Coaches
Brian Chen
Head Saber Coach, TFA Founder & Executive Director
Coach Brian Chen has nearly 20 years of competitive Saber fencing experience, including 5 years of coaching experience, and brings a wealth of fencing and training knowledge. Coach Brian began fencing at the age of 12 under the tutelage of former US Junior and Cadet National Team Coach Boris Khurgin and has taught fencing alongside renowned fencer and coach Andrew Fischl (@CyrusOfChaos).
Coach Brian also trained at Manhattan Fencing Center, home of the US Olympic Saber team, studying under legendary 7x Olympic Coach and Hall of Famer Yury Gelman, where he served as a training partner for several members of the US National Teams. As a fencer, Coach Brian has competed at and achieved top results in competitions at the regional and national level, in addition to participating in numerous international training programs both domestically and abroad, which included members of National Teams from various countries.
Coach Brian is a USA Fencing certified coach and has previously coached at several clubs across Long Island and has led the Cold Spring Harbor Varsity Fencing Team as the head coach of its program. Many of Coach Brian’s students began fencing under his guidance as complete beginners and have gone on to earn medals and top placement at regional and national competitions.
Coach Brian’s most notable students include a 2x National Bronze Medalist ranked 5th in the country. Another of Coach Brian’s students ranked 8th in the Northeast Region and was also ranked the number 1 high school girl’s saber fencer in Nassau County as a 7th grader, receiving All-Long Island awards in her high school fencing debut. During the 2024-25 Fencing Season, many of Coach Brian’s students received All-American and All-County High School Fencing Awards. Coach Brian’s personal students also include the Nassau County Boys’ Saber Individual Champion and multiple Boys’ and Girls’ Saber Individual Medalists.
Coach Brian’s coaching philosophy is rooted in pushing limits, building perseverance, and helping each student discover their unique strengths through consistent training, mentorship, and hard work— both on and off the strip.
Coach Brian holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Stony Brook University and a Master’s Degree from New York University.
Deniz Berkay
Elite Saber Coach
Coach Deniz Berkay brings nearly two decades of elite competitive fencing experience, highlighted by extensive international competition and high-level training under two of the sport’s most legendary Olympic coaches: Yury Gelman (7-time Olympic Coach and Hall of Famer) and Dimitri Rhonzin (2-time Olympic Coach). His fencing career reflects the discipline, technical excellence, and competitive mindset developed at the highest levels of the sport.
As an athlete, Coach Deniz fenced for St. John’s University, competing for four years as a member of their NCAA Division I team. Internationally, he represented Turkey as a member of the National Team, competing in numerous Cadet, Junior, and Senior World Cups, as well as European Championships and World Championships. His competitive career included Grand Prix and World Cup events held in major international cities such as Cairo, Madrid, Moscow, Seoul, Budapest, Padua, Warsaw, and Tbilisi, among others. One of the most notable highlights of his career was earning a Bronze Medal at the 2014 World Cup in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Prior to joining Titan Fencing Academy, Coach Deniz coached at several of the most prestigious fencing clubs in the United States, working alongside multiple Olympic-level coaches. He has also coached Canadian fencers alongside renowned Ukrainian Olympic and National Team Coach Oleh Shturbabin, further expanding his experience in international training systems and high-performance athlete development.
Coach Deniz has previously coached alongside Coach Brian at the Cold Spring Harbor Varsity Fencing Team, where he leds the Girls’ Varsity program, helping student-athletes develop competitive consistency and confidence. Coach Deniz currently serves as Head Coach of the Syosset Varsity Fencing Team, which is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished and strongest fencing teams in Long Island.
Coach Deniz’s coaching philosophy emphasizes technical precision, strategic thinking, and mental toughness, preparing fencers to excel at the regional, national, and international level.
Coach Deniz holds both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree from St. John’s University.