Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club Trains Champions of Tomorrow

The club recently moved into a new facility in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:45am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fencing match, with the athletes and their movements broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors like blue, red, and silver.The Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club's new DUMBO facility provides a dynamic, high-tech space for young athletes to hone their skills and compete at the highest levels.Brooklyn Today

The Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club, owned by former U.S. Olympian and Olympic Team Coach Dan Kellner, has been training young fencers since 2010. The club recently moved into a new, expansive space in DUMBO, Brooklyn, with 20 fencing strips and an electronic scoring system. Kellner's students have won numerous national and international medals, including a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics and a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships.

Why it matters

Fencing is a unique sport that develops self-reliance, confidence, problem-solving, and creativity in young athletes. The Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club is providing a pathway for these skills to be nurtured, helping to produce the next generation of fencing champions.

The details

The Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club's new facility in DUMBO features 20 fencing strips and an electronic scoring system, allowing the club to host more athletes and competitions. Head coach and owner Dan Kellner, a former U.S. Olympian and Olympic team coach, has been leading the club since 2010, guiding his students to numerous national and international medals.

  • The Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club was founded in 2010.
  • The club recently moved into its new DUMBO facility.

The players

Dan Kellner

The head coach and owner of the Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club, Kellner is a former U.S. Olympian and Olympic team coach for the U.S. and Great Britain, as well as a U.S. Fencing Hall of Famer.

Eva Shang

A 9-year-old fencer training at the Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club.

Genevieve Murphy

A 12-year-old fencer training at the Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club.

Isla Stewart

A 15-year-old fencer who has been training at the Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club for three years.

Nael Guilloteau

An 8-year-old fencer who has been training at the Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club for a year and four months.

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What they’re saying

“'Keep moving, Eva, be brave,'”

— Dan Kellner, Head Coach and Owner, Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club

“'It's so good at self-reliance, confidence, problem-solving and creativity,'”

— Dan Kellner, Head Coach and Owner, Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club

“'It's separated from all the other sports, which is nice, and when people see you do it, they are like, whoa,'”

— Isla Stewart, 15-year-old Fencer

“'I like how it's a real challenge. It's not easy,'”

— Nael Guilloteau, 8-year-old Fencer

What’s next

The Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club plans to host more competitions and tournaments in its new DUMBO facility, providing more opportunities for its young fencers to compete and showcase their skills.

The takeaway

The Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club is nurturing the next generation of fencing champions, instilling valuable life skills like self-reliance, confidence, problem-solving, and creativity in its young athletes. The club's move to a new, state-of-the-art facility in DUMBO will allow it to expand its reach and impact on the local community.