Fencing?

[Anonymous]

Do any DC independents have a good fencing program?

[Anonymous]

If your child is trying to do this at a high level the school team means nothing (aside from finding a social set). You need to be part of a fencing club and do the tournament circuit (which if you are very good will require regular travel commitment, including international, which you will need to finance).

[Anonymous]

Landon and I believe Prep have fencing teams but the pp is right that competitive fencing happens at the club level.

[Anonymous]

Gonzaga has fencing, but it is listed as a club sport on their site.

[Anonymous]

I think St. Anselm's has fencing too.

[Anonymous]

Prep definitely has it

[Anonymous]

A fencing parent here. Gonzaga, Prep, St. Anselm's, and Landon (and Holton) all have fencing teams. The level of fencing is okay, but, as others have noted, they're not on the same level of competition as fencing clubs in the area. The school teams have a wide range of skill levels, although some of the students are clearly fencing at a higher level and outside of school with a club.

For the school teams, they're generally doing home and away bouts with the other schools in the group. Several of the coaches of the school teams also coach at various clubs in the area.

[Anonymous]

Any good fencing clubs in NW DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any good fencing clubs in NW DC?

There's Chevy Chase Fencing Club - they run classes starting in the fall. The coach is pretty good, but it more just recreational classes and not a true club. Close to NW is DC Fencers Club in Silver Spring. This is a good club with a variety of classes for beginners and advanced students (youth and adult). A bit further out, you've got the Capital Fencing Club in North Bethesda/Rockville. I like the coaches here, but they only teach sabre. The school teams in the area all fence epee, so if that's a goal, then CFC isn't going to work. Otherwise, it is a great club. Finally, there's the Royal Fencing Academy in Rockville and Damascus. I don't have any experience with them, but they appear to have classes for all three weapons.

[Anonymous]

There is also Rockville Fencing Academy and Invicta Fencing Club in MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any good fencing clubs in NW DC?

If you want to do sabre - Capital Fencing Club is fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is also Rockville Fencing Academy and Invicta Fencing Club in MD.

Which one is better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is also Rockville Fencing Academy and Invicta Fencing Club in MD.

Which one is better?

I don't have experience with either one but I know Invicta is a newer club. I would watch a novice class at both.

[Anonymous]

DCFC (DC Fencers Club) is not in NW DC but it is just 5 min from the border in Silver Spring. Many of the local school teams mentioned above have used the DCFC coaches. It has Saber and Epee. I would recommend it.

[Anonymous]

My son took lessons at DC Fencers in close-in Silver Spring for a few years a good 12 years ago. It was great. To clear up confusion above, the youngest kids were only allowed to donsaber, but older kids and adults were able to do Eppe — not sure if it is still that way. Not sure who runs it now, but back then it was owned/run by a guy whom I believe was a Polish National Champion. Years later, I noticed that some of the tweens my son fenced with went to junior olympics and some were on the fencing team at Yale. He really loved it for a couple of years and was doing well, but as it got more competitive with a greater time commitment he realized it was not as much of a priority for him personally as it was for some other kids. Still, it was great fun for me as a a Dad to watch.