Education

The Des Moines Fencing Club offers a variety of classes for all skill and interest levels.  Registration is required for all classes and seminars.  Please use the information below to find a class that meets your needs!  The room is divided into two halves, front and back, named Zone A and Zone B respecitvly.  Classes are now broken down into groups. 

If you are a beginning fencing, look for our Fencing I and II classes to get you the training to you need to start enjoying the sport.  For our continuing fencers, look for Fencing III classes that will suit your needs.  For our serious, competitive fencers, work with a coach to make use of the Fencing IV time.

The cost for the session is as follows:

Dues via Auto Deduct:
$25/month - Individual
$50/month - Family

Dues via Check:
$60/session (paid Jan, March, May, Aug, Sept, Nov) - Individual
$110/session (paid Jan, March, May, Aug, Sept, Nov) - Family
$300/year (paid Jan) - Individual
$600/year (paid Jan) - Family

Mini-Fencing  - Beginning (Youth ages 7-9)
Register for the class

This two-month class is based on the Mini-Fence system developed by Leon Paul in England.  Focused on young students, the class is a combination of games, exercises and drills appropriate for the age.  Light weight plastic masks and foam foils are used to introduce fencing concepts and actions in a fun, engaging fashion. The cost for the class is $60 for the two-month session.

Mini-Fencing  - Continuing (Youth ages 7-9)
Register for the class

Continuing where the Beginning Mini-Fence class leaves off, this two-month class introduces the students to standard equipment, including metal masks and foils.  The content is very similar to the Beginning Class, with an emphasis on skill development through fun exercises and games.   Class materials consisting of a foil, mask, jacket, glove and bag will need to be ordered on the first night for a total cost of $100.  The cost for the session is $60 for the two-month class

Youth Beginning Fencing I (Youth ages 10-13)
Register for the class

This two-month class is designed to give older youths a well rounded introduction to the sport of fencing.  Movement basics are emphasized and all three Olympic weapons are presented to the students, giving them a good overview of each. At the conclusion of the class, students interested in continuing on in their fencing education will have the basis needed to choose a weapon to continue to study in the Youth Beginning Fencing II class.  Class materials consisting of a mask, jacket and glove will need to be ordered on the first night for a total cost of $100.  Weapons will be provided by the DMFC.

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Youth Beginning Fencing II (Youth ages 10-13)
Register for the foil class
Register for the epee class
Register for the saber class

This two-month class is formatted to pick-up where the Youth Beginning Fencing I class left-off.  There are three classes available at this level, one for each of the three weapons: foil, saber and epee.  Students completing Youth Beginning Fencing I will have chosen a weapon to study further.  Each of these three classes is designed to train students in the specifics of fencing with their chosen weapon with a focus on learning the fundamentals.  Please note that saber and epee classes are subject to interest and coach availability. 

Youth Beginning Fencing III (Youth ages 10-13)
Register for the foil class
Register for the epee class
Register for the saber class

This on-going class is for students who have completed Youth Beginning Fencing I and II.  The class is a combination of drills and instructor supervised bouting.  The focus of the class is to help students refine their skills in a particular weapon and move them closer to being able to bout and compete at the level at which they would like to perform.  Fencing III - Foil classes last an hour with an extra half-hour at the end for those able to attend.

Adult Beginning Fencing I
Register for the class

This two-month class is designed to give participants a well rounded introduction to the sport of fencing.  Movement basics are emphasized and all three Olympic weapons are presented to the students, giving them a good overview of each. At the conclusion of the class, students interested in continuing on in their fencing education will have the basis needed to choose a weapon to continue to study in the Adult Beginning Fencing II class.  Class materials consisting of a mask, jacket and glove will need to be ordered on the first night for a total cost of $100.  Weapons will be provided by the DMFC.

Adult Beginning Fencing II
Register for the foil class
Register for the epee class
Register for the saber class

This two-month class is formatted to pick-up where the Adult Beginning Fencing I class left-off.  There are three classes available at this level, one for each of the three weapons: foil, saber and epee.  Students completing Adult Beginning Fencing I will have chosen a weapon to study further.  Each of these three classes is designed to train students in the specifics of fencing with their chosen weapon with a focus on learning the fundamentals.  Please note that saber and epee classes are subject to interest and coach availability. 

Adult Beginning Fencing III

These are a series of informational seminars that will last one month.  Each month, a topic will be presented per weapon, the goal of which is to improve the student’s ability to perform that ability.  Drills will begin with the basics and move towards complex utilization of the skill.  A list of forthcoming seminars and their instructors will be published at least two months in advance and registration will be required.   Seminars that do not have at least four registered students will not be held.

Adult Beginning Fencing IV

These are one-on-one or one-on-few training sessions held at the discretion of a coach and arranged by the student and the coach.  To participate in one of these sessions, students must work out the details individually with an interested coach.