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join our tasters and beginner courses

Always wanted to try fencing?

Join one of our taster sessions or beginner courses and we will turn you from complete beginner into a Jedi, Musketeer or Zorro!

Always wanted to try fencing?

Join one of our taster sessions or beginner courses and we will turn you from complete beginner into a Jedi, Musketeer or Zorro!

More Information

We run taster sessions and beginner courses regularly throughout the year in all 3 fencing weapons of foil, sabre and epee. These specially designed tasters and courses target complete beginners, and are the best introduction to the Olympic sport of fencing.

In our taster sessions and beginner courses, you will learn the basics of footwork, blade technique and the skills you need to start enjoying fencing.

Our taster sessions are a quick-start guide to fencing with everything you need to know to get on the piste and fence with other novice fencers. Tasters are the best way to get a general idea about fencing. If you want to continue after your taster session, why not sign up to one of our beginners courses?

Our beginners courses are typically 5 weeks long courses and run regularly throughout the year. We offer separate courses for children (8-13 yrs) and adults (14+). For younger children aged between 5 and 7 years old, our Spartan Beginners Courses are perfect and no better way to start fencing. Our Spartan Beginners Courses are 4 weeks long and each participant gets to keep their specialist equipment of a mask, sword vest and glove.

The necessary equipment is provided in tasters and beginner courses. All you need is trainers, a t-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and a water bottle

It’s not required to do a taster session before starting a beginner course.

Options for Complete Beginners

Our taster sessions are the perfect opportunity to try the sport of fencing for the first time. They only cost £20 per session.

These sessions are a quick-start guide to fencing with everything you need to know to get on the piste and fencing crammed into 1 hour. Each one-hour session covers the very basics of fencing technique and strategy, making it ideal for anyone who is eager to give fencing a try before they commit to the full beginners course.

After learning how to stand, advance and retreat our coaches will teach you the three basic moves then get you on the piste to fence with other novice fencers. If you enjoy your taster session why not sign up for one of our beginner courses?

We provide all the necessary equipment, so just bring yourself, some refreshments and wear your usual sports clothes. Keep in mind that long trousers are a must!

Spartan Beginner Courses are for kids aged between 5 – 7 years old and use Leon Paul Mini-Fence® equipment.

Developed by world leading coaches and fencers, Mini-Fence® uses plastic weapons, full face masks, padded vests & gloves. Mini-Fence is a fun & safe introduction to the Olympic Sport of fencing. It’s a great way for kids to keep fit, improve coordination and meet new friends.

Spartan Beginner Course costs £120. The price includes all the specialist equipment, which is yours to keep, so all you need to start are your trainers, a t-shirt (long sleeve is best), tracksuit bottoms and a towel. We also recommend you bring a water bottle as fencing is thirsty work!

Our coaches will teach the basics of footwork, blade technique and give the skills to start enjoying fencing.

So join us for four 60-minute sessions where we will turn you from complete beginner into a Jedi, Musketeer or Zorro.

Designed as a 5 week course for a complete beginner aged between 8 – 13 years old to learn the basic skills required to start enjoying the Olympic sport of fencing.

Children Beginner Course costs £120. The price includes all the specialist equipment so all you need is to turn up in a t-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and a pair of trainers. We also recommend bringing along a towel and water bottle as fencing can be thirsty work!

If you enjoy fencing and want to carry on following the completion of your course, we have several membership options for you to join our team and become a member of Salle Paul Phoenix Fencing Club. You can fence up to 3 times per week and take advantage of individual lessons with our world class coaches if you really get the bug!

Designed as a 5-6 week course for homeschoolers aged between 5 – 14 years old to learn the basic skills required to start enjoying the Olympic sport of fencing.

These Courses are designed for 2 different age groups: Homeschool Spartan for children between 5 and 8 years old, Homeschool Academy for children between 9 and 14 years old.

Homeschool Spartan course costs £100 while Homeschool Academy course costs £125.  The price includes all the specialist equipment so all you need is to turn up in a t-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and a pair of trainers. We also recommend bringing along a towel and water bottle as fencing can be thirsty work!

If you enjoy fencing and want to carry on following the completion of your course, we have several membership options for you to join our team and become a member of Salle Paul Phoenix Fencing Club. You can fence up to 3 times per week and take advantage of individual lessons with our world class coaches if you really get the bug!

Please visit “Sessions for Homeschoolers” page for more information and signing up to upcoming courses.

Designed as a 5 week course for a complete beginner aged 14 and up to learn the basic skills required to start enjoying the Olympic sport of fencing.

Adult Beginner Course costs £120. The price includes all the specialist equipment so all you need is to turn up in a t-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and a pair of trainers. We also recommend bringing along a towel and water bottle as fencing can be thirsty work!

If you enjoy fencing and want to carry on following the completion of your course, we have several membership options for you to join our team and become a member of Salle Paul Phoenix Fencing Club. You can fence up to 4 times per week and take advantages of individual lessons with our world class coaches if you really get the bug!

Upcoming Tasters and Courses

Frequently Asked Questions

Fencing has been described as sword fighting, physical chess, even art. Fencing is all of these things and more! It develops co-ordination, endurance, reflexes, self-discipline,  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 beautiful sport.

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. For our youngest fencers, we use soft plastic swords and sturdy, lightweight masks which allow them to to learn fencing technique in a perfectly safe environment.

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.

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.

Foil is a thrusting weapon and hits are scored by hitting with the point of the weapon. 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.

Sabre is the fastest and most dynamic of the weapons. Hits are scored with the edge of the blade and the target area is anywhere above the waist. It derives from a cavalry sword and often produces the most fast paced matches.

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train with the best

COACHES

EXPERT COACHING TEAM

Our highly qualified coaches welcome everyone from complete beginners to the seasoned internationals in all 3 weapons.

VENUE

WORLD CLASS FACILITY

We are based in Leon Paul Fencing Centre, a state of the art  world class training centre.

MEMBERSHIP

BECOME A CLUB MEMBER

Looking to train more seriously? Check out our different membership options.

DON'T MISS IMPORTANT CLUB EVENTS AND DATES

SEE ALL EVENTS
SEE ALL EVENTS

Veteran’s Epee Club Competition

February 18 @ 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

LPJS London Sabre

February 22 @ 9:30 am - 6:00 pm

Leon Paul D/E/U Spring Open (Epee & Foil)

February 28 @ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

LPJS London Foil

March 28 @ 1:00 pm - March 29 @ 6:00 pm