MEET OUR COACHES
Head Coach
Tigran Shaginian
Tigran is a four-time Russian national champion.
Tigran Shaginian is a highly accomplished fencer and coach. He began fencing at the age of seven and has an impressive competitive history, including winning the European Championship (1981) in the team event and securing victories in multiple international tournaments. In 1984, Tigran earned a spot on the Soviet Union's Goodwill Games Pentathlon Team, showcasing his versatility in fencing, shooting, horse riding, running, and swimming.
In 1997, Tigran founded SWORDS Fencing Academy. With over 40 years of experience as both a competitor and coach, he has guided his students to remarkable achievements, including spots on the USA Fencing Cadet, Junior, and Veteran World Cup teams, Junior Olympic gold medals, and numerous national titles.
His students consistently rank among the top eight in the nation across Division 1, Junior, Cadet, and Y14 categories. Many of Tigran’s athletes have gone on to fence for prestigious institutions such as Stanford, MIT, Princeton, Columbia, Notre Dame, and the Air Force Academy.
Nana Demirchian
Nana Demirchian grew up surrounded by fencing, training under the guidance of her legendary father, Edouard Demirchian, in Yerevan, Armenia. She began fencing at the age of ten and earned the title of fencing master by seventeen.
As a young fencer, Nana secured first place at the Armenian Junior National Foil Championship and later competed in USSR championships as part of the Armenian National Team. In 1989, she moved to the United States with her family and launched a successful coaching career.
Nana’s students have represented the U.S. in World Championships and achieved impressive victories at numerous U.S. competitions, including the Junior Olympics. As a coach, she often says, “Great results are excellent, but the best part of my job is working with children and loving each and every one of my students!”
Misha Mazur
With over 20 years of experience and a strong family legacy in fencing, Coach Mazur brings exceptional expertise to the sport. His family includes accomplished fencers such as his father Yuriy, sister Eva, and brother Danil.
Coach Mazur has worked with prestigious fencing clubs like NYFA (New York), Medeo (New Jersey), and the International Fencing Academy (Columbus, OH). He also served as an assistant coach at Ohio State University (OSU), contributing to their NCAA Championship win.
As an athlete, Coach Mazur's achievements are equally remarkable. He represented the Ukrainian national team from the age of 15 and excelled at numerous international championships and World Cups. His accomplishments include NCAA Championship titles, All-American honors, and a wealth of coaching experience, making him an invaluable asset to our fencing community.
Trevor Shepherd
Coach Trevor, a proud product of Swords Fencing, brings extensive competitive experience to the academy. He represented TEAM USA in national and international competitions, with a standout achievement of winning a national championship at the 2011 Junior Olympics in the Cadet category. Trevor continued his fencing career at St. John’s University, where he earned degrees in Psychology and Sociology.
Drawing on the diverse perspectives gained from his time in New York City, Trevor returned to Swords as a coach. He has led travel camps and taught group classes at all levels. His coaching approach emphasizes mental skills training, developing a competitive mindset, and creating effective goal-setting and training plans.