This site aims to give you a wealth of information about fencing. It cannot cover everything and so has a number of links to other sites.
SFC runs frequent beginners' courses
Full details on the beginners' page
Contact us for course schedule
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Answers to some of the questions you may ask and may have missed in the rest of the site
- What is fencing about?
Fencing is about fighting an opponent with a sword. There are three weapons:
FOIL, EPÉE & SABRE
The sport is a formalised version of the duel. There is no swinging from chandeliers, sliding down banisters or defending with a chair. It was among the first sports chosen for the modern Olympic Games. It demands speed, agility, cunning, and endurance. It keeps you very fit! To find out more about the sport itself go to the
Fencing Introduction page. - Can I choose my weapon?
It depends partly on the club. Many clubs will start all their beginners with Foil. A very few will put one of the other weapons in your hand, without the option. However, starting with a different weapon has become more complicated, since you would need a pair of breeches to comply with new regulations At Stourbridge we have normally given you the choice. We start our beginners classes off with foil but can we can go some way to adapting the work if you are particularly keen to do one of the others. Once you have done the basic course you can then swap/add weapons at any stage, once you have some breeches.