Welcome Olympian and Olympic Coach Akhi Spencer-El to Tim Morehouse Fencing Club!

We are thrilled to announce that Olympian and Olympic Team Saber Coach Akhi Spencer-El is officially joining the coaching staff at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, starting Monday, February 3!

This is far more than just a professional addition to our team—it’s a truly meaningful full-circle moment. Akhi and I share a special history that dates back to our elementary school days at Central Park East in East Harlem. From being schoomates to becoming Olympic fencers, our journeys have intertwined in incredible ways over the past 40 years!

Akhi is widely regarded for his exceptional coaching expertise and just as importantly, he is also deeply respected for his integrity, kindness, and dedication to his students. As Akhi joins us as a coach, I am very grateful that I will be able to work with him to inspire and develop the next generation of champions at our newest facility, TMFC’s East Side location, where he will play a key role in leading the growth of the club.

We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Akhi to the TMFC family!

A Legacy of Excellence in Fencing

Akhi Spencer-El brings an extraordinary wealth of experience and accomplishments to TMFC. A seasoned coach at both the prestigious New York Fencers Club and the Peter Westbrook Foundation, Akhi has also spent years shaping top-tier athletes at Columbia University with the team claiming 3 national titles during his tenure. His coaching career includes serving as a multi-time U.S. National and Olympic Men’s Saber Team Coach at the Paris Olympics. His students include US Olympic Medalist Daryl Homer, Olympian Khalil Thompson and Olympic Medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad in addition to the numerous national and international medalists he has coached and developed throughout the years.

Coaching education

Akhi’s education and training are equally impressive—he holds a Maestro’s degree from the renowned Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, a program that has also produced TMFC coaches Iba Keita, Mamodou Keita, and Coach Sall.

Athletic Accomplishments

As an athlete, Akhi represented the United States at the highest levels of competition. He made history as the first U.S. saber fencer to achieve the #1 world ranking as a Junior, a groundbreaking achievement at the time. He competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, became a two-time U.S. National Champion, and solidified his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest.

A Vision for TMFC

At Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, Akhi will bring his unmatched expertise, passion, and coaching philosophy to help elevate both our developmental and competitive programs. From guiding youth fencers to supporting elite athletes, Akhi’s leadership will be a game-changer for our community. His addition reflects our commitment to providing world-class training and mentorship for fencers at every level.

A Family Affair

Akhi is not only a remarkable coach but also a dedicated family man. He and his wife are proud parents to four wonderful children: twins Zoe and Olivia, who are both 11 years old; Elijah, a 13-year-old saber fencer who is excited to join the TMFC community; and Skye, who is 16 years old.

Achievements as a Coach

• Olympic Coach: Coached the U.S. Men’s Saber Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

• Columbia University: Guided one of the nation’s top collegiate fencing programs to three national championships.

• Peter Westbrook Foundation: Continues to mentor young athletes, fostering their development in fencing and life.

Welcome to the team, Coach Akhi Spencer-El—we are thrilled to have you with us!

WELCOME TO TMFC
COACH AKHI EVENT!

Friday, February 7
Tim Morehouse Fencing Club - East Side
(235 East 49th between 2nd and 3rd Ave)
5pm-9pm.

To celebrate, the club will operate on a modified schedule with open bouting from 5 PM to 9 PM, accompanied by wine and refreshments for parents and guests in addition to a few remarks!
(Feel free to bring a bottle of wine or a dessert to share!)

If you’re interested in fencing or simply joining us for this special welcome event, please register to fence using the link below and email info@timmorehousefencing.com to RSVP.

Schedule Updates Starting Monday, February 3

With Akhi’s arrival, we are updating the class schedule for the Elite classes on the East Side. The Youth and Musketeers classes will all remain at the same time.

Here’s the new schedule at a glance:

Note:
The bouting classes will primarily consist of open bouting, supervised by our coaching staff.

The updated schedule is listed above. If you would like to register for these new classes, please click on the “Class Registration” link below.

Meet The Fencing Coaches - Saber Coach Chris Cheney

Coach Chris Cheney is 2x team national champion and is currently a professional coach and program consultant for multiple saber clubs. Chris has 10 years of professional coaching experience including six years owning and running a successful saber program in Nashville Tennessee that produced multiple state and regional champions, national medalists, and internationally competitive athletes.

For Online and In-Person Lessons and Classes:
www.timmorehousefencing.com​

In addition to coaching, Chris is a referee on the international, national and NCAA circuit. He has refereed numerous times at the US National Champions and Junior Olympics as well as traveled to referee international competitions.

Chris teaches classes and gives lessons in addition to supporting the students at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club as they travel and compete on the regional, national and international level.

Chris finds his love of fencing in the logic of the fight and the aesthetic of the technique and finds joy in sharing this passion.

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The New York Athletic Club Leads the USA Fencing Summer Nationals After Day 1 with 6 Medals

Medal Count Leaderboard

USA Fencing Summer Nationals 2019

The New York Athletic Club soared into day winning 6 medals based on the strength of their Epee fencers performances and a bronze medal from Sylvie Binder in Division 1 women’s foil. Alex Tsinis took home the gold medal in Division 1 men’s epee with Dylan Nollner, Ryan Griffiths and Olympian Jason Pryor also winning Division 1 Epee medals. In Junior women’s epee, Mina Yamanaka also brought home a gold medal for the NYAC.

The NY Fencers club sits in 2nd place with 4 medals. LA International won 2 medals and 20 clubs brought home 1 medal on day 1 including Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, Globus Fencing Academy, Spartak, Premier Fencing Club, Massialias Foundation, V Fencing Club, Team Touche, The Peter Westbrook Foundation were some of the notable powerhouses to bring home a medal.

The winner of the US Summer Fencing Nationals and July Challenge will have the bragging rights of winning the largest fencing competition in the world with “More than 5,400 competitors from 48 states and 20 nations will compete in 94 events over 10 days in what is expected to be the largest edition of the tournament in USA Fencing history.” according to USA Fencing. (Article Link)

The standings are calculated by top-8 medal results with each fencer’s primary club earning a point for a top-8 medal result.

The full and live list is here: https://www.timmorehousefencing.com/summer-nationals-leaderboard