Meet Coach Wally Mendoza
Saber Coach — Los Gatos
Bay Area Fencing Club is proud to welcome Coach Walbert “Wally” Mendoza, an internationally accomplished saber athlete and former Philippine National Team coach. With more than 25 years of competitive and coaching experience, Coach Wally brings exceptional technical knowledge, tactical insight, and a proven ability to develop athletes from strong fundamentals to national and international competition.
International Competitive Career
Coach Wally represented the Philippines internationally from 1997 to 2014 and held the country’s No. 1 national ranking in men’s saber throughout his competitive career. His major accomplishments include:
- Bronze Medal, Men’s Saber Individual: 2005 Bangkok World Cup.
- Four-time SEA Games Individual Gold Medalist: 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2011.
- Top 32: 2002 Senior World Championships in Lisbon.
- Multiple SEA Games team and individual medals.
- Two-time 2024 North American Cup Veteran Saber Champion.
National-Team Coaching Experience
From 2016 to 2019, Coach Wally served as a saber coach for the Philippine National Team. Under his guidance, Philippine athletes earned four medals at the 2019 SEA Games, including gold in Women’s Individual Saber and silver in Men’s Individual Saber.
Coaching Approach
Coach Wally emphasizes precise fundamentals, explosive footwork, tactical decision-making, and confidence under pressure. He develops individualized training plans for his students and combines the perspective of an elite international competitor, national-team coach, and former FIE-certified referee to help every athlete understand both how to execute an action and when to use it.