Fencing Instructors

	Tim Weske opened Swordplay Fencing Studio in 1992. He has been an instructor in foil since 1984. He started developing his method of theatrical combat years before becoming an instructor. Through the years Mr. Weske has trained thousands of students (both in theatrical and competitive fencing) and choreographed hundreds of fights. (FOIL, ALL THEATRICAL COMBAT WEAPONS)
	Gennadi Kleimenov, champion Pentathlon competitor, comes to us straight from Russia. Mr. Kleimenov is a former member of the Russian Olympic Team and headcoach for the Pentathlon. In his career, Mr. Kleimenov has produced more than eight Russian champions.(ÉPÉE, FOIL)
	Al Carter, began fencing at Harvard School in North Hollywood... He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Mr. Carter has trained under internationally acclaimed coaches from the U.S., Italy, France, Russia, Egypt and Hungary. He has extensive international competitive experience including: 2 under 19 National Championship Titles, a National Team Championship Title, A Pan-American Team Silver Medal, Two World Championship and World University Games teams, several Junior and Senior World Cups and National Circuit finals. Member of United States Fencing Association Youth Fencing Development Committee. (FOIL)
	Doina Bogdan was born and raised in Romania and has been fencing since she was 9 years old. After competing nationally and internationally, Doina was named the Romanian Junior fencing champion, later joining the Romanian Olympic Junior Fencing Team. Doina has taught children's and adult foil here at Swordplay for the last two years, and she is available for private lessons.
	Sam Signorelli began fencing at San Diego State in 1981. He has competed and directed at local and national level events in all three weapons. He teaches beginning foil as well as sabre. In addition, he is Swordplay's club armorer and in-house fencing equipment vendor. (SABRE, FOIL)
	Sara Cimino grew up in Northern New Jersey where she began fencing at the age of 11 while attending summer camp.  She continued fencing through college and competed for four years on Boston University's fencing team.  Sara returned to teach fencing at the camp for two years before moving to Los Angeles and working for SWORDPLAY.
	Tina Fells began fencing in college at the University of Southern California, where she competed for four years.  She won several awards for both team and individual competition in the Southern California Collegiate circuit and acted as club Vice President and Women's Foil Team Captain her final year.  Tina continued to assist in coaching at USC beyond graduation, before joining SWORDPLAY in 2004.  Both a member of the stage combat team and an instructor, Tina teaches children's foil classes and private lessons at the studio and coordinates our school fencing programs.
	J. L. Jackson has been involved in competitive and recreational fencing since 1960. Co-founder of the UCLA fencing club, J.L. represented Salle de Nord and was a finalist in the National Championships 3-weapon event, leading his team to the Silver medal after college. J.L. has taught fencing to every manner of student, from Boy Scouts to the U.S. Air Force, from Las Vegas to UCLA. J.L. joined Swordplay at the Reseda location and continues to teach all three weapons at both the Granada Hills and Burbank locations.
	Brad Wilcox had his first taste of fencing in 1988, when Tim Weske was teaching at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, but didn't get serious about it until 1992, when Tim first opened Swordplay. Brad has studied exclusively at Swordplay since and is a USFA gold medalist in foil. Brad teaches private lessons and classes for children and adults at both Swordplay Burbank and at out Granada Hills locations.
	TJ Cencula competed as a martial artist and Greco-Roman wrestler before taking up fencing under the tutelage of Tim Weske at Swordplay Studios. Fencing allows TJ to engage his life-long passion for the sword and he is thrilled to share that passion with his students. TJ serves as a foil instructor for teens and young adults, as well as teaching several stage combat classes that focus on western European swords from throughout the centuries. He is also a member of Swordplay’s Stage Combat Team.
	Victor Cervantes