A Hidden Gem for Fencers

Every year, Millburn and Columbia High School’s fencing teams are among the top squads in the state. That seems unlikely to change soon, and one reason may be what goes on in a non-descript structure nestled behind a cluster of buildings on Burnett Street.

Inside lies another world of athletics, where some of the top fencers from around the state and country are practicing and competing at the New Jersey Fencing Alliance.

Run by George Janto, the Alliance began three years ago and according to Janto, they have successfully followed the footsteps of other notable fencing academies in the U.S.

While you may not have to be the most athletic person in the world to participate in fencing, you have to be intelligent, strategic, decisive and agile to become successful. It all begins with practice, and luckily for the residents of Maplewood and towns in the surrounding areas, there is a state-of-the-art facility with international fencers trained in Hungary as coaches to help you get started.

“We don’t always get the most athletic kids, but we certainly get the smartest,” Janto said.

Millburn resident Cyndi Burzynski began bringing her 14-year-old daughter Julia to the Alliance two years ago, a year after its opening. Cyndi said they switched from Medeo in Bridgewater, partly because of the closeness and convenience, but mostly because of the quality of the facilities and the coaching.

“The coaches are first rate,” Cyndi said. "They really care."

Julia, who plans to try out for the MHS fencing team in the fall, is still in the early stages of her fencing career, as many of the top fencers have been in the sport since they were five or six years old. Julia began two years ago, after receiving a flyer for it while she was in karate class.

“Once you do it, you realize how fake it is in the movies,” Julia said. “You have to be very smart. You have to know what to do and know your opponent.”

On Saturday morning nearly 200 children, ages 14 and under, competed in a tournament. It was one of what will likely amount to 16 tournaments this year at NJFA. In this tourney, each fencer in an age group and weapon category had to commit to fencing everyone in his or her group. This could amount to nearly 10-15 matches within a span of a few hours, all of which comes before the elimination rounds.

Skill levels varied in the tourney, with some of the fencers carrying ratings, and others unrated.

Becoming a skilled fencer takes years of practice and can be costly for parents, though the same can be said for many sports these days. But with the initial startup cost for buying all of the equipment plus lessons (it’s not like football, baseball or basketball where you can just play with your friends outside) and tournament fees, the expense adds up quickly. However, with New Jersey being one of the few states in the country that offers fencing at the high school level, it’s not necessary to join tournaments in order to find competition.

“It does not cost as much as it has always been thought to cost,” Janto said. “It’s like any other sport. The more the parent wants to see success for the children, there’s always more you can spend.”