Youth Épée

Recreational Épée (Youth 1, ages 9-12)

Maybe Star Wars and Lord of the Rings have convinced you. Maybe you've been looking for a different kind of sport than just running after a ball. Maybe you like the challenge of games like chess but wish you could do something more physical. So you see a flash of steel on a TV or computer screen and you are captivated. The fast movements, the lightning reflexes, the bursts of energy. Yes, this is it. This is what I want to do. I want to fence.

Introduction to épée looks to teach a complete beginner everything he or she needs to know to be able to wield an épée and bout with confidence. This class is geared for those entering the sport and looking to have fun and get sweaty while discovering the joys of technique and combat. Classes are tailored for participants to develop basic movement skills, learn the principal techniques and tactics of the sport while keeping the tone light, fun and engaging. Recreational Épée serves as the base from which a fencer can decide to continue simply enjoying the sport recreationally, or eventually move to a more competitive stream.

Recreational Épée is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM.

Coyotes Team 

You've learned your basics, you've mastered the skills every fledgling swordsman needs to know. As a member of the Resistance, you've decided that it's time to test your mettle, and bring glory to your tribe. You are ready to tackle bigger challenges, and develop skills beyond the rudimentary; you want to move better, act faster and be smarter than the fencers you first began with. You are ready to move past the Recruit stage. It's time to train for real.

The Coyotes Competitive Team is for those who have decided to focus on competition and developing as fencers. While Recreational Épée offers an environment focused on play and learning to enjoy the sport, the Coyotes' focus will be set to learning to train. Here, fencers will learn to become athletes as they would in any sport, and will develop techniques requiring more strength and skill. Joy will be found as much in the activities as in their more challenging nature.

All fencers wishing to join this group must have at least 3 months experience and have passed their Basic Skills test.  All participant are also required to attend training minimum of twice a week and take a minimum of one individual lesson with a coach per month. Finally, Coyotes committ to competing at local events and Provincial Championships in their age category.

 Classes will be offered on Tuesdays 8:00-9:30 and Wednesdays 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM.

Basic Skills Tests

For fencers who wish to move beyond the Recreational Program to the Club Program, a Basic Skills Test will need to be passed. This test serves to ensure that the fencer will be able to follow the activities and training practiced in the Club Épée Program. The following are the required skills:

Technical: basic footwork (step forward and back, lunge, step lunge, balestra lunge), oppositions sixte (6) and octave (8), parries sixte (6) and octave (8), beat quarte (4), disengage

Physical: shuttle run, skipping rope, long jump.

Knowledge: basic rules, penalty cards and their meanings, piste boundaries, sport etiquette, refereeing hand signals. 

Tests will be administered upon request.