The Sabre Training Program

The purpose of the Durkan Fencing Program is to provide a unified method fencing instruction to all athletes that will result in general athletic development (i.e. coordination, balance, agility, speed and general fitness) and promote the mastery of fencing specific skills (i.e. lunge, parry or head-cut) with a deep understanding of the techniques and tactics required to score more points and win more fencing bouts.

We offer customized training programs for all levels of fencers including: beginners, intermediate, High School competitive and travel team (USA Fencing Regional/National/International competitions).

CLASS SCHEDULE (Temporary Winter 2025)

Questions?

Call us any time at 201-880-7029 or email us at info@durkanfencing.com. The BEST way to discover our program is to COME IN AND EXPERIENCE our classes.

SABRE COACHING TEAM

Patrick Durkan

Maestro Patrick Durkan picked up a sabre at the New York Athletic Club when he was only five-years-old and has been fencing ever since! For the past 33 years he has represented the USA in all levels of fencing, including being a part of the Cadet, Junior, and Senior National Teams.

As a student athlete, Coach Durkan competed at Regis High School in New York City where he won the New Jersey State Championship and at Columbia where he was a four time All-American.

Coach Durkan has over 30 years of experience studying the best fencing systems in the World, both as an athlete and a coach. By taking the best aspects of each system, Durkan created an innovatative fencing program designed to promote successful athletes at all levels. Students who have joined his program report marked improvement in fencing knowledge and skills. Because of his extensive fencing experience in all sabre coaching systems, Durkan has the unique ability to “diagnose” and correct sabre fencers from other programs who have plateaued or failed to make results despite years of training. He has an uncanny eye for details and finds body position and movement errors that other coaches overlook.

His students have competed at the regional, National, NCAA and International level and have won Cadet and Junior World Cups as well as earn 3rd place at World Championships.

Tom Bergman

Coach Tom began fencing at age 10 in his hometown of New Rochelle, New York. He graduated from Regis High School where he was captain of their fencing team during his Junior and Senior years. He attended New York University, where he was an NCAA fencer. During his High School and College fencing careers he trained under Coach Patrick Durkan.

As a fencer, Tom won the 2018 Div 2 Sabre October North American Cup. He graduated from NYU in 2018 with a major in German and Linguistics.

Coach Tom has trained with Patrick Durkan for eight years and has a fully developed understanding of the Durkan coaching system. His knowledge of advanced footwork and sabre drills make his students progress rapidly from beginners to USA Fencing Regional and Medalists.

Platon Ermakov

Originally from Saint Petersburg, Russia, Coach Platon has over 12 years experience as a fencer and has spent the past 4 years coaching. As a sabre fencer, Platon competed at the International level in Russia.

Platon graduated in 2019 with a major in Fencing Coaching from the State University of Physical Education, Sports and Health in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He specialized in coaching Youth and Cadet fencers in Saint Petersburg. He stresses fundamentals and learning how to fence “the right way,” and as a result his fencers are known to have a high “Fencing IQ.”

Platon’s style of coaching fits perfectly with the Durkan system which also focuses on the fundamentals of correct body position and movement while also creating “smart fencers” who are aware of how to affect their opponents and control a fencing bout technically and tactically.