Khalil Thompson | (Olympian) (Saber)

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club is proud to welcome Olympian Khalil Thompson to our coaching team for the 2025–2026 season! Khalil will bring his Olympic experience and passion for teaching to students across all three TMFC locations—coaching in Port Chester on Mondays and Wednesdays, at our Manhattan West Side location on Tuesdays, and at our East Side location on Thursdays and Fridays. In addition, he will be on the road with our athletes, supporting TMFC fencers at competitions throughout the season.

Khalil Thompson is from Teaneck, NJ. He first picked up a blade at age nine through the Peter Westbrook Foundation, inspired by his sister and drawn to the fast-paced art of saber.

He was an Olympian for Team USA at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in addition to being a multi-time senior world team member. Khalil’s was alsonmember of the gold-medal-winning U.S. Pan American Championships team and the U.S. Senior World Championship team in 2019.

Tom Seitz (Saber) | Coach

Born and raised in Paris, Coach Tom began fencing at the age of 8, initially training in foil and épée before finding his true passion in saber by age 12. After switching to saber, he quickly rose through the national ranks—holding the No. 1 spot in France for every youth age category starting at 14.

Tom went on to fence professionally for over a decade, achieving podium results on the world stage, including several World Cup, European Championship, and World Championship medals before retiring in 2024.

As a member of France’s senior national team, he remained among the country’s top four saber fencers and represented France at the World Championships for more than seven consecutive years. Throughout his career, Tom was coached by two of the most renowned figures in international fencing: Christian Bauer and Jean-Philippe Daurelle.

After retiring from elite competition following the Olympic selection cycle for the Paris Games, Tom transitioned to coaching with the goal of passing on both the technical excellence and personal resilience that defined his career. He is passionate about helping young fencers not only master the sport but also develop life skills that he feels he could have learned earlier—like overcoming fear and handling setbacks—that extend far beyond the strip.

Tom holds an engineering degree in Computer Science from La Sorbonne University, graduating in 2021.

Eric Ruiz (Saber) | School Programs and Class Coordinator

Coach Eric began his fencing journey at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club’s Upper West Side location in 2016 while attending Democracy Prep, which was the first school to partner with Tim Morehouse’s 501(c)(3) initiative, Fencing in the Schools. Since then, he has remained a dedicated member of the TMFC community, working across all club locations to support youth camps and classes throughout college.

A graduate of SUNY Oneonta with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Athletic Coaching, Eric was deeply involved in student mentorship, peer advising, and leadership development through the Office of Equity & Inclusion. A native of the Bronx, he fenced in multiple TMFC competitions throughout his university career as well as contributed to the Oneonta club team. In 2024, he was selected for the inaugural Fencing Corps internship, an immersive summer program that trains collegiate fencers in the business of coaching and club operations.

Eric currently leads Fencing in the School’s afterschool programs which are held at our clubs for several NYC public and charter schools that lack gym space, and he assists lead coaches with all youth classes and day camps at our Upper West Side location. Eric hopes to eventually utilize what he’s learned from Tim Morehouse Fencing Club to earn his Master’s in Sports Psychology.

Akhi Spencer-el | Olympian and Olympic Coach (Paris 2024)

We are thrilled to announce that Olympian and Olympic Team Saber Coach Akhi Spencer-El is officially joining the coaching staff at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, starting Monday, February 3!

This is far more than just a professional addition to our team—it’s a truly meaningful full-circle moment. Akhi and I share a special history that dates back to our elementary school days at Central Park East in East Harlem. From being schoomates to becoming Olympic fencers, our journeys have intertwined in incredible ways over the past 40 years!

Akhi is widely regarded for his exceptional coaching expertise and just as importantly, he is also deeply respected for his integrity, kindness, and dedication to his students. As Akhi joins us as a coach, I am very grateful that I will be able to work with him to inspire and develop the next generation of champions at our newest facility, TMFC’s East Side location, where he will play a key role in leading the growth of the club.

We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Akhi to the TMFC family!

A Legacy of Excellence in Fencing

Akhi Spencer-El brings an extraordinary wealth of experience and accomplishments to TMFC. A seasoned coach at both the prestigious New York Fencers Club and the Peter Westbrook Foundation, Akhi has also spent years shaping top-tier athletes at Columbia University with the team claiming 3 national titles during his tenure. His coaching career includes serving as a multi-time U.S. National and Olympic Men’s Saber Team Coach at the Paris Olympics. His students include US Olympic Medalist Daryl Homer, Olympian Khalil Thompson and Olympic Medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad in addition to the numerous national and international medalists he has coached and developed throughout the years.

Coaching education

Akhi’s education and training are equally impressive—he holds a Maestro’s degree from the renowned Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, a program that has also produced TMFC coaches Iba Keita, Mamodou Keita, and Coach Sall.

Athletic Accomplishments

As an athlete, Akhi represented the United States at the highest levels of competition. He made history as the first U.S. saber fencer to achieve the #1 world ranking as a Junior, a groundbreaking achievement at the time. He competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, became a two-time U.S. National Champion, and solidified his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest.

