Meet our Team!

Coach Charles Johnson: Foil, Epee, Sabre

Charles Johnson became involved with the sport of fencing in 1984 at the age of 34 and has participated as a competitor, instructor and organizer. Competing from 1985 to 1995 he has participated in numerous local and national competitions. He has served as chair, secretary and treasurer of the Central Florida Division at different times during his 38 year fencing career, and has been a member of the executive committee of that organization. In 1989 he assisted with the Junior Olympics in Orlando. In 1990 he assisted with the National Championships in Orlando. In 1993 he was instrumental in bringing the National Championships to the Fort Myers Harborside Convention Center. (Both Nationals were held during a time when the division officers were responsible for all aspects of those tournaments.)

Coach Johnson started teaching and coaching in 1994 and has coached some of Florida’s top fencers. In 2000 and 2005 he assisted with the World Veteran’s Championships, both held in Tampa. In 2016 he became involved with the United States fencing Association Para Fencing program and in 2019 he traveled to South Korea with the US Team for the World Wheel Chair Fencing Championships. In 2021 Terry Hayes, Coach Johnson’s Para Fencer represented the United States in The Para Olympics in Tokyo.

“My teaching/coaching philosophy has developed through years of experience working with children, teens and adults. I believe every individual is unique and approach each of my students with respect for their individuality.”

Coach Charles is on a brief health sabbatical but does private lessons throughout the week. So while you cannot take any of his classes at the moment, you will still have access to his amazing talent.
 

Coach Lee Shelley: Epee

Lee Shelley, OLY is a two-time Olympian, three-time U.S. National Men’s Individual Epee Champion, two-time U.S. National Men’s Team Epee Champion and is enshrined in the U.S. Fencing Hall of Fame.

Lee’s long fencing career also includes the following:

  • 7 U.S. World Championship- Teams
  • 2 Pan American Games Teams- Team Gold & Team Silver Medals
  • 3 Junior World Championship- Teams
  • 4 World University Games- Teams
  • North American Cup Champion
  • U.S. Olympic Committee- Fencer of the Year

Lee graduated from Princeton University and earned an MBA from Columbia University. He was coached by two Hall of Fame coaches, Tony Orsi and Jerzy Grzymski. Lee now looks forward to sharing his knowledge and years of experience in Epee with students and members of all abilities here at the Southwest Florida Fencing Academy!

Coach Mike Rogers: Sabre, Foil, Epee

Mike Rogers has been involved with the great sport of fencing for over 30 years.

Originally from the UK, Mike fenced saber on the British cadet, junior and senior national teams competing across Europe from the age of 8 until an unfortunate injury in his mid twenties put an early halt to his competitive career.

Mike began his full time coaching career at the prestigious Truro Fencing Club, and quickly rose through the ranks to become the lead saber coach and assistant club manager.

Truro fencing club progressed to become the UK’s leading saber fencing club, producing dozens of medalists at regional, national and international levels through all age groups consistently, year after year.

Some of Mike’s pupils went on to represent team GB in many world championships, as well as at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and 2016.
Mike has introduced over 50,000 children to the wonderful sport of fencing over the last two decades, through a pioneering, lottery funded “learn to fence” program that he spearheaded and that has since been rolled out nationwide across the UK.

Mike is an experienced three weapon coach, referee, tournament organizer, elite training camp manager and visionary within the sport of fencing.
Now settled in Estero, Florida, and with two children of his own, Etty (13) and Austin (11) both starting to fence themselves, Mike is excited to share his knowledge, experience, and passion with the members of The Southwest Florida Fencing Academy.

Mike is known for his energy, unique style and fast pace of coaching, and is hoping to work with pupils that share his excitement for the sport, drive and a thirst for knowledge.

Coach Eli McGinty: Foil

Eli McGinty has been fencing since age 14. His favorite and only weapon being foil. He fenced at Stanford, Rochester Fencing Club, and Penn State. And has trained under a plethora of wonderful coaches such as: Saul Mendoza, Zoran Tulum, Nate Goodhartz, Emik Kaidanov, Wes Glon, Lisa Posthumus. He is still competitive to this day.

Coach Eli has been assisting here at the Southwest Florida Fencing Academy for the last year, and is easily the best coach to get a foil fencer from good to great. His nonsense teaching style drives results and expects the excellence that his students are capable of. His biggest pet peeve is wasted talent. So when taking his class expect to receive open and actionable critique, because he genuinely cares to see your improvement. Also know that you are getting the best training possible, because he will do it right alongside you.

Coach Bianca Dunkle: Foil, Epee

Bianca Dunkle has been fencing here at the Southwest Florida Fencing Academy for the last 16 years. Two years ago when Coach Charles had to step away due to health reasons, she took over teaching foil classes here at the academy full time.

Bianca went to college at Northeastern University in Boston and to fill her spare (and her refrigerator) she took a job as a preschool teacher. Which is where she discovered her passion for teaching. She brought that love home and has been spreading it to the academy for the last few years. 

While Bianca was never competitive in the sport of fencing, she is in many other fields. Which is why she runs game night on Friday nights. Not only because she loves a space for our members to get together and make friends, but because she enjoys watching them lose time and time again to her in scrabble, clue, ticket to ride, or whatever game they are playing that week. 

When taking classes with her you or your child will be welcomed into our little community and receive a strong foundation in the sport of fencing! Nobody is more passionate about showcasing the exciting world of fencing to newcomers than Coach Bianca, and her contagious enthusiasm and sense of inclusivity help foster a love for the sport among other that is on par with her own. 

Coach Edrik Pedraja: Foil 

Edrik Pedraja is our youngest fencing coach and the newest to the sport of fencing after taking up the sport early in 2022. Edrik quickly fell in love with fencing and has been a permanent installment in the club since he joined. Due to his fierce love for the sport, ever expanding breadth of knowledge, and just plain talent- it was only natural that he joined the team earlier this year as a substitute Coach. He has been doing such an amazing job at coaching that he now has his own classes!

Due to his youth, Edrik is also the most interesting Coach we have on staff. He has many hobbies ranging from music and photography to ice skating and darkroom chemistry. At the moment he is also currently a full time flight student at Paragon Flight Training within the KFMY Page Field airport.

The biggest benefit of taking classes with Edrik is that he will understand you. Learning to fence is difficult, and while the rest of our staff has had many many years of experience, they don’t remember what just starting felt like- Edrik does. He is fairly laid back and fun but will set a rigorous pace. He knows what you are capable of and will get it out of you. He didn’t get promoted to Coach so quickly because he didn’t take learning and training seriously.