Globus Coaches
Hyokun Lee
Coach Hyo-Kun Lee holds the esteemed position of Head Coach at Globus Fencing Academy. Graduating from Korean National Sports University, he distinguished himself as a top athlete on the university's fencing team, earning a bachelor's degree in Sports Education in 1990.
Selected to the Korean National Fencing Team at a mere 18 years old, Coach Lee made history as the youngest Korean fencer to join the national team. His illustrious tenure with the team from 1984 to 1996 included remarkable achievements such as multiple Asian Games appearances and Olympic participation, garnering silver medals in the Asian Games in 1990, 1991, and 1994, and gold medals in the Asian Olympic qualifiers in 1988 and 1996. He competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Transitioning to coaching, Coach Lee established pioneering fencing programs in Busan, South Korea, and led Dongeuidae University's highly regarded fencing team from 2000 to 2018. His initiatives introduced saber fencing to Busan, previously nonexistent in the city's sporting landscape.
With roles as the National Women's Saber Coach and subsequently as the National Men’s Saber Team Coach from 2014 to 2017, Coach Lee has shaped elite athletes, notably coaching one to an Olympic Bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Committed to nurturing excellence and instilling an unwavering work ethic in our fencers, Coach Lee embodies a steadfast dedication to their holistic development.
Namgil Woo
Coach Woo brings over 16 years of experience as a highly respected saber fencing coach in South Korea. After graduating as a member of the fencing team at Dong-Eui University under the guidance of our head coach; Coach Lee. After he joined the Daegu Professional team after his collegiate career.
Coach Woo began his coaching career in Korea in 2009. During his coaching career in Korea, Coach Woo played a pivotal role in the development of numerous athletes, leading them to remarkable achievements on the national and international stage.
His coaching contributed to multiple medal-winning performances, solidifying his reputation as a skilled and dedicated mentor in the fencing community.
In 2021, Coach Woo expanded his career internationally, bringing his expertise to the United States to continue nurturing and guiding talented fencers.
Ali Pakdaman
Coach Ali brings elite international and Olympic level experience to Globus Fencing Academy. He is a three time Olympic sabre fencer who represented Iran at the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, finishing 4th place at the Paris 2024 Olympics and reaching a career high world ranking of No. 3.
He began fencing at the age of 16 and quickly rose to the highest level of international competition. Throughout his career, Coach Ali has earned multiple medals at the Asian Games, Asian Championships, World Cups, and World Championships, consistently placing among the top sabre fencers in the world. His achievements include Asian Championship titles, World Cup medals across Europe, Africa, and Asia, and repeated top 5 finishes at World Championships.
With nearly two decades of experience competing at the highest level, Coach Ali brings world class training standards, tactical depth, and international perspective to Globus. His background as an Olympian and national team leader uniquely positions him to guide fencers pursuing national, international, and collegiate level goals.
Rubin Hong
Coach Rubin is a valued member of our coaching team, renowned for his expertise in imparting a solid foundation, refined technique, and the distinctive physical attributes associated with Korean-style fencing.
Serving as both our Team Captain in the elite class and a competitive athlete in Division 1 with a national ranking, Rubin brings a wealth of reliability and leadership to our academy. His deep understanding of Korean fencing techniques and unwavering motivation inspire our fencers to excel.
Rubin’s coaching style emphasizes discipline and a strong work ethic, ensuring that each athlete receives unparalleled training tailored to their needs.
Hareem Ahmad
Coach Hareem has been a nationally and internationally ranked fencer, having competed for both the USA and Pakistan.
She was introduced to saber fencing as a student athlete at MIT, where she studied Management and Finance. After college, she juggled a career on Wall Street with fencing competitively. She has trained under a number of well-known coaches, including Jarek Koniusz, Oleg Stetsiv, and Ed Korfanty.
Coach Hareem’s philosophy is that fencing represents life. The lessons learned on the strip help students navigate challenges outside the club, so her focus is on instilling a positive attitude and a strong work ethic and teaching her students to set high goals and to fight to achieve them. She brings a decade of experience working with children to the club (along with a few kids of her own) and is dedicated to supporting each and every athlete on their journey to success.
Tony Escueta
Coach Tony, a 2-time All-American fencer comes to Globus Fencing Academy after a distinguished NCAA college fencing career at Brandeis University.
Some of Tony’s NCAA accolades include:
NCAA ALL-AMERICAN Second Team Honors- 2024
NCAA ALL-AMERICAN Third Team Honors- 2023
UAA Presidents Council Scholar Athlete Team
USFCA Men’s Saber Athlete of the Year 2024
USFCA Division III Men’s Saber Athlete of the Year 2022-2024
USFCA Division III Newcomer of the Year Award 2022
Three-time NCAA National Fencing Championships Qualifier
Tony began his fencing roots in Texas and grew up in the DFW area. He has trained several well-known coaches, including Michael D’Asaro Jr, Matt Zich, and of course Coach Hyo Kun Lee.
