great for a family. -
Review from Rick N.
Oakland, CA
3/9/2010
My son moved to the San Francisco Fencers Club two to three years ago when looking for a more competitive club and we have been extremely pleased. We were looking for a club that would allow him to raise the level of his fencing while using a positive coaching approach and that is exactly what we found. All the coaches are excellent and the head coach, Alex Fortunatov, is truly outstanding. He is not only a superb instructor when giving lessons but after witnessing his strip coaching at numerous local and national tournaments I can say he is a great strip coach at tournaments. My son's fencing showed great improvement after working with Alex, I only wish he could have started his fencing with Alex. It has been amazing to see the rapid improvement of the younger kids who have started their fencing at the club and are now showing impressive results. I would highly recommend the club to anyone looking for a club with top quality fencing instruction in a positive and nurturing environment.
Specialties
The San Francisco Fencers' Club offers competitive and recreational fencing for ages five and up in a fun and safe environment. Our fencers regularly compete in national and international tournaments at the Cadet and Junior levels, and several have reached the top 20. Private/individual instruction is available in addition to group classes.
SFFC offers beginning and intermediate/advanced fencing camps during school breaks and holidays.
History
Established in 2006
San Francisco Fencers' Club (SFFC) was started in April 2006 by a group of fencing parents with the unique view that a fencing club should provide an environment where children, teens, and adults can reach their full potential in a fun and safe environment. We believe that every person has the ability to excel and perform at a high level. Our coaches train each fencer in two parts: physical training through classes and individual lessons, and mental strength through personalized coaching and self critique.
Meet the Manager: Oleksiy F.
Note: Oleksiy is Head Coach, not Manager.
Head Coach Oleksiy Fortunatov comes to us with the highest credentials available in the sport of fencing. He completed his Masters degree from the National University of Physical College and Sports of Ukraine.
He is an internationally renowned fencer and coach who has trained national champions and has won numerous gold medals himself at prestigious fencing competitions throughout the world. Oleksiy has been a member of the Ukrainian Cadet, Junior and Senior National teams, and has twenty first place titles at National Ukrainian fencing competitions, as well as many gold, silver and bronze medals. He has earned the formal recognition of the president of Ukraine for his success in fencing.
More information on Oleksiy and other SFFC coaches is available on the SFFC website.
