Berks Fencing Club Coaches

Dan Bonfitto began French foil fencing while in college where he picked up the basics of the sport.  Then, he spent a decade undoing what he'd learned doing stage fighting.  

At the end of 2013, Dan joined  Berks Fencing Club where he refreshed fencing fundamentals with Jon Weaver in the BFC Intro to Fencing class.  Finding a renewed interest in the sport, he volunteered to serve as an assistant coach for the club.  

Later, while serving as Vice-President under Jon, Dan picked up the epee thanks to Eric Young and the sabre thanks to Ed Haas.  By 2019, the club elected him as president and still resides in the position. 

He's particularly proud of the BFC's ability to not only train new fencers, but train them in all three weapons with a formal program written and constantly revised by club coaches.  (The epee, however, is his favorite as he will often mention in his weekly club email.)

You can reach Dan at berksfencing@gmail.com.

Jon Weaver first began fencing in 2000. He helped establish the Berks Fencing Club in 2001. Since then, Weaver has taught many beginners at the club, giving them a firm foundation to grow from. Find him online here.

Father, husband, outdoor enthusiast, fencer

Completed a beginner foil fencing course at Berks Fencing Club about ten years ago 

Presently train at multiple fencing academies in southeast PA, taking lessons from two internationally trained instructors

Senior and veteran (over age 40) competitive fencer for about nine years, locally, regionally, and nationally

Beginner level foil and epee fencing coach for three years at two USA Fencing sanctioned clubs

Fortunate to associate with some really great fencers, and some not so great fencers, most of whom are really great people 

Antonio Aloia has been training in a mixture of aikido, judo, and Tang Soo Do since 2002. He began Olympic Fencing in 2022 and became a coach the next year. Antonio bases much of his fencing experience to his previous martial arts training. While not on the strip, he conducts interviews and chronicles martial arts history in the United States on his Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.

Winner of the first Single Touch Epee Tournament.

Originally from Eastern North Carolina, I am a fencer with 5 years of experience and am always trying to learn new tricks and techniques. I was introduced to the sport at Kutztown University during my freshman year, and ended up as the club president during my junior and senior years. Most of my fencing experience is in foil, but I enjoy both épée and saber as well. A lot of the advice I give is centered around being a shorter than average person who has to dance around opponents' long arms and defences in order to get points. Whether you come with questions or critiques, I look forward to meeting and talking with you.

LOVES epee and winner of the second Single Touch Epee Tournament.