New State-of-the-Art Facility at 295 Front Street
Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club (BBFC) hosted a celebratory ribbon-cutting to welcome students and their families to its new, significantly larger home in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn here today.
“This move represents far more than a change of address,” said Dan Kellner, owner of Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club. “With this larger and more open space, we can hold local tournaments and continue to provide high-quality training for fencers of all ages right here in Brooklyn.”
Guests included Nick Itkin, two-time Olympic Bronze Medalist; Randy Peers, President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce; Jo Anne Simon, NYS Assembly (D-52); and students and parents from across the Borough.
“This is an example of why people invest in Brooklyn,” said Jo Anne Simon, NYS Assembly (D-52). “Why they come here, why they stay here. Because Brooklyn is a place like nowhere else.”
The newly renovated 8,000 square-foot space features 20 full-length fencing strips installed on a custom-built hardwood floor, creating one of the most expansive and modern fencing environments in New York City. Locker rooms, bathrooms and a welcoming guest area for parents completes the space, which features window exposures in three directions, including views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan skylines.
“We’re proud that Dan chose to keep his club in Brooklyn and continue serving the community he has built with his world-class facility,” said Randy Peers, President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. “It doesn’t get more Brooklyn than this.”
Founded by Olympian, Olympic Coach, and USA Fencing Hall of Famer Dan Kellner, BBFC has become a leading destination for fencers of all ages and skill levels in New York City.
“Most fencing clubs do not have this kind of view,” said Nick Itkin, two-time Olympic Bronze Medalist. “I’m excited that I will get to come back this summer to run a camp here for young fencers.”
The event also supported the Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Foundation, the club’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, helping bring fencing to underserved communities.
Founded in 2010 by Olympian, Olympic Coach, & U.S. Fencing Hall
of Fame Member Dan Kellner, BBFC is committed to excellence in educating the next generation of fencers. Children as young as 5 years old start with Introductory Private Fencing Lessons where they learn en garde, advance, retreat, lunge, and recover, as well as rules & etiquette of fencing. Students can advance to an Introductory Fencing Package of two (2) Private Lessons and two (2) Group Classes. In Beginner Fencing Classes, children as young as 4 years old will have a great time fencing with each other, as well as blade work, footwork, and the rules and etiquette of fencing. All equipment is provided and classes are staffed by expert coaches, offered seven days a week
BBFC also offers New York City’s only full-day fencing camps, where children participate in age- and skill-appropriate groups, consisting of instruction, games, conditioning and coordination exercises, footwork, blade work, tactics, and bouting.
About Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club
Founded in 2010, Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club is a premier fencing organization serving athletes of all ages and levels, from beginners to elite competitors. Led by Olympian, Olympic coach, and USA Fencing Hall of Famer Dan Kellner - one of only ten men to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games in the past 22 years - BBFC emphasizes athletic excellence, discipline, sportsmanship, and community, both on and off the strip. For more information, visit https://www.brooklynbridgefencing.com.
Follow the Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brooklynbridgefencing/