Fencing coach Andrey Geva said he has been fencing for nearly 40 years and started the sport at the age of 11 at his home in St. Petersburg, Russia.


Geva, who owns Alliance Fencing Academy, said fencing has always been a part of his life and inspired the business that started in 2004 in both The Woodlands area and Houston.


The academy’s Oak Ridge North location opened five years ago on Robinson Road after having used a room at The Woodlands Christian Academy.


“I started the academy after I first had some clients that I would visit at their homes,” Geva said. “We’d practice in the driveway or living room. Soon I had enough clients that we needed to find [a permanent] space. Hopefully we expand again soon to get an even bigger facility. We have quite a few good students.”


Geva’s academy has helped students become national fencing champions and even train for the Olympics. Geva himself will be the U.S. Women’s Olympic fencing team coach this summer at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janiero.


He has experience coaching students for the Cadet and Junior World Fencing Championships and has developed 20 international champions, medalists and finalists as well as more than 30 U.S. national champions.


“The unique thing is that students who come here don’t usually leave,” Geva said. “That has been the key to our success—most of them stay here. We have a very good reputation to keep our students. More new students keep coming, and that’s why we’ve had to keep moving to different locations.”


A variety of classes are available at the academy and include group classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced fencers age 5 and older. Individual lessons are also available for all ages and levels as well as lessons specifically designed for home-schooled fencers. Birthday parties can also be held at the facility, which includes an introduction to the history of fencing and sports games.


In the summer months, beginner fencing camps are also offered at the academy location on Robinson Road for ages 6-14, and more experienced fencers can attend camp at the Houston location.


Geva said the academy’s attendance usually peaks from August to October and creates a full house when school starts.


“We’ve won a lot of competitions every year,” Geva said. “We are a very team-oriented club and a home for teenagers and kids. Most of our students succeed or [experience] improvements while they are here.”





Individual lessons




  • One-on-one technical, tactical or video review lessons

  • On-strip technical and tactical lessons with opponents

  • Double lessons allow students to observe the coach with another student during the same action both students are working on.


Group classes




  • Warm up, stretching and coordination exercises

  • Sport games and relay race

  • Fencing and general fitness exercises

  • Footwork, targets and drills

  • Fencing technique and strategy

  • Tournament rules and regulations

  • Health and nutrition

  • Armory


Costs


Beginner course


AGES 5-8
$80 per month (4 one-hour classes)


Ages 9 and older
$125 (4 hour-and-a-half classes )


Adult course


$60 per month (4 classes)


Individual/group lessons for visitors


Individual lessons
$45 per class (25 minutes)
$80 per class (45 minutes)


Group class
$30 per class (one hour)


Alliance annual membership


$200 (individual), $300 (family),
$50 (individual ages 5-8)