ERIC HOLMGREN
Founder and Head Coach

Fencing for over thirty years, Eric Holmgren was trained by fencing master Albert Couturier in modern international style that combines the best of the French and Hungarian systems. Coach Holmgren is a member of the USFA (United States Fencing Association) and has been a competitive fencer.

Since 1993, Eric Holmgren has been the head coach for the fencing club at the University of California at Irvine. In 2000 he established their first intercollegiate team.

Coach Holmgren has been certified by the United States Fencing Coaches Association as a Moniteur d’ Arms (all three weapons) and Prevot de Fleuret (foil).

Coach Holmgren is a certified Level 2 Instructor by USA Archery. He has been practicing archery and competing locally for over 20 years.

Coach Holmgren founded Gryphon Fencing Club in 2009.

RICHARD GARCIA
Archery and Fencing Coach

Fencing for over six years Coach Richard, aka Ricky, started his fencing career with Coach Holmgren in the summer youth program in 2009. Richard has also been taught by Coaches Cory Price, Ati Seif, and George Clovis. Since then Coach Richard has fenced from middle school up to his current status in college in many fencing events representing both his schools and Gryphon Fencing Club. He has been a coach at Gryphon since 2014 and is the Youth Fencing Coach at the University of California at Irvine. He is a certified Moniteur in Saber by the USA Fencing Coaches Association He is a certified level 2 archery coach with USA Archery. He enjoys working with students of all ages.

ATI SEIF
Competitive Foil and Epee Coach

Atefeh, “Ati”, is an accomplished foil and epee fencer. She trained with the Iranian National team and competed in the Olympic qualifying games for Athens 2004. She fenced in the Asian games in 2003 and placed 1st in the Persian Olympiad games in 2008.

Ati served as a fencing coach at the University of Tehran Polytechnique and a lecturer in Sports Science at Tehran University of Scientific Research. Coach Seif is the assistant coach for the fencing team at UC Irvine. She also teaches at Cal State Long Beach. Coach Seif has been certified by the United States Fencing Coaches Association as a Moniteur d’ Arms (all three weapons) and a Prevot de Epee.