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Fencing classes for beginners


A new eight-week course for adults and children aged eight or above will start on Tuesday 23 September 2008. If you would like to join this class please contact us.

 

The class, which will take place from 7.00pm to 8.00pm, will be led by Olly Bickley, a qualified British Fencing Association (BFA) foil coach. Beginners should wear trainers, tracksuit or similar loose trousers and a T-shirt; the club provides fencing equipment that conforms to current BFA/CEN safety specifications. It is only possible to join the class in the first week; late registrations are not accepted. The first four classes are crucial, and it is hard to catch up if one of these is missed. You will not be asked for payment in the first week, but the full course fee will be payable at the second class (preferably by cheque, payable to Oxford Fencing Club, please). The cost of the eight-week course is £75.

 
Insurance

It is the club's policy that everyone should have fencing insurance. In the class you are covered by Olly's coaching insurance, but when you start to fence outside his direct supervision you will need the insurance provided by basic individual membership of the BFA; the £10 annual membership fee is included in the £75 you pay to the club.

 

Family discount
Fencing is a sport that can be enjoyed by all ages. To encourage family participation Oxford Fencing Club offers a discount of 50% per child under the age of 16 to parents who are also enrolled in its beginners fencing class or who are members of the club. For further information please contact us.

 

After the beginners course

By the end of the eight-week course you will have been given a grounding in the technique and tactics of foil fencing. We hope you will then continue in the sport. Fencing is a very tactical game, and tactics are learned by fighting people with different styles; at the same time you need an expert eye to maintain and improve your technique. When you have completed the course, you can make further progress by joining the club, fencing against a wide range of partners, and taking at least occasional individual lessons from Olly or from Matthew Thompson, a very experienced coach with BFA accreditation at all three weapons.

 

Club fencing takes place on Tuesdays from 8.00pm to 10.00pm. The more experienced members of the club are always happy to fence with recent beginners and when you have completed the introductory course you should not be shy of asking anyone in the club to fence with you. In due course you may want to fence at other clubs too, and to take part in some kind of competitive fencing.

 

This year the club will also offer improvers' courses of various kinds led by Matthew.