Team Jason

Behind every great athlete is a team that enables his/her success, and I am no exception. Stretching from Los Angeles to Columbus to New York, I have had the good fortune of working with a number of phenomenal people over the course of my career. Each person has not only provided me with his/her invaluable expertise, but also acted as a friend and counselor during times of need. For that I am grateful. Thanks for everything!

-Jason

Daniel
Vladimir
Lorenzo
Rob
Darlene
Tarek
Scott
Yury

DANIEL COSTIN

Were it not for Daniel Costin, it is unlikely that Jason would still be fencing today.

Jason was introduced to fencing at the age of 10, but after 6 months his interest in the sport began to wane. At that time, Jason and Daniel began working together, and a bond was forged. Daniel's fun-loving approach and indefatigable enthusiasm for the sport captivated Jason, and the rest, as they say, is history. Daniel guided Jason through his days as a goofy, skateboarding teenager to the successful fencer that he is today.

The Costin family (wife Bianca and son Michael) have been an integral part of Jasonís life and career, as their unadulterated support can rival only that of his own parents. After 15 years, Daniel remains Jason's personal coach and mentor. In his own career, Daniel started fencing at the age of ten with famous Romanian coach Ladislau Rohonyi, who helped him become a national champion and member of the Romanian National Saber Team. He earned his coaching degree at the National Institute of Physical Education and Sports in Bucharest, Romania.

After retiring from competitive fencing Daniel became the head coach of the Romanian Olympic Center for Juniors. Between 1989 and 1992 Daniel coached the Romanian Saber Olympic Team. Daniel now resides in Los Angeles, CA and is the head sabre coach at the Los Angeles International Fencing Center.

VLADIMIR NAZLYMOV

While attending The Ohio State University, Jason had the privilege of working with famed Head Coach Vladimir Nazlymov. Jason spent five years in Columbus, Ohio while in school and credits Vladimir as an integral part of his first Olympic berth at the 2004 games in Athens, Greece.

With the help of Vladimir's impeccable instruction and guidance, Jason excelled both academically and athletically earning three bronze medals that NCAA championships as well as the Big Ten Medal of Honor and a Rhodes Scholar Finals Appearance. In addition to his excellent coaching, Vladimir served as a fantastic role model for Jason, as in his own career, his fencing and coaching accomplishments are unparalleled. Competing for the Soviet Union, Nazlymov was a six-time Olympic medalist (1968, 1976, 1980) notching three golds (Team Sabre), two silvers (Team Sabre and Individual) and one bronze (Individual) during his three Olympic Games.

In addition to his numerous Olympic medals, Nazlymov also is a 10-time world champion. Eight of the championships were team titles, while two were individual crowns. In recognition of his tremendous success, Nazlymov was twice named the world's best fencer by the International Fencing Federation. Nazlymov also displayed his exceptional leadership abilities throughout his career. From 1970-80 Nazlymov served as the captain of the USSR Olympic Team as well as the USSR National Team's head coach from 1986-88. In his personal coaching career in the USSR, he guided his students to two Olympic gold medals and 12 world championships as well as eight European Championship crowns.

After moving to the United States, Nazlymov captained the USA team at the World Championships from 1995-97 and at the 1995 and 1997 World University Games and served as the sabre coach for the U.S. National Team from 1994-1999.

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DR. LORENZO GONZALEZ

With the Olympic season ahead of him, Jason began working with Dr. Lorenzo Gonzalez in an effort to ward off any injuries that might put a damper on his Olympic dreams. With a sore knee entering the 2008 qualifying season, Jason was anxious to keep this problem form getting worse. Dr. Gonzalez used a wide variety of modalities to work the problem into submission including Active Release TechniquesÆ and trigger point therapy. 2008 proved to be an injury free season thanks to Dr. Gonzalezís work.

Additionally, Dr. Gonzalez helped Jason and other Olympic fencers (including teammates James Williams and Keeth Smart) to design a physical fitness program that was specifically catered towards the demands of fencing. Dr. Gonzalez drew upon his extensive experience and included such advanced techniques as plyometrics and anaerobic training to get the fencers in the shape for the 2008 season.

By the time Beijing rolled around the team was fit and healthy and ready to take on any team in the world. Dr. Gonzalez traveled with the team (Dr. Gonzalez also aided the Womenís Foil Team in the preparation for the Olympic Games) to Beijing to provide last minute health solutions just before the big show. Both teams credit Dr. Gonzalez as an integral part of both of their silver medal performances.

