California Fencing
Camp

Marat Israelian is the Head Fencing Coach at Yale University and a former member of the Israeli National Team. He made an immediate impact in his first season at Yale, helping both the men’s and women’s programs earn top-10 national rankings while mentoring seven Bulldogs who received All-America honors—including Emme Zhou, who was named a women’s First Team All-American. Before joining Yale, Marat coached at North Shore Fencing Club on Long Island and served as Head Coach at St. Peter’s Prep in New Jersey. During his tenure, St. Peter’s completed two undefeated seasons and captured two state championships, while Marat was named New Jersey High School Coach of the Year. Evidently, he believes winning seasons are even better when they come without losses. Marat also enjoyed an exceptional competitive career at St. John’s University. A two-time NCAA épée champion in 2010 and 2011, he captained the Red Storm and helped the team secure three top-four finishes at the NCAA Fencing Championships. Internationally, he was a European Championship finalist in 2005 and ranked third in the junior world standings in both 2003 and 2004. A 2013 graduate of St. John’s University, Marat holds bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance—an ideal background for someone who knows how to calculate risk, manage pressure, and always keep score. We’re delighted to welcome Marat to the California Fencing Camp, where his championship experience, leadership, and understanding of the collegiate fencing pathway will be invaluable to our athletes.

Oleksandr Dymar is an épée coach at Maximum Fencing Club in Los Altos, California. His international coaching career has taken him from Ukraine to Hong Kong, mainland China, and the United States, giving him a remarkably broad perspective on athlete development and high-performance fencing. Before moving to California, Olek served as Head Coach of the Fujian provincial épée team in China. Under his leadership, the program won national titles across junior and senior men’s and women’s épée, while the senior men’s team captured the Chinese National Championship in two consecutive years. Winning once is an achievement; winning again is a useful way to prove it wasn’t an accident. Olek also spent two and a half years coaching in Hong Kong, where his students earned medals at national and international competitions. He began his coaching career in Ukraine while still competing as an athlete. His students went on to win medals at the European Cadet and Junior Championships, reach the podium at Cadet and Junior World Cups, and succeed at Ukrainian national competitions. He also led a Ukrainian university team that became the strongest in its region and one of the country’s leading collegiate programs. As a member of the Ukrainian National Team, Olek competed at World Cups and other international events. He is a three-time Ukrainian national champion and a two-time European Cup silver medalist, earning those results in 2009 and 2012. Olek graduated with honors from H. S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University and holds master’s degrees in physical education and economics. In other words, he understands both the mechanics of an attack and the importance of getting a good return on every training session. We’re proud to have Olek at the California Fencing Camp, where his international experience, technical knowledge, and proven ability to develop champions will help every athlete take the next step.

Coach Slava is an épée coach at Bayside Fencing Club in Mountain View, California. A three-time consecutive NCAA champion and former Israeli National Team member, he brings decades of elite competitive and coaching experience to the strip. Slava began fencing at the age of 10 in Israel and went on to become an 11-time Israeli national champion across the cadet, junior, and senior age categories. He represented Israel at every level—from the Cadet and Junior National Teams to the Senior National Team—and competed at World Cups, European Championships, and World Championships. His international results included multiple Junior World Cup medals and a third-place finish in the 2003 FIE world rankings. While attending Wayne State University on a full athletic scholarship, Slava achieved one of collegiate fencing’s rarest accomplishments. By winning NCAA individual titles in 2007, 2008, and 2009, he became only the second fencer in NCAA history to claim three consecutive championships. Apparently, after winning his first title, he decided the best celebration would be to do it twice more. After earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Wayne State in 2011, Slava continued building an extensive coaching résumé. He has coached at Manhattan Fencing Center, New York Fencing Academy, and Academy of Fencing Masters, and has served as an assistant coach at Duke University and Head Coach at Wayne State University. Throughout his coaching career, his athletes have earned numerous medals at North American Cups, Junior Olympics, Summer Nationals, and regional competitions. We’re excited to welcome Coach Slava to the California Fencing Camp, where his championship experience, technical expertise, and competitive mindset will give athletes a rare opportunity to learn from someone who has succeeded at every level of the sport.