The Adventure Begins!
Learn to fence, have fun and meet new friends! At Tidewater Fencing Club’s beginner fencing classes, you’ll learn all the fundamentals of one of the oldest Olympic sports, then get to apply them in freestyle bouting (sparring) with other beginners.
Fencing is a great workout, so be sure to wear clothing appropriate for athletic activity, such as tennis shoes, long athletic pants, and a t-shirt. Knee-length shorts or leggings are permitted in the summertime. All protective equipment and fencing weapons will be provided at no charge for student use during class.
Beginner Fencing Class: Level 1
Level 1 classes are intended for those who have never fenced before, or who have taken an Introductory Class. Class sessions are held once a week for four weeks, and THE CLUB MONTHLY SCHEDULE BEGINS ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH, with Level 1 classes starting the Tuesday and Saturday after that.
Students will learn:
- the history of fencing as an Olympic sport
- safety rules and fencing etiquette
- proper en garde stance and basic footwork
- how to execute simple attacks
- how to defend against simple attacks
Class Schedule
- Option 1: Tuesdays
- 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
- Instructor: Meredith Powers
- Option 2: Saturdays
- 9:00 am – 10:00 am
- Instructor: Brian Joyner
Student Requirements
- No previous fencing experience is required.
- Students should be at least 8 years old. Younger students may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, contact us for details.
Next Steps
Upon instructor approval, students may enroll in the next available Beginner Level 2 Class.
Beginner Fencing Class: Level 2
Level 2 classes are intended for those who have completed our Beginner Level 1 class, or have had some basic fencing training in the past. Class sessions are held once a week for four weeks, and THE CLUB MONTHLY SCHEDULE BEGINS ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH, with Level 2 classes starting the Tuesday and Saturday after that.
Students will learn:
- smoother footwork/better distance control
- how to string together attacks to deceive an opponents defense
- how to defend against complex attacks
Class Schedule
- Option 1: Tuesdays
- 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Instructor: Tim Vincent
- Option 2: Saturdays
- 10:00 am – 11:00 am
- Instructor: Tim Vincent
Student Requirements
- Some previous fencing experience is required. This requirement may be satisfied by completing our Beginner Level 1 class, or with the equivalent level of experience from another club.
- Students should be at least 8 years old. Younger students may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, contact us for details.
Next Steps
Upon instructor approval, students may become full members of Tidewater Fencing Club to fence with other members and start taking Intermediate Classes to continue their fencing training and aid the transition from beginner to club member.
Adult Beginner Fencing Class: Level 1
Level 1 classes are intended for those who have never fenced before, or who have taken an Introductory Class. The Adult classes are for age 18+ and focus on the epee weapon. Class sessions are held once a week for four weeks, and THE CLUB MONTHLY SCHEDULE BEGINS ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH, with Level 1 classes starting the Saturday after that.
Students will learn:
- safety rules and fencing etiquette
- proper en garde stance and basic footwork
- valid target and method of scoring in epee
- how to execute simple attacks
- how to defend against simple attacks
Class Schedule
- Saturdays, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Instructor: Tim Vincent
Student Requirements
- No previous fencing experience is required.
- Students should be at least 18 years old. Younger students should take our other Level 1 class offering (see above).
Next Steps
Upon instructor approval, students may enroll in the next available Adult Beginner Level 2 Class.
Adult Beginner Fencing Class: Level 2
Level 2 classes are intended for those who have completed our Adult Beginner Level 1 class, or have had some basic fencing training in the past. The Adult classes are for age 18+ and focus on the epee weapon. Class sessions are held once a week for four weeks, and THE CLUB MONTHLY SCHEDULE BEGINS ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH, with Level 2 classes starting the Saturday after that.
Students will learn:
- smoother footwork/better distance control
- how to string together attacks to deceive an opponents defense
- how to defend against complex attacks
Class Schedule
- Saturdays, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Instructor: Tim Vincent
Student Requirements
- Some previous fencing experience is required. This requirement may be satisfied by completing our Adult Beginner Level 1 class, or with the equivalent level of experience from another club.
- Students should be at least 18 years old. Younger students should take our other Level 2 class offering (see above).
Next Steps
Upon instructor approval, students may become full members of Tidewater Fencing Club to fence with other members and start taking Intermediate Classes to continue their fencing training and aid the transition from beginner to club member.
Beginner Class Pricing
- $100/month for an individual
- additional family members can be added at a 50% discount
- Military discount: $10 off per month (limit one per family, NOT applicable to additional family members)
USA Fencing Membership
Tidewater Fencing Club is a proud member club of USA Fencing. In order to fulfill insurance requirements, all of our students and club members are required to be current members of USA Fencing. This can be satisfied by filling out a USA Fencing Trial Membership Application. This trial membership is valid for 90 consecutive days following the date of signing. Please screenshot or print out a copy of the filled-out form to show us at your first class session.
After the 90 day trial period ends, all participants will need, at minimum, a USA Fencing "Access" membership, which is $29 per fencer, per season. Seasons run August through July.