Falls Church, Virginia · Est. 2014

About
Nova

The #1 fencing club in the United States by membership. 440+ athletes. Two Olympic sports. One extraordinary coaching staff.

440+
Active Members
#1
US Club by Membership
2022
USA Fencing Spirit of Sport
2021
USA Archery Club Excellence
24
Fencing Strips
20
Archery Lanes
Our Mission

Love of Sport,
Pursuit of Dreams

Our club mission is to instill a love of sport and to provide our athletes the opportunity to pursue their dreams.

Nova Fencing & Archery Club develops athletes of all ages and ability levels in fencing and archery. Whether you're picking up a weapon for the first time or preparing for national competition, our coaching staff meets you where you are.

We build more than athletes. We build discipline, dedication, commitment, and critical thinking — in an environment that's fun, competitive, and welcoming. Our competitive fencers earn college placements, national rankings, and All-American honors. Our beginners discover a lifelong sport in their very first class.

Founded in 2014 in Falls Church, Virginia, Nova has grown into the largest fencing club in the country — not through marketing, but through coaching, results, and community.

Our Values
Respect Excellence Team
Nova coaches and fencers celebrating
Coaching Staff

Learn from the Best

Nova's coaches include certified Fencing Maestros, USA Archery certified instructors, international competitors, and NCAA alumni. They are the reason families drive from across the DC metro area to train here.

GKGreg Kaidanov
Greg Kaidanov
Co-Owner & Head Coach · All Weapons

Over 30 years of coaching and 45 years in the sport. Coach Greg has developed National and International competitors, including Junior Olympians, USA Fencing High School All-Americans, NAC medalists, and USA Veteran National Team members. His athletes include 2019 Div 2 Men's Epee National Champion Graham Allen and 2020 Veteran World Team Foilist Nadia Dreyer. Coached by Maestro Kaidanov, he teaches all three weapons: foil, saber, and epee.

DFDonna Felsenheld
Donna Felsenheld
Co-Owner & General Manager

General Manager and Camp Director. Educator with 8 years of teaching experience in Arlington Public Schools. USA Fencing epee referee and competitive epee fencer. Oversees club operations, camp programs, and the Nova community.

MSMaestro Marco Secco
Maestro Marco Secco
Epee Coach · Maestro

Holds a Diploma as "Tecnico di 3° livello alle tre armi" — the highest-level instructor certification in all three disciplines of Olympic fencing from Italy. Gold medalist in Vet 1 Women's Epee at the 2024 Pan American Championships. Extensive competitive record including Italian Championships medals and European Circuit results at youth and senior levels.

CVMaestro Carlos Valencia
Maestro Carlos Valencia
Saber Coach · Maestro

Fencing Coach degree from the University of Physical Education in Budapest. Bronze Medal, Div 3 Women's Saber at the 2024 USA Fencing Summer National Championships. Former member of the Colombian National Saber Team with 9 World Cup appearances, gold medalist at the Central American and Caribbean Championship, and 6-time gold medalist at the Colombia National Games. International FIE referee in saber and epee.

DLDamien Lehfeldt
Damien Lehfeldt
Epee Coach · Maître d'Épée

USFCA-certified Maître d'Épée with nearly 30 years in the sport. A previously A-rated epeeist, Damien has coached at the highest levels — including the 2012 London Olympic Games — and has produced numerous national medalists. He is the founder of The Fencing Coach, one of the most widely read fencing blogs in the world.

CAMaestro Cesar Arias
Maestro Cesar Arias
Saber & Parafencing Coach · Maestro

An elite saber coach with more than 18 years of high-performance experience as a member of the Colombian National Fencing Team. An FIE Level III saber coach (Budapest), Cesar has produced medal-winning athletes at Pan American and national championships and is a pioneer of wheelchair fencing programs, bringing deep expertise in youth, senior, and Paralympic athlete development to Nova’s competitive and parafencing programs.

DADavid Ando
David Ando
Assistant Coach · Saber

Over 20 years of experience working with youth fencers. Coach David is a dedicated saber coach and a familiar face on Nova's training floor.

RSRichard Schreiber
Richard Schreiber
Strength & Conditioning · Epee

Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Sports Nutritionist Specialist. Competitive epee fencer. Brings athletic conditioning expertise and sport-specific knowledge to help Nova athletes perform at their best.

HAHaleemah Abdul-Muhaymin
Haleemah Abdul-Muhaymin
Archery Coach

Level 3 NTS USA Archery Coach and Certified Archery Instructor Trainer. ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor. Maryland Indoor State Champion in 2023 and 2025.

SHSusan Howell
Susan Howell
Archery Coach · TEAM USA

TEAM USA member, Senior Women's Barebow. USA Archery Level 2 Instructor. 2021 Outdoor Target Nationals Women's Barebow Team Gold and Senior Barebow Bronze medalist. 2020 World Archery MICA Champion. Multiple USA Archery National Championship top-5 finishes in Indoor and Outdoor Target.

