Welcome to Bida Fencing Academy
A world-class fencing academy in Silicon Valley built by Olympians for the next generation of fencers.
Bida Fencing Academy was founded to create an environment where athletes can develop from their very first fencing lesson to the highest level of international competition.
Led by Olympians Sergey and Violetta Bida and an internationally experienced coaching team, BFA combines elite-level technical training, individual coaching, physical preparation, competition strategy, and long-term athlete development.
We work with children, competitive athletes, and adults of all levels. For young athletes, our goal goes far beyond learning how to fence. We teach discipline, confidence, responsibility, resilience, and the ability to perform under pressure.
For athletes who choose the competitive path, BFA provides a structured system designed to take them as far as their talent, commitment, and ambition can lead — from local tournaments and national championships to international competition and, ultimately, the pursuit of Olympic gold.
Bida Fencing Academy is not simply a place to practice fencing. It is a place to grow, compete, and pursue excellence.
OUR GOALS
- Create a clear and structured pathway from an athlete’s first steps in fencing to national and international competition.
- Provide professional, Olympic-level training for athletes at every stage of development.
- Develop strength, coordination, endurance, and overall physical fitness through fencing.
- Build confidence, discipline, resilience, and the ability to perform under pressure.
- Help every athlete pursue their personal goals — from making a school team to competing for Olympic gold.
- Support student-athletes who aim to combine high-level fencing with admission to leading colleges and universities.
- Introduce athletes of all ages to fencing and help them develop a lifelong passion for the sport.
Coaching Team
SERGEY BIDA
OlympianCo-Founder, CEO & Head Coach · Fencing experience since 2005
Olympic Silver Medalist • Former World No. 1 • Three-Time European Champion
Sergey Bida is an Olympic silver medalist, former World No. 1 in men’s épée, three-time European Champion, and one of the most accomplished épée fencers of the 21st century.
Fencing has been part of Sergey’s family for three generations. His grandmother, Valentina Rastvorova, was the 1960 Olympic Champion and a multiple World Champion. His mother, Elena Grishina, was a two-time World Championship silver medalist and competed at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona while pregnant with Sergey.
VIOLETTA BIDA
OlympianCo-Founder, Coach & Director of Marketing and Communications · Fencing experience since 2006
Olympian • Three-Time World Champion • Multiple-Time European Champion
Violetta Bida is an Olympian, three-time World Champion, multiple-time European Champion, and one of the most accomplished épée fencers of her generation.
Violetta’s journey in elite sports began at an early age. She started rhythmic gymnastics at the age of four, developing the coordination, discipline, physical foundation, and dedication that later became an important part of her success in fencing.
ZHANNA BIKKINA
Women’s Épée Head Coach · Stanford Fencing Assistant Coach — Épée
Coaching experience since 1997
Developer of National-Team Athletes • Developer of World Champions • International-Level Épée Specialist
Zhanna Bikkina is an internationally experienced épée coach with nearly three decades of coaching experience and a proven record of developing athletes from their first competitive steps to national teams, World Championships, and international podiums.
Under her guidance, six athletes have earned national-team selections across Cadet, Junior, and Senior levels, many of them across multiple competitive cycles.
SERGEI TIKHONOV
Foil Head Coach · Coaching experience since 1990
International-Level Coach • World Cup Champion • European Championship Medalist
Sergei Tikhonov is an internationally experienced foil coach with more than three decades of coaching experience and a distinguished competitive career. He has worked with national teams and fencing federations in several countries, developing athletes from the early stages of fencing to national and international competition.
DIANA BERBEGA
Coach & Academy Operations Manager · Fencing experience since 2000
Master of Sport • Two-Time Russian National Champion • Former Russian National Modern Pentathlon Team Member
Diana Berbega is a coach with extensive competitive experience and a successful background in modern pentathlon. For many years, she competed at a high national and international level and was a member of the Russian National Modern Pentathlon Team.
Fencing has always been a central part of Diana’s athletic development. Her background in modern pentathlon has given her a broad understanding of physical preparation, coordination, endurance, competitive discipline, and overall athlete development.
FENCING FACILITY
Bida Fencing Academy is located in a spacious, modern training facility designed specifically for high-level fencing.
The main training hall features high ceilings, professional fencing strips, electronic scoring systems, dedicated training areas, and ample space for both group practice and individual lessons. The layout is designed to support safe, efficient, and high-intensity training.
The facility serves athletes at every stage of development — from beginners learning their first movements to experienced competitors preparing for national and international events.
BFA also includes dedicated warm-up and conditioning areas, equipment and storage space, and a comfortable reception and lounge area for athletes and families.
Every part of the Academy is organized around one purpose: to create a professional environment where athletes can focus, develop, and perform at their best.
15 PROFESSIONAL FULL-SIZE FENCING STRIPS
Our Academy features 15 professional full-size fencing strips designed for safe, efficient training and competition. The space supports everything from beginner instruction to intensive training for high-level competitive athletes.
WIRED & WIRELESS SCORING SYSTEMS
BFA uses both wired and wireless electronic scoring systems, giving athletes the opportunity to train in multiple formats with reliable, competition-ready equipment.
DEDICATED RECOVERY ZONE
Our recovery area includes Game Ready cold and compression therapy systems, Therabody recovery devices, and additional equipment designed to support post-training recovery and athlete readiness.
PROFESSIONAL STRENGTH & CONDITIONING AREA
The Academy is equipped with professional training equipment for strength, endurance, mobility, and fencing-specific physical preparation. The area also features a high-performance stationary bike for cardiovascular conditioning, endurance development, and supplemental athletic training.
ATHLETE & FAMILY LOUNGE
Our comfortable lounge provides athletes and families with a dedicated space to relax between training sessions, complete with seating, a mini-kitchen, and a coffee station. ⸻
