Team Information

Joyeuse is the name of Charlemagne's sword -- the sword of a great warrior king.  Clearly the sword was used well. Today, in our club. we seek to use well the modern descendants of swords like Charlemagne's -- to be victorious, but in sport. 

This Atlanta area fencing club began with a few students taking lessons from Coach Don on sidewalks and driveways.  It moved inside and has continued to grow.  The focus has been on instruction through individual lessons.  As we grow, we are including some work in a group format.   

The Coach

Don Hilton has trained fencers who have brought home medals from national level competitions. He learned to fence while taking his children to fencing classes.  But, along the way he was enlisted to help instruct some of the younger fencers in the club.  Working under Les Stawicki, (an internationally known fencing coach), Don began to learn the art of coaching fencing.  With a job change, Don moved from Louisville, KY to Warner Robins, GA.  He continued to coach and trained fencers who took medals in competitions around Georgia and at the national level. Two job changes later, Don found himself in Johns Creek, GA.  With a request to coach a family member who wanted to fence in the local high school league, Don was back to coaching with lessons in a driveway.  Others joined the lessons.  And with Don serving as a referee in the league, some others sought lessons from Don as well.  And, Don was invited to become the Coach of the Johns Creek High School Team. In the first season coaching the JCHS team, the team took a first place trophy in the men's team final.