Mikhail Sarkisov

Maestro Mikhail Sarkisov, Co-Founder and Co-Head Coach of Grand Rapids Fencing Academy, was chosen as “2004 Developmental Coach of the Year” by the United States Fencing Association (USFA). 

An internationally successful fencer from the former Soviet Union, Maestro Mikhail was also a member of the Soviet National Fencing Team.

• Master\Maestro of Sport in Fencing 1980

• 1985 USSR National Fencing Champion

• 1986 USSR National Fencing Silver Medalist

• 1987 USSR National Fencing Silver Medalist

• USSR Collegiate National Fencing Championship Silver Medalist

• Champion (many times) & Medalist at the annual Azerbaijan State Championships

• Medalist at Ukraine Championships, as member of Ukrainian National Team 1988-1989

Maestro Mikhail went on to become a member of the Ukraine National team until 1989, when he retired from competitive fencing.

Prior to retiring from competition, Maestro Mikhail graduated in 1984 with a B.S. in Physical Education, a Major in Teacher of Physical Education & Coaching, and a minor in Physical Therapy from the Azerbaijan State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport Academy.

Maestro Mikhail earned a Master (Maestro) Degree in Fencing in 1980. 

Maestro Mikhail relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in February 1993 and became the first-ever professional fencing coach in the West Michigan region.

In 1993, he started coaching at the newly formed West Michigan Fencing Academy, where he coached fencing students and instructors, some of whom continued coaching at WMFA long after Maestro left for Grand Rapids Fencing Academy. 

In 2002, he and his brother, Maestro Arkadiy Sarkisov, started Grand Rapids Advanced Fencing Academy (GRAFA), the premier fencing club in West Michigan.

He has been coaching fencing students and instructors in West Michigan for the past 30+ years.

Maestro Mikhail also graduated from Aquinas College in Management of Computer Information Systems, and works full-time as Cybersecurity Principal Manager at Amway. 

Additionally, Maestro Mikhail is an adjunct professor of Kinesiology at Aquinas College, and coaches fencing.

Through Maestro's unwavering dedication to his students, GRAFA has fostered 8 National Champions, first-team all-Americans, a Northwestern University Hall of Fame athlete (his daughter Dayana), and members of the United States, Latvian, and Philippines National teams, who have proudly represented their respective countries at the World Cups and World Championships.

From 2006 to 2009, Maestros coached the United States’ travel team in women's Cadets and Junior foil teams, coaching them to gold medals in many World and European Cup competitions.

Maestro's students have gone on to attend Northwestern, Notre Dame, Cornell, Temple, NYU, Boston College, Brandeis, Michigan State, Wayne State, University of Michigan, and UNC on various fencing scholarships. 

In 2021 alone, four GRAFA alumni students qualified for the NCAA Fencing Championships.