About The Club
Dark Horse Fencing Club (DHFC) grew out of a small group of fencers, which has been meeting in Fredericksburg since 1984. Now we are veterans and students, novices and ranked fencers. We are a mixed group of recreational and competitive fencers, men and women, young and old (but always young at heart).
We hold open practices Monday thru Thursday, from 7 PM to 9 PM. The public is welcome to observe and experienced fencers are invited to participate. Non-fencers who wish to participate are encouraged to join our classes held periodically.
DHFC practices are held at the Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, at 12326 Spotswood Furnace Road, every Monday thru Thursday.
Coaches
Ron Thornton – President
DHFC VP 2007-2009
DHFC member 2006 – present
Assist coaching staff at DHFC 2006 – present
Member USFA / AFLA 1981-89 / 2006 – present
Penn State University fencing team 1984-89, under Maestro Emmanuil Kaidanov and
Maestro Wes Glon
Salle D’Armes / Diplomat Fencing Academy 1981-84, coached by Maestro Michel
Mamlouk and Maestro Emmanuil Kaidanov
Began fencing under Coach Scott Bozek 1981
Tom Lauzon – VP
DHFC Armourer 2004-2007
Member DHFC 1998-Present
Member US Fencing Association 2000-Present
US Naval Academy Intramural Fencing 1976-1978 (Sabre)
Learned Foil & Sabre at Bergenfield H.S., Bergenfield, NJ
Bruce Callendar – Treasurer
Treasurer DHFC June 2005 to present
President DHFC June 1988 to 2005
Instructor of DHFC Beginners Foil and Squires programs
Foil Instructor Fredericksburg Parks and Rec 1982 to 1984
Children’s Foil Instructor, Alexandria Parks and Rec 1980 to 1981
Foil instructor at Dance Etc., Woodbridge VA 1981 to 1982
Member of NVFA (now Fred Appel fencing club – Arlington – and Old Town Fencing Gang – Alexandria) 1975 to 1980
Member of AFLA/USFA 1975 to present
Founding member of DHFC
Started fencing Foil at Northern VA Community College under Dr. Hoffman, Picked up Sabre (initially) from George Vaishvila in the Arlington group and Epee by osmosis.
Some of my students have gone on to join college teams at Notre Dame University and at the University of Virginia, and to become officers in the Virginia Division of the USFA.
George Havrilak -Coach
DHFC President (2005-2009)
DHFC Vice President (2003-2005)
Instructs Foil, Epee and Saber
Instructs DHFC Squires and Knights programs
Member of the US Fencing Association (formerly AFLA) 1968-present
Forged Excellence Fencing Club, Vice President (1987-89)(Offutt AFB, NE)
Member, Omaha Fencing Club, NE (1986-87)
University of North Dakota Fencing Club, volunteer instructor (1983-85)
Laramie County Community College Fencing Club, WY, volunteer instructor (1976-79)
President, Virginia Tech Fencing Club, (1972-74)
Learned Saber at Salle de Nord (Maestro Mel North), Denver CO.
Learned Epee at Santelli Fencing Academy (Maestro Tony Orsi), East Rutherford, NJ Learned Foil & Epee on the varsity fencing team of Northern Valley Regional H.S., Old Tappan, NJ
Greg Kaidanov
Coach Greg Kaidanov has served as a fencing coach at fencing clubs since 1988 and specializes in competitive foil and saber. Coach Greg Kaidanov was also selected as a visiting coach at Penn State Summer Camp program, working along side with his father, Maestro Emmanuil Kaidanov, and other elite coaches.
Coach Greg Kaidanov’s specialty is developing fencers to their highest abilities. With almost 20 years of coaching experience and over 36 years of experience in the sport of fencing, Coach Greg has developed many national and international competitors, including finalists in National and International tournaments in foil and saber at the variety of age levels.
