IFA Coaches
SABRE
Boris Khurgin
Boris is a National Men's Sabre Coach at 2008 Junior and Cadet World Championship in Italy. Boris started fencing in 1971 in Kharkov, Ukraine. His sabre coaching career started in 1981 at Fencing School of Olympic Reserve in Kharkov.
Starting from 2005 and through 2007 Boris has coached at New York Fencers Club. Boris also coached at Manhattan Fencing Center - base of the US Men's Sabre Olympic Team. Starting September, 2008 Boris is at IFA full time.
Notable Students Alumni:
Dagmara Wozniak – Alternate at Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing. US National team member since 2003. Junior World Champion 2006 and Silver Medalist 2008(team events), 6 place individual event. Multiple time national champion and medalist. Multiple time Junior World Cup winner, and Grand Prix finalist.
Alex Ochocki – US National Team member since 2005. Top 10 at Cadet World Championship 2006. Multiple time Junior Olympic and National Champion.
Caroline Vloka – US National Team member since 2005. Junior World Champion 2006, Silver 2008 in team event, Silver Medalist in Cadet individual and Bronze Medalist in Junior Individual. World Cup medalist.
Monika Aksamit –– US National Team member since 2007. 9th place at Cadet World Championship 2007, Turkey. Multiple time National medalist and Champion, Silver Medal at Junior World Championship 2008 (team).
Martyna Wechorek – Multiple times National Medalist.
Nicole Daukszewicz – National Champion under Y10 event and top 8 Y14 in 2007
Peter Pak- 6th place at Summer National Championship 2006. Silver Medalist at Super Regional Youth Circuit Championship 2006
Sara Pak - 6th place at Summer National Championship 2006. Silver Medalist at Super Regional Youth Circuit Championship 2006, Bronze Medalist at NAC 2008 (Cadet)
MIKHAIL SHIMSHOVICH (Misha)
Misha is an advanced level sabre coach and an internationally recognized sabre referee. He also coaches at Manhattan Fencing Center, and is the assistant coach at St. Johns University.
Misha graduated with a Masters degree from the Kiev Institute of Physical Education. As head coach of the Ukrainian National Team, his students included George Pogosov, Olympic Champion. He has trained many top national fencers including Jill Melnick, DII National Champion, Adam Fields (3rd Place Div II Summer Nationals 2008) and Sam Austin 3rd Y-14 Summer Nationals 2008, Judy Cummings (5th place Veteran World Championships 2006, Jennine Bender (5th place Veteran World Championships 2007.
FOIL
NATALIE GAREEVA
Natalie has come to IFA to build the youth foil program back into shape. She is a professional fencer with 15 years of international experience, was on the Kazakhstan national team for 10 years, participated in world cups, World Championships, Asian Games, and nationals for many years. She has been working under Buckie Leach to develop her skills as a fencing coach and has coached youth fencers at training programs in Russia. She has developed a good rapport with the kids and looks forward to strengthening the foil program.
EPEE
RUBEN GRIGORIAN
Ruben is an eminent coach of the Republic of Armenia. He holds a Master of Sports in both fencing and the pentathalon. Ruben was the silver and bronze medalist of the USSR National Championship. He also won a number of Armenian championships. He was the first coach of four-time world champion, world-cup winner, and Olympic medalist Ashot Karagian. Ruben was also the Armenian National Coach.