Visiting Atlanta

[parryDoh]

I maybe in Atlanta for about a month for work related training... anyway so it not a total waste of my time, any fencing clubs I should try to visit while im in town? I fence foil.

[fencergal33]

Definitely Atlanta Fencer's club. They are really great, friendly people, and primarily a foil/epee club. Gene Gettler is the coach there.

Nellya Fencers is near there, and probably only worth visiting if you were a saber fencer. (Also nice people though!)

There is another club down there, but I'm not sure of the name, and I don't know much about them. Have a good time!

[glowstix]

i heard taht AFC split up (from craig actually). AFC is primarily epee now. either way, there are a bunch of clubs in atl, why not visit all of them??

[fencergal33]

I knew the saber part of the club split off in another direction, but I didn't know the foil part split too.....

[EPEEDAD]

In north Atlanta you can probably get in a visit with the "Dunwoody Fencing Club, Wednesday's at up till-8:00 PM at Davis Academy off Chamblee Dunwoody Rd/GA400. They have a practice evening.

[EPEEDAD]

Sorry, Dunwoody Fencing is primarily Epee...there is a dedicated fencing center in the Atlanta/Norcross/Gwinett area...

[Black Jeebus]

AFC still has foilist. I was up there fencing with them at the beginning of the month. Dwayne Bevis, and Earl Shapiro were there when I was there. I even hear tell Julio Diaz, James Calhoun, and Scout Grant show up to fence there every now and then (slackers! Not showing up when I come up to fence! ). They also had several newbies fencing that I had never met before so I didn't actually committ any of there names to memory really.

[foilz]

i heard taht AFC split up (from craig actually). AFC is primarily epee now. either way, there are a bunch of clubs in atl, why not visit all of them??

Craig should know better. In fact, I've never seen him at the club (in over a year). Atlanta Fencers' Club is solid and strong. Instructors come and go, but that's fencing. The club is strong, and Gene is the heart and soul of AFC. He is a man of every weapon, a great motivator for everyone, and a great coach and teacher. Nobody has done more, more consistently than Gene, to promote fencing at every level, and build fencers for over 30 years. Foil, epee and saber are as solid as ever at AFC. It may be the only club in the state that supports, totally, every objective for every fencer, competitive and recreational. Come visit!

[glowstix]

The club is strong, and Gene is the heart and soul of AFC. He is a man of every weapon, a great motivator for everyone, and a great coach and teacher.

and whupped up on me 15-13 last year..lol!!

[rose1]

As a recent visitor to Nellya Fencers (took me a long time to get the courage up!) I found the club to be very beautiful and professional--and surprisingly diverse in age and abilities.

Coach Burdan was very friendly and helpful despite my age and inablility to stay off my butt when retreating. (I started fencing a year ago on the west coast but haven't found a fencing home since moving to ATlanta.) Everyone, including the famous ones, fenced with me. Burdan is very serious, and the 30min. warm-up is-uh-breathtaking-but even though I am near 50, he kept encouraging me. (There were actually about 6 people --who appeared to be older than me --in the group who were huffing and puffing too and they say they are pushing to get a strong veterans group going.) I know Burdan has coached an epee Olympian (Knee Lee--she was there fencing sabre!) and also been successful with foil--but you are right they are primarily sabre==Those sisters who made the Olympic team are/were there.) However, the night I was there a group of foilists (one of the lame's said "Loper") were training and they were very noisy and having a good time. So if you want to fence foil, I would give them a call and find out what nights there is foil fencing.

Apparently, the group has recently moved to a new location and it is absolutely beautiful. And again, they were very beginner friendly.

Anyway-- I haven't seen other clubs in the area yet-I plan to make the rounds soon, but Nellya was pretty impressive.

[glowstix]

the night I was there a group of foilists (one of the lame's said "Loper") were training and they were very noisy and having a good time. So if you want to fence foil, I would give them a call and find out what nights there is foil fencing.

think that's susan..she's an A in foil.

[Black Jeebus]

It could also be Chris who also happens to be an A in foil. The real kicker with Susan is that she's also an A in sabre!

[Frank Pratt]

think that's susan..she's an A in foil.

..or her hubby, Chirs (a.k.a. James), who's also an "A". Susan is actually an "A" in foil and sabre; the only Southeast fencer with more than one “A”, as far as I know.

I would certainly recommend any of the clubs that have been mentioned thus far. AFC has had some coaches depart in recent months, but they're still a very solid club. As foilz said, Maitre Gettler is a very competent instructor (and competitor) in all three weapons.

Athletic Club Northeast probably has the highest concentration of higher-level foilists in GA at this time (at least 4-5 As and numerous Bs and Cs).

[tkrivosh]

Nellya Fencers have foil fencing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting at about 6:30 p.m. Fencers of any level and interest are more than welcome to come and fence with us. Susan and Chris and Bill will certainly make it fun and worthwhile.
For the directions to the club and other useful information please go to www.nellyafencers.com. We would prefer to know you are coming in advance (info@nellyafencers.com),
but please feel free to just show up.
Tatiana
Nellya Fencers

[Craig]

Craig should know better...

At the time in question, several fencers had indeed left the AFC with an instructor who was starting up his own club. It seems that several of those fencers have since returned to the AFC since said instructor's club seems to have fallen through.

Craig

[Black Jeebus]

What happened to said instructor? I saw him/her at an ACN event coaching the U-12 fencers then he/she bailed before the Senior events got under way.

(I didn't exactly want to walk up and ask why the club didn't work out, so I figured I'd ask people here.)

[fencergal33]

Well, we probably shouldn't feud the many rumors that are flying around.....

Just what this organization needs....more drama!

Anyway, I think it's enough said to just say, it didn't work out. Poo poo happens.

This thread was supposed to be about clubs to visit in Atlanta. AFC or Nellya are both excellent choices! I've visited both myself. They have great people, great fencers, and nice facilities. Have a great time on your trip!

[Goofy]

Here's the club listing from the Georgia Division web site, so once you determine where you want to go you can figure how to get there...

http://www.gafencing.org/new_clubs.htm

[parryDoh]

We would prefer to know you are coming in advance (info@nellyafencers.com),
but please feel free to just show up.
Tatiana
Nellya Fencers

Haven't yet received word when I will be training, may be later in the year. I will definitely contact you before showing to arrange membership.

Also any weekend fencing in Atlanta?

[Frank Pratt]

Also any weekend fencing in Atlanta?

According to their web site, Nella meets on Saturdays from 8;30 - 2:30. I think the AFC is open on Saturdays as well, though I'm not sure wha their hours are.