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USFA NJ Division
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Mark Holbrow is the Head Fencing Master and founder of the Bucks County Academy of Fencing in Lambertville, NJ, which opened in January of 1981 and is currently in its 27th year of operation.
Maestro Holbrow holds his fencing master's certification from the United States Fencing Coaches Association and the Academie D'armes Internationale. He studied under Stan Sieja, head Fencing Master for Princeton University, for seven years from 1974 to 1980, and acted as his apprentice and Assistant Coach for Princeton from 1978 to 1980. Over the last 20 years, he has produced a number of cadet (under 17), junior (under 20), and senior national finalists in all three weapons. In 1986 he was a member of the US team that competed in the World Fencing Masters Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. He was the only member of the five-man team to qualify and compete in all three weapons at the championship. Although he considers epee to be his favorite competition weapon, he was on the three-man team who took the bronze medal for the US in sabre.
In May 18 to 22, 2001, Maestro Holbrow was invited to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to take part in the US Fencing Association's "Black Star" elite coaches training program. Coaches having students in the top 32 of the US national point standings were invited to participate in this program. Maestro Holbrow was one of 12 coaches from across the United States who took part in this program.
In September 2003, the BCAF moved across the river from New Hope, PA to its new 14 regulation strip facility in Lambertville, becoming part of the New Jersey Division at that time.