Coach Alan started fencing in 1989 as a high school freshman in New Jersey, and has been fencing off and on ever since. He has been coached by Art Blumert, Mark Holbrow, Bin Lu, Tony Nishimura, and Zeno Doleman. Alan regularly competes at the national level in epee. He finished 2nd at the 2021 Veteran Men's Epee Summer Nationals in the 40-49 age group, 6th in the Veteran's Combined NAC in 2023, and is currently on the Veteran points list for his age group and the Veteran combined.