PDPaul Dainauskas
Paul Dainauskas
Archery & Fencing Coach

USA Archery Level 3 Coach. Youth fencing coach. Over 40 years of archery experience and 30+ years as a competitive fencer. A versatile coach who works across both of Nova's sports.

TATarek Abdel-Gawad
Tarek Abdel-Gawad
Archery Coach · USA Archery Level 3

USA Archery Level 3 Coach. Contributes to Nova’s archery programs across beginner and developmental levels.

ELErnest Lilley
Ernest Lilley
Archery Coach

Level 3 USA Archery Coach and USA Archery Certified Instructor Trainer. Competitive barebow archer. Brings deep technical knowledge and coaching experience to Nova's archery programs.

RMReggie Moton
Reggie Moton
USA Archery Level 2 Instructor

A USA Archery Level 2 Instructor and compound shooter, Reggie is also a skilled bow technician who keeps the club's equipment tuned and competition-ready.

Our Facility

20,000 Sq Ft of
Indoor Training Space

Nova Fencing & Archery Club exterior

Nova's purpose-built indoor facility in Falls Church, VA houses both the fencing salle and the archery range under one roof — one of the only dual-sport clubs of its kind in the region.

  • 24 fencing strips with electronic scoring
  • 20-lane indoor archery range (9m and 18m)
  • Archery pro shop with bow services on-site
  • Fencing equipment pro shop
  • Climate controlled — train year-round
  • Parent waiting area with free WiFi
  • On-site chiropractic care with Dr. Ray Koury
  • Ample free parking
On-Site Recovery

Chiropractic Care

Training hard is only half of it — recovering well is the other. Nova offers on-site sports chiropractic care with Dr. Ray Koury, D.C., who brings more than 25 years of hands-on experience helping athletes move better, recover faster, and stay in the game.

Dr. Ray Koury, D.C. — Sports Chiropractic Medicine

Learn About Chiropractic Care →
Sports chiropractic treatment at Nova Fencing & Archery Club

Hours & Contact

Club Hours

Monday4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Thursday4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Friday4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Contact

Phone: 703-999-8077

Email: info@novafencingclub.com

Instagram: @novafencing

View Class Schedule →

Location

Nova Fencing & Archery Club
3505 Carlin Springs Rd
Falls Church, VA 22041

Near the border of Arlington and West Alexandria. Easily accessible from Falls Church, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, McLean, and the greater DC metro area.

Get Directions →

Common Questions

About Nova

Do I need experience to start fencing or archery?

No experience needed. Our beginner programs (ABCs of Fencing for ages 4–6, Youth Beginning for 7–12, Teen & Adult Beginning for 13+, and Explore Archery for 8+) are designed for complete beginners. All equipment is provided for beginner classes.

What does membership include?

Nova offers class-based pricing for beginners — no membership required to take a beginner course. For competitive fencers and JOAD/Adult archers, club membership ($260/year) provides access to club practices, open range time, and eligibility for Nova-sponsored tournaments and teams.

What ages do you serve?

Fencing starts as young as age 4 (ABCs of Fencing) and has no upper age limit — we have recreational fencers of all ages. Archery starts at age 8 (Explore Archery) through adult. Our summer camps are for ages 8–14. Archery Tag parties are for ages 6 and up.

When is the club closed for holidays?

Nova observes all major holidays. The club is closed for Winter Break, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Break. We remain open on Presidents' Day, Veterans Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Columbus Day. Nova does not charge more for months with five weeks — those extra class days are traded for the major holidays when the club is closed, so no make-ups are given.

Is there parking?

Yes. There is ample free parking in the lot directly outside our building at 3505 Carlin Springs Rd.

Can I watch my child's class?

Yes. We have a parent waiting area with seating and free WiFi. Parents are welcome to watch classes from the viewing area.

Do you offer private lessons?

Yes. Private fencing and archery lessons are available for all skill levels. Fencing privates are booked through our coaching staff. Archery privates and trio lessons are available at $150/hour and $50/person respectively. Call 703-999-8077 to schedule.

Is Nova affiliated with USA Fencing and USA Archery?

Yes. Nova is a USA Fencing member club and a USA Archery JOAD certified club. We received the USA Fencing Spirit of Sport Award in 2022 and the USA Archery Club Excellence designation in 2021. Our archery coaches are USA Archery certified.

How do I register for classes?

All registration is handled through our online scheduling system. You can also use our Get Started wizard to find the right class for your age and experience level.

Do you help fencers get recruited to college?

Nova has a strong track record of college placement. Our competitive fencers have earned USA Fencing High School All-American honors and been placed at NCAA programs including Wellesley, Vassar, Wayne State, Brandeis, and Long Island University. Competitive fencers receive individualized guidance on the recruitment process.

Are you hiring?

We're always interested in hearing from passionate coaches and staff. Visit our Careers page to learn more and submit an application.

Ready to Get Started?

Answer two questions and we'll match you to the right program. No experience needed. Equipment provided.

Find Your First Class →
Proud member of USA Fencing USA Archery