Dr. Gonzalez has a Masterís Degree from the United States Sports Academy and also received his degree as a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Miami School of Medicine. Dr. Gonzalez is licensed as a Physical Therapist in both New York and Florida and as an Athletic Trainer in New York. He is a registered Sports Medicine Therapist from both the American Sports Medicine Association and the World Organization of Sports Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Gonzalez is a Registered Yoga Therapist from the International Association of Yoga Therapists and a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist from the American Physical Therapy Association.

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DR. ROB UDEWITZ

Dr. Rob Udewitz has been an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Clinical Psychology at Fordham University and a leading practitioner in the application of Sports Psychology. He has been integrating numerous approaches over the past decade in his work with peak performance training.

Himself a runner, Dr. Udewitz utilizes an integrated mind-body approach to help his clients transcend problems and reach their potential. Jason and Rob began working together in August of 2007 while Jason was preparing for the 2008 Olympic Qualifying season. When working with Jason, Dr. Udewitz utilized a number of innovative techniques including Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Biofeedback. Jason credits Dr. Udewitz with helping him attain the competitive edge that aided him during his 2008 season during which he both qualified for the US Olympic Fencing Team and won a Silver Medal in the Men's Sabre Team Event at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

In addition to his work with elite athletes, Dr. Udewitz served in the New York City public schools as a psychologist assessing and treating learning disabled and emotionally disordered children. He continues to consult with the public and private schools, applying behavioral approaches to improve the social and academic functioning of the children he treats. Dr. Udewitz is one of only a handful of psychologists trained in applying cognitive behavioral and biofeedback techniques in his work with children and adolescents.

Dr. Udewitz also served as Chief of Staff at a large outpatient mental health clinic in Manhattan where he was responsible for supervising a team of psychologists and social workers. Dr. Udewitz is a member of the American Psychological Association, The New York State Psychological Association, and The Association for Applied Biofeedback and Psychophysiology. Dr. Udewitz received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Hofstra University.

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DARLENE KORF-CONTE

During his 2007 fencing season, Jason had the privilege of teaming up with Darlene Korf-Conte, one of LA's best and brightest Pilates instructors. Darlene has been teaching Pilates since 1999. Having studied under Master Teacher Romana Kryzanowska, she received her certification from The Pilates Studio of New York, which was the original and only school to which Joseph Pilates endowed his methodology.

After studying dance since the age of six, she went on to a professional career in the arts and performed throughout the country. Since founding Body By Pilates in 2002 In Los Angeles (Brentwood), CA, she has toured North America as the personal Pilates instructor to the Dixie Chicks on their "Top of the World Tour - 2003" and has been featured on "VH-1 All Access Spotlight the Dixie Chicks" as well as USA Network's "Alternative Workouts Weekend". Her celebrity clientele includes the Dixie Chicks, Joan Osborne, Shawn Colvin, Natasha Allas (Miss World USA 2000) among many others.

Darlene worked rigorously with Jason to develop a program that would help Jason balance out his body from years in an asymmetrical sport as well as lengthen his muscles to provide the extra reach that is so critical in fencing. Darleneís profound understanding of the human body coupled with her natural exuberance made her a natural choice for Jasonís supplemental training needs.

Additionally, the environment at Body by Pilates allowed for a great working atmosphere with the opportunity to have fun while getting down to business. Whether they were blasting Justin Timberlake and doing a difficult ab session or working hard on the reformer to stretch just a little bit further, Jason and Darlene made the most of their time working together.

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DR. TAREK ADRA

After moving back to Los Angeles upon graduating from The Ohio State University in 2006, Jason was in dire need of a medical practitioner to help with his various fencing related ailments.

Luckily, his search was short lived, as he found his way to the office of Dr. Tarek Adra, D.C., L.Ac. in Century City. Over the course of 2007 season, Dr. Adra diligently worked with Jason to help keep him healthy in between competitions by using a variety of modalities including Active Release TechniquesÆ and Acupuncture. With experience in fencing and martial arts, Dr. Adra was the perfect person to create a program designed to promote overall body health and act preventatively against the commonplace injuries that plague all athletes. Thanks to Dr. Adraís care and guidance, Jason avoided any major injuries before the 2008 Olympic Games.

