Rob Handelman

In 1974, Maitre Rob Handelman joined Halberstadt Fencers' Club in San Francisco, and was the head coach until 1982. He was in private practice as a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in sports injuries since 1983, and semi-retired in 2005.

Rob began fencing in 1968 in New York and competed in sabre. After university, Rob spent nearly three years in Paris at the Institut National des Sports (INS), earning his Fencing Master credential in all three weapons (sabre, foil, and épée). He is one of only three Americans to ever graduate from the INS.

He has been an A-rated competitor and fenced in many European "A" World Cup competitions. His students have been national finalists, national team members, and national champions in all three weapons. He was head coach for the varsity team at UC Berkeley, has taught coaches' clinics for the US Fencing Association at the Olympic training center at Squaw Valley, and training camps for our top junior fencers. He has coached US teams at the Olympic Sports Festivals, World Cup Events and Junior World Championships. He recently published and co-wrote the textbook Fencing: A Practical Guide for Training Young Athletes. The text is required reading for all levels of candidates for US Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) certification. Maitre Handelman is currently the chair of the board that certifies fencing instructors for the USFCA.