How long are group instruction classes at The Fencing Academy of Philadelphia?

Beginner classes are 1 hour, Intermediate classes 1.5 hours and Novice & Higher classes are 2 hours.

Which Fencing group do I belong in?

In the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia program, Youth is 8-12 years of age, Cadet is 13-16 and anyone 17+ should do adult classes.

What do I need for a beginner's fencing class?

You should wear sport clothing that you can move and get sweaty in with lace up or Velcro sneakers. No sandals of any kind, including Crocs or "sport" sandals are allowed. Shirts must be short sleeved or longer. No tank tops are allowed. Bring a water bottle. Equipment is provided for Beginners. -Intermediate classes need: glove, mask, French grip practice foil, carry bag. -Novice classes need: complete uniform jacket, plastron, knickers (pants), chest protection for women -Electric/Competitive classes need: personal electronic scoring equipment appropriate to your weapon

Where can I get Fencing equipment?

You can get equipment from the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia pro shop or an online vendor.

Can I just come and fence at The Fencing Academy of Philadelphia?

Already a fencer with your own equipment? We offer fencing only memberships for College students and adults which include a discount on private lessons. We also have a drop- in floor fee. For adults $25 and students $20 to come and fence for an evening.

I already have some experience with Fencing, but what if I want to do group training at The Fencing Academy of Philadelphia?

Already a fencer with your own equipment? We offer fencing only memberships for College students and adults which include a discount on private lessons. We also have a drop- in floor fee. For adults $25 and students $20 to come and fence for an evening.

Can I take private Fencing lessons to start with?

You can, but we strongly discourage this for beginners. It is more fun to learn with classmates and imperfect partners present their own unique challenges, so it is important to practice with many kinds of opponents, who will often react unexpectedly

How often should I attend Fencing lessons?

You should attend class at least twice a week. Classes at each of our main locations are offered 3x weekly. Attend as much as you can - you have to not just learn skills, but practice them! After all, just because you know how to do something does not mean that you are any good at it.

What is the situation on Fencing refunds/makeups at The Fencing Academy of Philadelphia?

There are no refunds or makeups. Classes are offered multiple days at multiple locations for your convenience.

When can I start competing in Fencing?

You should begin competing when you finish the Novice course and have your own scoring equipment.

Where are Fencing competitions held in Philadelphia?

FAP hosts a tournament almost every weekend, excepting weekends when National tournaments are scheduled. Local, Division level events are hosted by fencing clubs belonging to Philadelphia Division of USA Fencing. Regional and National tournaments are generally held at convention centers.

How old are the fencers at The Fencing Academy of Philadelphia?

You are never too old to learn fencing. Although we have classes for children, we also have a very active adult program for both post college and for older adults.

Is fencing an NCAA sport?

Yes, NCAA fencing exists at many Universities. Where there is no varsity program, there is often a fencing club.

Is Fencing in the Olympics?

Fencing is one of five sports that has always been in the Olympic program.

Where can I watch Fencing?

You can watch fencing at your local fencing club, or on YouTube or the FIE Channel (Federation Internationale Escrime).

Fencing Facts Archives - Fencing Academy of Philadelphia

The History of Fencing

The History of Fencing is a long and storied one, and while sword-fighting has been around for thousands of years, the sport of fencing has ancient origins and is believed to have developed from the similar techniques of swordplay, wrestling, and boxing. The first recorded evidence of fencing as a competitive sport was around 588 […]

Does Fencing Hurt?

When you think of fencing, you might think it’s a dangerous sport – after all, swinging swords at each other must be dangerous, right?! Well, our experience (and studies!) have shown it’s one of the safest sports you can take part in. Everything about modern fencing is built with safety first in mind, from the […]

Practice Fencing with Video

Hello All, Below is a link to some fencing training videos, suitable for all levels. For those who are more advanced, the preparatory footwork review is work! When you are a new beginner you don’t realize how much strength and control some of the basic exercises require (partly because as a new beginner you […]

Practice Makes Better

Hello All, Although this is a foil lesson (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSBmGC6z_E0), it is a good example of a solid working lesson for an experienced young fencer. I chose this particular lesson because the fencer demonstrates what we are trying to achieve in our daily fencing academy practice. Note the depth of the guard position that facilitates: the […]

It’s Just a Fleche Wound

Whenever I tell someone that I am a competitive fencer, they usually ask one of the following questions: “Doesn’t it hurt to get stabbed with a sword?” “You must get injured a lot in a sport like that.” Now these are reasonable questions especially, to somebody who doesn’t know a whole lot about the sport […]

When Will We Learn?

For those who don’t play video games, the concept of ‘joysticking’ as a coach refers to coaches who are micro-managing the performance of their athletes in every bout, telling them what to do and when to do it every step of the way, with the athlete merely a conduit for the coach’s thoughts, like a […]

Competitive Goals for the Fencer

Managing your pool round Let’s assume that you have been training regularly, have all the equipment you need to compete and have made sure that you are otherwise ready for your competition (you are rested, you are at the event an hour before check in closes to get a good warm-up, including practice bouts, you […]

Fencing Academy of Philadelphia

Beginner to World Champion since 1989!

Category: Fencing Facts