About Allez

I’ve been coaching épée for more than twenty years, from someone’s first lesson to preparation for national competition. Before Watertown, I owned and coached Allez Fencing Center in Nashua, New Hampshire. I’ve also worked at various clubs, helping coach students at every level, including students who have gone on to attend some of the country’s top schools. That work has included introducing new fencers to the sport, supporting their development over time, and helping prepare competitors for national events. Through all of that, the part of coaching I keep coming back to is helping someone understand their own fencing—seeing something begin to make sense, then watching them use it for themselves.

Every fencer brings a different personality to the strip. Some want to work through every detail. Others need to feel an action a few times before it clicks. The same explanation won’t reach everyone in the same way, so I pay attention to how a person learns, what they notice, and what happens when they feel pressure. That shapes how we work together.

When an action keeps failing, we get curious about it. Was the distance right? Did the opponent react as expected? Did the fencer hesitate, or rush because they felt they were running out of time? A small change in preparation can make a familiar action work again. I want fencers to recognize those things themselves, so they have something useful to draw on when they’re out there making decisions.

That understanding takes time. We build it through focused practice, honest feedback, and plenty of fencing. A beginner needs room to ask questions and get comfortable making mistakes. An experienced competitor may need help settling after a difficult touch, trusting their preparation, or recognizing when to change the plan. Both need a coach who is paying attention to them.

I care about winning, and I enjoy the detail that goes into preparing for competition. I also want people to enjoy coming back to practice. Progress can be a better result, a clearer decision, or the confidence to try something that felt difficult a month ago. At Allez, we make room for all of that.

Sasha supports the day-to-day running of Allez and assists with coaching. Her role connects the practical side of joining a club with the experience of getting started on the strip.

From questions about registration to support during class, Sasha helps new fencers and families find their way at Allez. She keeps the club organized, allowing the coaches to focus on teaching and developing their fencers.

Sasha and Mark are building Allez together around a shared commitment to creating a serious but welcoming environment for fencers of every level.