In addition to his distinguished NCAA record, Tony is an active competitor at the Division 1 North American and international levels.
His highest ranking is 15th in the U.S., with multiple podium finishes at North American Cups in the past few seasons, including 5th in the 2025 Men’s Saber National Championship in Los Angeles, CA this year.
A Brandeis University graduate in May 2025, Tony holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and international Global Studies, with minors in Law Study and Anthropology.
Tony’s comprehensive fencing experiences will make him a very valuable resource for fencers, from beginners to those aspiring to compete at the collegiate, national, and international levels.
Catherine Kim
Coach Catherine brings NCAA Division I fencing experience to Globus Fencing Academy. She competed for both the United States Air Force Academy and Penn State University.
She began fencing in Texas, where she trained under Coach Lee Hyo Kun, and quickly advanced through national competitions. At the Air Force Academy, she qualified for the NCAA Championships as a freshman before transferring to Penn State to continue Division I competition.
Catherine graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
Her experience across two NCAA programs, combined with training under an internationally recognized coach, prepares her to guide students pursuing fencing at the collegiate and national levels.
tim hoffman
Tim’s fencing journey began during his college years at George Mason University, where he quickly developed a deep love for the sport. He later served as president of the university’s fencing club, leading the team through three successful seasons that resulted in multiple medals and conference championship titles.
After graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Tim continued to build his coaching experience, including time at Capital Fencing Academy, before joining Zeta Fencing in Natick, Massachusetts in January 2020. There, he trained for five years under U.S. Olympic coach Zoran Tulum, gaining invaluable insight into high level national and international competition.
What truly sets Tim apart is his ability to communicate complex techniques in a clear, engaging, and accessible way, especially for younger athletes who are just beginning their fencing journey. His patient and encouraging coaching style have helped students of all skill levels build confidence, discipline, and a genuine love for the sport.
Throughout his career, Tim has also worked alongside coaches and athletes from the French and British national teams, bringing a well-rounded and international perspective to his coaching approach. His students have earned numerous regional medals and achieved strong national rankings.
We are thrilled to welcome Coach Tim to the Globus family and look forward to the growth and success our athletes will experience under his guidance.
hangil jeong
Fresh from Korea's elite saber fencing scene, Coach Hangil Jeong joins the Globus coaching team. He most recently competed as a member of the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Sangmu), Korea's elite military sports program reserved for the nation's top ranked athletes, following more than a decade of national and international competition.
Coach Jeong won the team gold medal in Men's Saber at the 2019 Summer Universiade in Naples, Italy, representing South Korea on the world stage. He also earned team gold and individual bronze at the 2022 Asian U23 Fencing Championship in Kuwait City, and represented Korea as a junior national team member at the 2016 World Junior Fencing Championships in Bourges, France. On the domestic circuit, he captured the individual title at the 2024 Korea Fencing Federation National Championship and the 2023 Korea University Fencing Championship, along with team gold at the 62nd Presidential National Fencing Championship. He has also competed across the FIE World Cup circuit in Tunis, Plovdiv, Madrid, Budapest, and Padova, recording multiple top 25 international finishes.
Trained through Korea's renowned national development system, the same pipeline that produced Korea's Olympic saber champions, Coach Jeong brings championship level technique, discipline, and competitive insight to our Globus fencers.
adam lai
Coach Adam brings over 15 years of competitive fencing experience and a unique perspective as both a nationally ranked athlete and NCAA Division I competitor. A lifelong Globus Fencing Academy fencer, he trained under Coach Hyo-Kun Lee from a young age before continuing his career at Princeton University. During his collegiate career, Coach Adam competed for the Princeton Men's Varsity Fencing Team, earning Second Team All-Ivy honors in 2025 and receiving the Todd Harris Princeton Fencing Medal. He was also recognized as a USFCA All-Academic Scholar of Distinction and helped lead Princeton to consecutive Ivy League Championships in 2024 and 2025. Coach Adam graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in Economics and a minor in Finance.
Prior to college, Coach Adam established himself as one of the nation's top junior sabre fencers, reaching a career high national ranking of No. 3 in Juniors. His accomplishments include a bronze medal at the 2022 Junior Pan American Championships, a silver medal at the 2022 Junior Olympics, a gold medal at the 2021 July Challenge North American Cup, and a bronze medal in the Senior event at the 2021 USA Fencing Summer National Championships.
In addition to his competitive career, Coach Adam has coached at the Princeton Fencing Summer Camp. His coaching philosophy emphasizes strong technical fundamentals, confidence, discipline, and a competitive mindset. Having progressed from beginner classes at Globus to competing at the NCAA and international junior levels, he understands every stage of an athlete's development and is committed to helping each student reach their full potential.