Dr. Tarek Adra started his career as a doctor of pharmacy in both community and hospital settings. However, after growing frustrated with the ìallopathicî approach to medicine, he decided to pursue his career as a doctor of chiropractic with a Masterís degree in Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture. Dr. Adra graduated Deanís list with both latter degrees from the Southern California University of Health Sciences and is a board certified doctor of Chiropractic and Licensed Acupuncturist in the state of California. He is a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and holds a series of certifications from the McKenzie Institute of Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment and Active Release Soft Tissue Management System to name a few. He was also on the research team at the Southern California University of Health Sciences and one of the co-authors of Scientific Basis for Ayurvedic Therapies, CRC press, 2004.

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DR. SCOTT WEISS

Dr. Scott Weiss - owner and clinical director of Bodhizone for Human Performance & Sports Physical Therapy, PC - is a seasoned veteran of both enhancing sports performance and providing physical therapy care. Throughout his career he had the pleasure and good fortune to work with some of the world's elite athletes. These include several United States Olympic Teams, National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL) and the New York Liberty-WNBA. In 2004 and 2008, Scott was chosen to be part of our Unites States sports medicine teams were he provided emergency medical and physical therapy services to all our US athletes.
Despite not meeting each other in Athens or Beijing, Jason and Scott are now linked in New York, and Scott is overseeing all of Jason’s medical care and supplemental training. Jason is tremendously lucky to be working with such as consummate professional with a passion for learning and excelling as he himself possesses. Jason works constantly with Scott’s exceptional Bodhizone staff members such as, Marc Bruck (Personal Training), Renee Pirie (Pilates), Dr. Darren Pollack (D.C.) and Eileen Egan (Massage Therapy).
Dr. Scott is a licensed physical therapist and board certified athletic trainer in the state of New York. He is also a registered exercise physiologist, strength and conditioning specialist and advanced personal trainer with over fifteen years of experience. Scott possesses both a bachelor's and master's degree in exercise physiology and a doctorate in physical therapy.

His affiliations and certifications with all the major certifying bodies domestically and internationally like the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS), American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), American Society of Exercise Physiologist (ASEP), allows him to be a consultant to collegiate, professional and Olympic athletes as well as a trainer to the stars.

Additionally, Scott is a martial arts practitioner and instructor with a black belt in Tang Soo Do. He is also a certified Lo Han Qiqong instructor. Scott is an avid rock climber and when he is not on the rock, you can find him doing gymnastics, yoga or some other type of bodywork outdoors. His deeply rooted interest in the study of human movement makes him a fan of all sports and body expression.

Scott's emphasis of research and area of expertise in physical therapy is rehabilitation of the knee and shoulder as his specialty in exercise is biomechanics of movement and cardiac rehabilitation. As an author and lecturer, Dr Weiss has written a myriad of articles and has lectured in almost every university in greater New York. His lectures and articles are on the prevention of exercise injures, flexibility, weight-loss and integrative medicine.
His clinical experience over the years fostered his ideas into research so far that he has been published in peer reviewed medical journals. Scott also lectures for both profit and non-profit organizations on exercise, nutrition, public health, safety and first aid. Dr. Weiss is involved with charitable organizations and gives his time freely to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Boomer Esiasion Foundation, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, NY Road Runners Club (NYC Marathon), Long Island Transplant Organization and many high-schools and colleges in New York State.

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YURY GELMAN

After the Olympics in Beijing, Jason began working closely with Yury Gelman who is the founder of the Manhattan Fencing Center - where Jason now trains in New York City - and a three time US Olympic Coach for the United States (Sydney, Athens and Beijing). Additionally he is also the Fencing Coach for NCAA Champion St. John’s University (‘01) as well as being an honorary coach of Ukraine. He received a Masters degree in both Physical Education and fencing from Kiev Institute of Physical Education. His students have won gold, silver and bronze at Cadet and Junior World Championships and numerous medals in junior and senior World Cups including winning the individual and team Grand Prize. Several of Yury’s students were the first Americans to bring home the Gold medal at the Junior World Championships in men’s sabre in ‘01 (Jason Rogers, Ivan Lee and Tim Hagamen). Other famous students include Akhi Spencer-El, who was the first US fencer to be ranked first in the Junior international point standings (‘98) and Keeth Smart was also the first US fencer to be ranked number one in the senior international point standings (‘03). Keeth Smart, is still the only American who has won the individual Grand Prize (Madrid 2003) in men’s sabre. Under Yury’s direction, the United States National Team has grown to be an international powerhouse, winning the team Grand Prize ‘04, finishing 4th place at ‘04 Olympic Games in Athens and nabbing the Silver Medal at 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (Keeth Smart, Tim Morehouse, James Williams, Jason Rogers).