| Beginners Courses |
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In order to become a member of the Club, fencers must have either completed one of our beginners courses or have gained the equivalent experience elsewhere.
Beginners courses are held during our club nights on Wednesday evenings and are run three times a year, usually starting in February, May and September. They last for 10 weeks and are designed to teach new fencers the basic techniques of foil fencing, the rules of the sport and, most importantly, how to fence safely. At the end of the course, fencers take the test for the British Fencing Association (BFA) Foil Achievement Award Level 1, a qualification recognised by all British fencing organisations.
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What does it cost?
The course fee is £75 for all fencers. A deposit of £10 is normally payable to secure a place on a course and the balance is payable at the start of the first lesson.
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What does the course include?
- 10 weekly lessons with a BFA qualified coach
- Equipment hire (mask, jacket, underplastron and foil)
- BFA Social Membership, providing insurance cover for a year
- BFA Foil Achievement Award Level 1 certificate and jacket badge (for successful candidates)
There is a maximum of 14 fencers on all courses and we need a minimum of 6 fencers to run a course.
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Are there any restrictions?
The minimum age for participants is 12 years and all fencers aged under 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult to comply with our Child Protection Policy. There is no upper age limit!
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What do I need to bring?
Fencers should wear trainers with light-coloured soles that will not mark the gym floor. They should also wear tough, loose-fitting trousers such as jeans or tracksuit bottoms that will allow them to stretch. Pockets on trousers should be zipped up or taped over while fencing to prevent them catching blades.
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What happens at the end of the course?
Once fencers have completed the course and gained their Level 1 Award, they are expected to become members of the Club by paying the annual membership fee (currently £20 for existing BFA members). Club members also pay a small weekly fee every time that they attend club nights. Fencers who do not qualify for the Level 1 Award must repeat the course if they wish to continue fencing at the Club.
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How do I sign up for a course?
If you would like to enrol on one of our beginners courses, or would like further details, please complete the form below and send it to us. We will then contact you with the date of the next course and any other information that you have requested. Replies will be sent by e-mail unless you specify otherwise.
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Important notice - Beginners Courses Enquiries
We have become aware that BT are occasionally experiencing problems with processing applications through website forms such as the one on this page. If you are unable to send your enquiry using the form, or have waited more than seven days for a reply to your enquiry, please contact Steve Evison by e-mail (see link below) with your details. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this technical problem.
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