The Gotham Fencing Academy's (Formerly known as American Fencing Academy) goal is to develop an American fencing tradition based on the Hungarian, Polish, and French schools of Fencing. Every great movement in history has been build upon the back of earlier successful traditions. Rome was build on the philosophy of the Greeks, American on the Western European cultural and legal traditions, and now the American Fencing Academy built on the great traditions of the Hungarian and Italian fencing traditions. The listed camp below is the second of many of these training camps. Both fencers and coaches are welcome to come to two weeks of 5 training camp lead by the Patrick Durkan, the sabre coach for the NYAC and multiple national champion and world cup medalist.
Patrick Durkan is the head sabre coach of the NYAC and worked with Aladar Kogler (Keith Smart's first coach and many time Olympic Coach). Coach Durkan has represented the USA at all levels of fencing on Cadet, Junior, and Senior Natal Teams. Additionally he spent most of his carear training against Keith Smart and competing against him for national titles. Having seen the methodology of the Hungarian System from Kogler and having studied the Russian system as a way to fence Keith he has a unique understanding of the Hungarian tradition. His continuing education has brought him to work with the national coach of Italy and in the future plans on training under Bauer.