OUR COACHES & BOARD MEMBERS
MEET THE PEOPLE WHO FUEL INSPIRATION AT WEST BERKELEY FENCING CLUB & FOUNDATION
Elizabeth Earls
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Elizabeth started fencing in the summer of 1995 and found George Platt’s Swordplay in 1997, where she was formed as a fencer. She competed in both individual and team at Junior, Senior, and Division 1 levels. She was multi-year NorCal Division Champion and top 4 finalist at both Junior and Senior Pacific Coast Championships. Her best-loved competitive moments were as a member of medal-winning teams at the Summer National Championships spanning 2005 to 2025.
Elizabeth has taught recreation programs throughout the Bay Area since starting coaching in 2001 and regularly travels to support West Berkeley fencers at regional and national competitions.
READ MORE... She holds a Prévôt de Sabre degree from the US Fencing Coaches’ Association. Elizabeth can often be seen at the bout committee table where she administers local and regional competitions. Elizabeth is a UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources alumna and, when not at WBFC, works in environmental policy for the County of Alameda agency StopWaste.
George Platt
FENCING MASTER
George began fencing in 1974 as a first quarter Freshman at University of California, Santa Cruz under the instruction of Charles Selberg. Within a year he had a cadre of his own students. In George’s senior year, Charlie formally taught him how to teach fencing. First the group class, then the individual lesson.
In 1983 George took over the Boston Fencing Club/Academy of Fencing and has been a full-time fencing teacher ever since. He earned certification as a 3-weapon Fencing Master (Maitre d’Armes) in January 1986 before moving back to the Bay Area and opening Swordplay Fencing Academy first in Martinez and then from 1992-2017 in Concord.
READ MORE...George has worked with and been influenced by numerous teachers. He attended the original “Coaches College” which afforded contact with many brilliant fencing coaches both through formal instruction and invaluable opportunities to pick the brains of the masters over lunch. For his success in coaching George credits 4 mentors:
- Charles Selberg was undoubtedly the greatest influence on George as a fencer, a coach, and a person.
- Len Carnighan began coaching George at UC Santa Cruz and was a major influence on George’s approach to individual lessons.
- Michael D’Asaro (Sr.) worked closely with George at the Coaches College and sponsored his Prévôt exam.
- Ed Richards taught George the ins and outs of running a fencing club before George took over for Richards in Boston.
George invites students of all ages and experience levels to sign up for a lesson, join a class, or approach him with questions on everything fencing.
Cory Price
COACH
Cory has been involved in fencing since 1999 as an athlete. As a fencer, Cory earned many local titles in addition to competing in the Junior Olympics, Pacific Coast Championships, and US National Championships in both foil and epee.
He started his coaching journey in 2001 assisting programs in community centers across Southern California. Trained as a Coach by George Clovis, Eric Holmgren, and Heik Hambarzumian, Cory holds Moniteur d’Armes and Prévôt de Fleuret certifications from the US Fencing Coaches Association.
READ MORE...Cory was among a select group chosen to travel to El Salvador where he trained with Maestro Petru Kuki, earning his level 1 FIE coaches certificate. Later, he was selected to attend a three-month program in Budapest, Hungary where he learned under Maestro Zoltan Bernat earning his level 2 FIE Coaches Certification.
Cory served as youth fencing coach at UC Irvine and was an assistant Coach for Polytechnic High School, He also ran the competitive program at Gryphon Fencing Studio for over ten years and a competitive youth program for South Coast Fencing Center before relocating to Berkeley. His students have earned podium finishes at Regional and National levels and have gone on to represent their colleges in NCAA Division 1 and 3 programs.
After over 20 years of coaching the sport, Cory has adopted a step-by-step approach to fencing and believes in drawing from different coaching styles to find the best fit to maximize his students’ potential. His goal is shaping fencers who love the game and become lifetime participants in the sport.
Mark Headley
FOUNDER
Mark was brought up in Berkeley and fell in love with fencing while attending UCSC in the late ’70s. He spent the next 13 years training with Maestro Charles Selberg and fencing competitively in the United States. He was a nationally ranked foil fencer in the late ’80s and early ’90s and was a member of the US National Squad which includes the top 24 competitors in each weapon. He represented the now-defunct Letterman Fencers Club of SF throughout his competitive career and trained with numerous fencing coaches and Masters.
Mark remained a lifelong friend of Charles Selberg and spent the last few years designing the concept of the West Berkeley Fencing Club with him.
Bakty Motirem
SECRETARY & RESIDENT FENCING MOM
Bakty serves on the Board of the West Berkeley Foundation for Community.
When The Parent Trap played in the Motiram household in 2017, it was just another family movie night. But as Hallie and Annie famously crossed blades across the campgrounds something clicked for Bakty Motiram’s daughter. Soon after she wanted to fence. A friend suggested Bakty looked into West Berkeley Fencing Club, that small encouragement opened a door she hadn’t realized was closed. For Bakty, fencing had always seemed like a sport for someone else’s family. It carried an image of exclusivity, expensive gear, and private clubs.
WFBC “has shown me that opportunities can arise when we look past the stereotypes and choose a club that is welcoming and accessible to all families, no matter what their circumstances”
Bakty, who has spent her professional career in the tech industry advancing inclusion and equity, recognized how powerful access could be.
At WBFC, she brings that same drive to create systems that work for everyone. As a board member, she focuses on keeping the club welcoming, affordable, and representative of its community. Her approach is simple but ambitious: one policy, one program, and one person at a time. Bakty’s story is more than fencing. It is about the courage to step into unfamiliar spaces, the value of inclusion, and the belief that opportunity should never be limited by background, access, or ability.
Wei-Tai Kwok
CHAIRPERSON
Wei-Tai serves on the Board of the West Berkeley Foundation for Community. He is among the clubs founding members and a sought after sparring partner on foil nights. A Yale alum, Wei-Tai trained with 1984 Olympic coach Henry Harutunian, was team captain of the Varsity squad and went on to serve on the Yale Fencing Association board.
Off the strip Wei-Tai is a community leader and lifelong advocate for building a better future. Wei-Tai is a passionate climate advocate having worked in solar and renewable energy since 2009. He is a recognized leader in the Climate Reality Project and in his community of Lafayette where he’s championed sustainability in his roles in city office and as a citizen activist. Wei Tai brings an accomplished fencing history, strategic vision, and grounded leadership to WBFC
Doug Nichols
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WEST COAST FENCING ARCHIVE
Doug began fencing at Cabrillo College in 1977 under the tutelage of Len Carnighan. Transferring to San Jose State in 1979, he trained under Olympian and Olympic team coach Michael D’Asaro. In all, Doug trained with Maestro D’Asaro for 13 years. At SJSU, Doug won the Western Regionals NCAA qualifier and was an NCAA championships finalist in 1981. A three weapon fencer, he was an A rated foilist and a member of the gold medal-winning Pacific Coast Championship foil team from The Fencing Center in 1985.
After graduation, he coached at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA before beginning a 25 year career in animated films, working for Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks and Lucasfilm. He has returned to the sport as the Executive Director of the West Coast Fencing Archive.
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