City College has been very fortunate with its lineage of fencing instructors. Amongst them are Helena Meyer (former Olympian Gold Medallist in Women's foil), Maestro Piller (former Gold Medallist in Saber and National Hungarian Coach), and Maestro Marki (Graduate of the Royal Military Fencing Academy of Hungary). The national recognition of fencing in the bay area is, in a small part, due to this long tradition of teachers at CCSF's North Gym. But the fencing program has also had its share of diverse professionals who have taken the class; amongst them were physicians, lawyers, bank executives, CCSF/SF State teachers, engineers, firefighters and accountants. Though most important are the everyday students who are fascinated by the physical conditioning, skill, concentration, and strategy of this combative and martial sport. Fencing can be difficult because it demands of you to be a chess player, pianist, gymnast, sprinter, and philosopher...all the while in theory your opponent engages you in combat. George Nonomura once said, fencing is quite unlike chess ...fencing makes you sweat.