Coaches

Prevot d'Armes - United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) and the International Academy of Arms(AAI)

Level 3 - United States Fencing Association (USFA) Coaches College in foil, epee, and saber

Paul Sise competed on a varsity team while attending Lawrence University, where he was captain of the epee squad and the team's "most valuable fencer" his senior year. While in graduate school at UMASS, he became assistant coach and then head coach of the UMASS Fencing Team. Since then, he has been honing his coaching skills in all three weapons and has acquired various certifications. Sise also coaches at Eagle Hill School of Hardwick MA during the school year. His thesis for certification as a Fencing Master entitled "Height Differences in Epee Fencing and Strategies for the Shorter Fencer" has been accepted by the USFCA and he is preparing for the practical examination. He is author of "42 Views of Epee" on the popular website A Fencing Coaches Compendium. He and Coach Ferullo co-authored the essay "Coaching Fencers with Learning Disabilities" which was published in the Winter 2006 edition of "The Swordmaster" magazine. His new book, A Basic Foil Companion, will be available in the fall of 2009. He is one of the few graduates in the country of the rigorous USFA's Armorers College and is a former Secretary for the United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA).

Robert "RJ" Ferullo teaches the saber classess and is available for foil and saber lessons on Tuesday and Friday nights. He is currently Head Coach of the Northampton (High School) Fencing Club. Coach Ferullo was a saber fencer, squad captain, and club president for the UMass Fencing Club. He holds the title of Moniteur d' Escrime from the USFCA and AAI in foil and saber as well as certifications from the USFA's Coaches College. A Special Ed high school teacher by day, he co-authored the essay "Coaching Fencers with Learning Disabilities " which was published in the Winter 2006 edition of "The Swordmaster" magazine.

Ken Mondschein

Certifications:

Moniteur d' Armes Foil, Epee, and Saber- USFCA.

Ken has a Ph.D in medieval history and he teaches the Historical Fencing class here at PVFA as well as hsitorical fencing classes at The Higgings Armory in Worcester. He has over a dozen years of experience in fencing and other Western martial arts and has studied both in the US and in Europe. He also holds a second-degree black belt in karate and is an accomplished equestrian. His translation of Camillo Agrippa’s Fencing: A Renaissance Treatise is available through Italica Press. See his website for more information about historical fencing. Ken is the editor for the USFCA's official publication, "The Swordmaster."

Kelly teaches the Saturday Youth Class as well as individual foil and epee lessons. She is also associated with Rainbow Rescues Inc, a volunteer run animal foster care and placement program.

Abby co-teaches the Saturday Youth class and is training for certification as an Assistant Moniteur.

Nate Currently competes for Sacred Heart University as an epee fencer. Nate co-teaches the summer classes.