A Fencing Professional for more than forty years, Mel North is Internationaly recognized as a leading teacher and innovator in modern Fencing...truly a Maestro's Maestro. North was one of the mentors in the writing of the first tests for Masters for The United State's National Coach's Association. Maestro North was inducted as a Member of the World Masters Federation in 1956.
He has trained many Masters and Coaches, including: Jo Redmon ( Cal State Long Beach), Jim White ( U.C. San Diego ), Stewart Lee ( now UCSD ), Hassan Ali ( Salle D'Ali ), Randy Mc Kenzie ( Cal State San Diego), Ken Morgareidge ( Denver ), Sherry Woodruff ( Cheyenne Fencing Society ), J.L. Jackson ( Salle Jackson ), Nestor Rosario ( Salle Providencia ), and Teddy Katzoff ( Westside Fencing Center ).

Mel North has studied under the watchful eyes of some of the finest Masters in Europe and the former Soviet Union. The distingushed faculity: Maitres Gourge, Nole, Genin, Donnendieu, Pardo and the Great Michael Pecheux at the Racing Club de France, and The I.N.S. in France. Maitres Beke and Zabo of Hungary, Maitre Von Devroot of the Netherlands, Maitre Chaikowski of Poland, Maitres Laitman, Urolov, Middler, of the Soviet Union, the Great Aldo Nadi of Italy, and in 1990-91 and 92, with the Ukrainian National Coach, Victor Bykov at the Olympic camp near Kiev, Ukraine.

He was eight times Coach of World Teams, including United States World Championships Teams in Rotterdam,( He was The Coach of the first United State's Junior Team to attend the World Championships),Head Foil Coach, Montreal, Head Foil Coach, Cuba, Saudi Arabian University World teams... Foil, Epee & Sabre.He was United States Consultant to the Japanese Olympic Team, United States Consultant/Coach of the Korean Olympic Team, 9 Martini Rossi Challenge Teams, and formed, with Raoul Sudre, The United States Professional World Championship Team, and later was appointed Coach and Manager of that Team...The Team won the World Championships in London in 1972.. At the Nationals in New York, North was Commissioned to supplement the Training of Japanese fencer, Takauchi, who later won the U.S. National Women's Foil Championship.

From the 1960's through the early 80's North had in that era, amassed a record unequalled by any other American born Fencing Master.

Maitre North has produced so many Divisional, Regional, National, and some International Champions, that the Salle de Nord Alumini list reads like a Who's Who list of modern American Fencing. And, most recently in 1997,1998, 1999, 2000,..Barry Tompkins of Canada, won Gold and Silver medals in the Pentathlon World Cup.Bronze in Pan Am Games, Mexican National Penthathlon Championships, and more.

In 1999, Mel North's new fencers dominated the Nevada Division's Championships: Michelle Brinlee winning the Women's Epee. In 2000, Michelle, then 14, won the Foil, Epee, and the Sabre Championships.
Kimberlee Montoya, is another star ascending.. being a constant medalist and ranked 4th in the Country in Youth 14 Epee.. Kian Ameli, ranked 2nd in the United States, in the Youth 10 epee, won the Gold in Sarasoto New York in February,2002.His sister, eight year old Nicole Ameli was 12th in youth 10 Epee.

The record shows the ability of Maitre North to tutor students to the best of their ability...His students have been on over 50 World Teams, 6 Olympic Teams, 7 Pan Am Teams, 15 World Cups, World University Games Teams, 9 Martini Rossi Challenge Teams, and 5 Maccabiah Games Teams.

His students have won Individual Gold and Silver medals in the Maccabiah Games, Pan Am Games, Mexican National Championships, and six Canadian Terres des Hommes Championships.
Maitre North was selected The U.S. Consultant/ Coach to the Olympic Fencing Team of Korea, and Coach to the Saudi Arabian World University Games Team.

Some of his students( the former Who's Who ) have been and still are Officers of The U.S.F.A, including Carl Borack, former National Foil Champion, Maccabiah Games Sabre Champion, 4 times Olympic Team Captain, and present representative to F.I.E. Joe Elliott, former National Epee Champion, member of the Gold medal Maccabiah Team., Peter Schiffrin, National Epee Champion, Donald Alperstein, former President of U.S.F.A...now the Legal Counsul of U.S.F.A, Gerry Baumgart, U.S.F.A. Vice President and representative to F.I.E., Sherry ( Rose ) Posthumous, U.S.F.A.. Vice President, Sam Cheris, Former President of U.S.F.A.... and representative to F.I.E.... and there is more, too much to write here.

Maitre North has also served as Director of the Olympic Camp on the West Coast, Director of the Junior Olympic Training Programs on the West Coast. A past President of the Western Intercollegiate Fencing Conference ( men ), Former Chairman of the Western  Intercollegiate Association ( women) , Member of the United States Commission on Rules and Officials, 1972-1984) Former Head Fencing Coach of The University of California, at Los Angeles.. for two decades, and the Current Director of Nevada's Junior Olympic Training Programs at the American foundation for Fencing in Las Vegas.

The Credentials of Mel North speak for him as the proven and, "Highly experienced maker of Champions...."
As an extra bit of information... Clark County P.E. Credits may be earned, for 60 hours per semester,at the American Foundation for Ballet/Fencing.

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