A Vision for TMFC

At Tim Morehouse Fencing Club, Akhi will bring his unmatched expertise, passion, and coaching philosophy to help elevate both our developmental and competitive programs. From guiding youth fencers to supporting elite athletes, Akhi’s leadership will be a game-changer for our community. His addition reflects our commitment to providing world-class training and mentorship for fencers at every level.

A Family Affair

Akhi is not only a remarkable coach but also a dedicated family man. He and his wife are proud parents to four wonderful children: twins Zoe and Olivia, who are both 11 years old; Elijah, a 13-year-old saber fencer who is excited to join the TMFC community; and Skye, who is 16 years old.

Achievements as a Coach

• Olympic Coach: Coached the U.S. Men’s Saber Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

• Columbia University: Guided one of the nation’s top collegiate fencing programs to three national championships.

• Peter Westbrook Foundation: Continues to mentor young athletes, fostering their development in fencing and life.

Welcome to the team, Coach Akhi Spencer-El—we are thrilled to have you with us!

Daryl Homer (Saber) | Olympic Silver Medalist and Coach

Daryl Homer, an Olympic silver medalist in saber fencing, joined Tim Morehouse Fencing Club (TMFC) as a coach in the spring of 2024. His extensive experience and dedication have significantly enriched the club's training programs. As a former Olympic teammate of TMFC founder Tim Morehouse, Daryl brings a deep-rooted friendship and a shared commitment to excellence, serving as an inspiring role model for students.

Background and Achievements:

Born on July 16, 1990, in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Daryl moved to New York City at the age of five. He began fencing at 11 after discovering the sport in a dictionary and joined the Peter Westbrook Foundation, which introduces inner-city youth to fencing. Daryl chose saber, inspired by Peter Westbrook, a six-time Olympian and 1984 Olympic bronze medalist.

Daryl's fencing career is marked by numerous accolades:

• Olympic Games: Three-time Olympian, securing a silver medal in individual saber at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics—the first U.S. men's saber silver since 1904.

• World Championships: Silver medalist at the 2015 World Championships in Moscow, becoming the first U.S. men's saber fencer to achieve this feat.

• Pan American Championships: Eight-time team champion and three-time individual champion, underscoring his dominance in the Americas.

• NCAA: Back-to-back national champion during his tenure at St. John's University, where he earned a degree in advertising communications.

Beyond his competitive success, Daryl has always been dedicated to mentoring the next generation of fencers. 

As Daryl prepares for a potential run at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, his presence at TMFC offers students unparalleled insights into elite-level training and competition. His journey from a young enthusiast to an Olympic medalist exemplifies the dedication and passion he now imparts to aspiring fencers at the club.

Daryl teaches at both Tim Morehouse Fencing Club’s Manhattan locations on the East and West Side of Manhattan during the week.

Tim Morehouse, Olympic Silver Medalist | Founder of Tim Morehouse Fencing Club (Saber)

Tim is one of the most decorated US athletes coaching Saber in the USA today with an Olympic Silver Medal ('08) won in the men's saber team event and a quarter final individual finish at the London Olympics ('12). Tim is a three-time US Olympic Team Member ('04 '08 '12), 9-time senior world team member and two-time individual US National Champion ('10 '11).

Tim spent fifteen years as a student of 4-time Olympic and USA Fencing Hall of Fame Coach Yury Gelman. 

Tim also has extensive experience in education having served both as a teacher and teacher trainer in the prestigious Teach For America program. Tim holds a Masters Degree in Education and he was honored by the White House as a "Champion For Change" in 2012 because of his efforts in education through his non-profit Fencing In The Schools and his work with Teach For America.

His students have won national medals at every level and his students were recruited and attended elite schools including Yale, Johns Hopkins, Cornell and Princeton amongst others.

Iba Keita | Elite Coach (Saber)

Tim Morehouse Fencing Club welcomed Coach Iba in 2022. Iba started fencing at 7 years old in his home country of Senegal. He was the Junior African Individual Saber Champion in 2008. In 2010, he was a member of the silver medal-winning team at the African Championships as well as a semi-finalist in the individual event. He obtained a License for Legal and Political Sciences in Public Law from the Digital University of Senegal. 

He began coaching in 2007 at the Senegalese International Fencing Academy before he started coaching in the United States in 2018. In 2016 he received a “Master of Arms” diploma from the FIE as the Valedictorian. In the United States, Iba has had multiple youth students medal in North American Cups as well as the Summer Nationals, including a Youth 12 National Champion. Coach Iba excels at motivating his students to do their best and keep a positive attitude. 

Mostafa El-Motaz | Coach (Saber)

Saber Coach | Manhattan + Westchester

Coach Mostafa joined Tim Morehouse Fencing Club in 2023 from Egypt. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Business Administration from Helwan University. After starting fencing at 10 years old, he went on to win several national medals in Egypt. As an FIE referee, Mostafa is also on the World Elite Referee Master List for Saber. 

Mostafa hopes to bring the success he has with his students in Egypt to TMFC. He coached both the Egyptian Junior Women’s National Saber Champion and the Junior Men’s National Saber bronze medalist. Internationally, his student won the Junior Men’s African Saber Championship. We look forward to his success with students in the United States!