Fencing Coaches
Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club’s coaches page introduces the experienced fencing staff behind one of the country’s leading youth fencing programs. Led by Olympian, Olympic coach, and U.S. Fencing Hall of Fame member Dan Kellner, BBFC’s coaching team works with children and teens at every stage, from beginners taking their first lesson to nationally and internationally competitive fencers. Based in Dumbo/Vinegar Hill at 295 Front Street, Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club serves families across Brooklyn and NYC with expert instruction, structured development, and a clear pathway for long-term progress in foil and saber.
HEAD COACH
Dan Kellner, OLY
Dan Kellner, OLY, has been coaching in Brooklyn since 2008. Before founding Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club in 2010, he served as an assistant coach to Simon Gershon, then the U.S. Men’s Foil National Coach. Since then, his students have earned medals at every level of the sport, including a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games, a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships, Junior and Cadet World Championship gold medals, and additional podium finishes at Junior World Cups, Senior World Cups, and Grand Prix events.
In 2015, Dan became the first American coach to guide a men’s foil fencer to the Overall World Cup title and a No. 1 world ranking. In 2016, he received the Order of Ikkos from the United States Olympic Committee in recognition of his contribution to the U.S. Men’s Foil Team’s Olympic bronze medal. He was inducted into the U.S. Fencing Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2020, he became the first American coach to qualify a European men’s foil fencer to the Olympic Games through the individual route and was named British Fencing’s Performance Coach of the Year. In 2021, he served as Team GB Olympic Team Fencing Coach for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Dan’s own competitive career was equally distinguished. He finished ranked No. 1 in the United States, No. 1 in the hemisphere, and No. 10 in the world, becoming only the second U.S. men’s foil fencer at the time to break into the FIE Top 16. At the 2004 Olympic Games, he placed 16th individually and captained the U.S. men’s foil team to a fourth-place finish, the country’s best Olympic result in 56 years.
He was also a seven-time U.S. World Championship Team member, U.S. National Champion, U.S. National Junior Champion, U.S. Junior World Championship Team member, two-time U.S. World University Games Team member, and two-time U.S. Pan American Games Team member. In 2003, he became the first American men’s foil fencer in 28 years to win the Pan American Games and also helped lead the U.S. team to its first gold medal there in 32 years. While at Columbia University, he was a four-time NCAA All-American and the 1998 NCAA Fencer of the Year.
FOIL COACH
José Samora
Member of the Dominican Republic’s National Team since 2012, José Samora has over ten years of experience as a collegiate, national, and international fencer, including a Bronze Medal at the 2016 Central American Games.
Before joining the BBFC coaching staff, José has coached at various clubs and schools around the New York Metropolitan area, including head coaching experience at Greenwich Academy and Brunswick School and New Amsterdam Fencing AcademyNorth.
Jean Goto is a native New Yorker who started fencing at the age of ten at the Peter Westbrook Foundation. She competed at the national level, winning several medals through the years. As a member of the NYU fencing team Jean was the winner of the Temple Open, an NCAA All American and Arthur Ashe award recipient.
Jean has coached for over ten years with fencing programs at Greenwich Academy, Gate Hill Day Camp, Eagle Hill, The Dwight School and throughout Greenwich, CT and New York City.
FOIL COACH
Michael Green
Michael was the first US coach to graduate from the FIE Fencing coaching program. He holds a level 3 coaching certificate from the University of Physical Education in Budapest, Hungary, and holds the title of Prévôt de Fleuret from the US Fencing Coaches Association.
Michael works as a national and international referee, having officiated in Division I quarter-final and semi-final rounds and multiple world cups in the European Cadet Circuit.
As a competitor, he was an ‘A’ rated foil fencer and medaled in the 2004 Summer National Championships.
FOIL COACH
Andrew Foster
FOIL COACH
Jean Goto
Andrew is a Grand Prix level referee, with over eight years of coaching experience. He previously worked at Emerald City Fencing Club in Seattle, Washington and MTeam in San Francisco, California with the US National Men’s Foil Coach, contributing to many regional, national, and international medals.
SENIOR SABER COACH
Fraser Ward
Fraser Ward joined Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club in 2023 as Senior Coach of the saber program. Born on the beautiful island of Guernsey, Fraser's love for fencing began at the age of 13. He quickly developed his skills and represented Great Britain in international competitions until 2013, winning international medals and national championships along the way.
Fraser's passion for fencing didn't stop there. In 2007, he attended his first coaching course and discovered a new way to channel his love for the sport. He went on to study physical education specializing in fencing at Semmelweis University in Budapest, where he graduated with distinction in 2009.
Fraser's has put his skills to the test in the United States since 2015. He built a saber program at Atlantic Fencing Academy in New Jersey and coached at the Tim Morehouse Fencing Club in Manhattan. His hard work paid off when his students won several medals at National Championships, proving his technical skills, discipline, and organization were second to none.
As a coach, Fraser is known for his ability to develop confident athletes who are passionate about fencing. He inspires his students to believe in themselves and encourages them to strive for excellence through his infectious dedication.
Now at Brooklyn Bridge, his experience, knowledge, and passion for the sport make him the perfect leader for the saber program.