World's Largest Fencing SchoolVAF's Professional Coaching Staff
Alexandre Ryjik, Fencing Master/Head Coach
Head Coach Ryjik began fencing at age 8 in St. Petersburg, Russia. At 17 he earned a Master of Sport in Fencing of the USSR, the top prestigious certification in this sport. Coach Ryjik holds many championship titles: All Republic Champion, Army Champion, Leningrad Champion and National Youth Champion of the Soviet Union. Alexandre Ryjik has coached at Carnegie Mellon University. He is now Professor of Fencing at both American University and George Mason University.
Alexei Sintchinov, Fencing Master
Olympic Coach Alexei, who specializes in Foil and Epee, brings a wealth of experience to our program. He has been the Head Coach of the National Teams from Belarus, Tunisia, and Egypt and currently holds the prestigious title of Honored Coach of Belarus. He also was an Olympic head coach at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Coach Alexei's specialty is developing fencers to their highest ability. With over 30 years of national, international, and Olympic coaching experience, Coach Alexei has developed many national and international competitors, including World champions and World Cup champions, in both foil and èpèe.
Senior Coach
Frank Kelley was trained by the Fencing Master. He has been
with VAF since 1996 and brings a wealth of teaching experience from other
athletic disciplines. He also provides equipment repairs in the VAF armory.
Coach Frank teaches intermediate foil and electric foil classes.
Coach Bill Grandy heads our Historical Swordsmanship program and our Beginning Olympic Sport program. He has an
extensive martial arts and historical swordfighting background, which enables
him to bring a unique perspective to fencing and its origins. He has been
with VAF since 2001 teaching classes in Italian rapier and German two-handed sword, as well as introductory Olympic Sport fencing classes.
Coach Losha Muravyev, with over 25 years of fencing and coaching experience, has earned the prestigious title of Master of Sport of Fencing of the USSR. He teaches foil classes and private lessons at all levels.
Coach George King was trained by the Fencing Master. As a former NFL professional football player, he brings his dedication to athletics to his position. He fences sabre and competes nationally. He teaches Intermediate sabre classes.
Coach David Rowe was trained by the Fencing Master and has been with VAF since 2000. Coach David teaches both Historical Swordsmanship and Olympic Sport Beginning classes.
Coach Pamela Muir was trained by the Fencing Master as well as the head of the Historical Swordsmanship Program. She has an extensive teaching background as well as fencing background in Historical Swordsmanship and Olympic Sport. Coach Pamela teaches both Historical Swordsmanship and Olympic Sport Beginning and Intermediate classes. She is also available for private lessons.