+ WHAT IS FENCING

Fencing has been described as swordfighting, physical chess, even art. Fencing is all of these things and more! It develops co-ordination, endurance, reflexes, tactical thinking and sportsmanship to name but a few. Fencing is suitable for any age participant and we offer regular beginner courses throughout the year to start you on your journey in this beautful sport.

+ IS IT SAFE?

In short, yes! Fencing is statistically one of the safest sports you can do. A study of injuries occurring in Olympic competition ranks fencing as having one of the lowest injury rates. Full safety gear is worn at all times during fencing, and the weapons are not sharp at all. Scoring is made by depressing a button at the tip of the weapon on the target area of the opponent. For our youngest fencers, we use soft plastic swords and sturdy, lightweight masks which allow them to to learn and fencing technique in a perfectly safe environment.

+ WHAT SHOULD I WEAR/DO I NEED MY OWN KIT?

If you’re a beginner, you simply need to wear a t-shirt, non-marking trainers and any long sports bottoms, we will provide the rest.

For experienced fencers who are new to the club or just visiting, you will need to bring your own full kit, including 800N plastron and long socks. If you have forgotten any kit, please ask our club secretary, who will do their best to help you.

+ DOES IT HURT?

When done properly, fencing is not painful at all as the force impact is distributed mainly into flexing the blade. However, it is important to note that fencing is a physical sport and that occasionally bruises can occur. Epee requires slightly more force than foil to register a touch (750g compared to 500g) and often has a stiffer blade.

+ WHICH WEAPON SHOULD I START WITH?

Foil has been described to be as close as you can get to classic duelling in modern sport, with the most blade-work and technique. The target area is the torso (representing the vital or lethal area) and it is governed by the right-of-way rule, which helps to encourage the back and forth exchange of a classic duel.

Epee fencing allows you to hit anywhere on the body of your opponent. There is no right-of-way rule so fencers score touches if they both hit each other. This makes epee a generally more defensive weapon as attackers are more vulnerable to counter-attacks, perfect for strategists who like to bide their time and wait for the right moment to strike.

Find out more on our Fencing Explained page.

+ HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?

Simple! All our memberships are available online. Just choose your membership type, click on the option and follow the online instructions. If you are unsure which membership is best for you you can contact us or speak to a member of staff at the club.

If you are at the club in the evening, simply speak to our Club Secretray, Pete, who will activate your membership immediately.

+ HOW DO I CANCEL MY MEMBERSHIP?

You have to cancel your membership online via your account. Instructions on how to do this along with a how-to video at the bottom of the Membership page.