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Witold M. Rak, M.S. Exercise Physiologist |
Exercise Physiologist Witold Rak is the head instructor and founder of the Woodside Fencing Center. Coach Rak has contributed greatly to exposing fencing to inner-city youth in New York City through the Sports & Arts Foundation. He is the founder/director of the Woodside Fencing Center in Queens and the co-founder/director of the East Harlem International Fencing Club. In both positions, he prepares grassroots fencing programs for children and adults.
Coach Rak fenced at Eastern Military Academy in Huntington, New York before starting for the varsity at St. John's University in 1970. He earned a bachelor's degree from New York Institute of Technology, a master of science in exercise physiology from Queens (N.Y.) College, worked and attended the Hanover Medical College in Hannover, Germany.
Coach Rak spent eight years competing internationally in northern Germany. He instructed fencing at the TKH Club in Hannover and at Queens College. Rak was on the FIE staff at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and a production assistant at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Coach Rak has previous collegiate coaching experience at State University of New York at SUNY Purchase, NY and New Jersey Institute of Technology, NJ. He was the coach at the Empire State Games in 1995 for the NYC contingent. He continues to do original fencing research and has presented his work on Motor Control Theory in Fencing at the United States Fencing Coaches Association conference in San Antonio, Texas 2004 and the Portland, Maine Conference at 2005.
Coach Rak has been active in the USFCA annual coach’s conference –
- - 2001 (New Hope, PA),
- - 2002, 2004 (San Antonio TX),
- - 2005 (Westbrook, ME),
- - 2006 (Evanston, IL),
- - 2007 (Oklahoma City, OK),
- - 2008 (New Hope, PA),
- - 2008 (Lambertsville, NJ),
- - 2009 (Escondido, CA).
- - 2009 (San Diego, CA),
- - 2010 (Louisville, KY),
He has served as Fencing Program Director at Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center, East Harlem, N.Y.C. since 1986 with Mikey and Negra Rosario (Boxing) and NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation athelic programs. He is co-founder of the East Harlem International Fencing Club 1991 with Coach St. Clair Clement of the Salle Dumas Fencing Society and former fencing instructor at Our Children Foundation (West Harlem) since 1990.
As a “Woodsider”, Coach Rak is also a former student and teacher from Intermediate School 125 Sunnyside, Queens, NY, a former Community Board 2/ Public Member /Youth Committee, former president 1996-97 and current Board Member of the Woodside Kiwanis Club as well as board member of “Woodside on the Move” since early 1990's; member of the NYC Amateur Sports Alliance to promote Sports throughout New York City.
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Gary Cohn: Foil & Épeé Coach: Coach Gary Cohn has been fencing since 1987, when he took a class with Tanya Adamovich at CW Post College. He studied classical fencing with Maestro Ramon Martinez. Coach Cohn is an assistant foil and épeé coach at Woodside Fencing Center. He has instructed children in fencing at the Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation Summer camps. He is currently fencing coach at Information Technology High School in L.I.C. N.Y. Member of the USFA and US Fencing Coaches Association. In 2008 he attended the annual USFCA conference at Bucks County Fencing Center, Lambertville, N.J. |
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Moses Sistrunk Jr.: Foil & Saber Coach: With Coach Rak since he was 12 yr. at Our Childrens Foundation, West Harlem, NYC. Works with Coach Rak in a multi-function capacity in inter-city programs. Is the fencing instructor at Our Childrens Foundation, West Harlem. Continued fencing education at the USFCA Conferences in Oklahoma City at the Redlands Fencing Club, and at the Northwest University Fencing. |
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Coach Tico Flores-Kyle: Foil & Épeé Coach: Coach Tico Flores-Kyle comes from a Karate background to fencing. Coach Tico Flores-Kyle main weapon is Épeé. He is also a Martial Arts and Fitness Instructor at WFC. He is a certified coach, member of the USFCA and CEO of the NYC Professional Karate Team (a non-profit youth outreach Initiative). Coach Tico has attended the USFCA, N.E Regional Coaches Clinic in Fairfield, N.J. and leads the youth fencing program at Roy Wilkins Recreation Center in Jamaica, Queens, N.Y. |
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Coach Jack Van Nostrand: Foil & Épeé Coach: A former basketball coach and history student also trains with Maestro Ramon Martinez in Classical Spanish fencing. |
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Coach Mark Guest: Certified Assistant Coach at WFC Coach Mark Guest started fencing in 1994 with Coach Kevin Dunne at the Cavalier fencing club in Dublin, Ireland. He assisted with classes and demonstrations for schools and colleges. Coach Guest is a certified as a Rescue diver/ Dive master/AI and qualified as a 10th degree black belt. Certified USFCA Assistant Fencing Coach at Woodside Fencing Center. Member in good standing in the USFCA coaches association and the USFA. |
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Coach Lois Skaretka: Foil Coach Coach Lois Skaretka has assisted coach Rak in various inter-city fencing programs in Brooklyn, N.Y. Works well with girls. |
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Greg Rupp: Certified Assistant Coach at WFC more info to follow |
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Guest Coach- York Rommel (Germany): Foil Coach Fenced at the TKH -Turn Clubb zu Hannover and BLZ- Bundes Leistung Zentrum with Fencing Master Horst Held. Was on the German National Team. |
Certified Strength Trainer - Jason Gil
