All our training sessions take place at the Manor Road Sports Hall.
You can catch the number 80 bus from university to get to Manor Road, or any of the busses from London road that head in the direction of Oadby.
Alternatively, you can walk it. This takes about 45 minutes from the university campus. Head down London Road away from the city centre, and turn left down Knighton Grange near the Mary Gee houses. If you continue straight down here, you'll end up on Manor Road. The whole sports centre has a couple of pretty conspicuous astronomical domes outside it, and the sports hall where we train is the building furthest away from the road.
Training will take place every week during the university semesters. If there is a cancellation it will be announced through email.
Training takes place between Sunday the 5th of October and Thursday the 11th of December in the first semester.
Between Thursday the 15th of January and Thursday the 6th of March in the second semester.
And between Thursday the 7th of May and Thursday the 25th of June during the third semester.
Beginner sessions take place from 2pm to 4pm on a Sunday.
Beginners are fencers that haven't yet passed grade 1.
Senior sessions take place from 12pm to 4pm on a Sunday.
And 8pm to 9:30pm on a thursday.
Fencers who would like additional training can come to the senior sessions for individual coaching.
The club provides all the equipment you need - swords, armor, electrical sensors and so on.
You should wear tracksuit bottoms and non-marking trainers to club sessions. You should not wear jeans to fence, as they do not allow the range of movement required.
Every member must have a valid Sports card, which includes the Sports Association's sports injury cover. In order to compete in competitions outside of the club, you must have a BFA licence. This can be obtained from the BFA and applications can be downloaded here.
After training, it's traditional to go to one of the excellent student pubs in Oadby for food and refreshments.
Our club benefits from access to a professional coach and 5 junior coaches. On Sundays these coaches attend sessions to teach foil, epee and sabre. Each weapon will initially be taught by one of the junior coaches with the aim of getting every beginner to Bronze standard by Easter. After Christmas the beginners are invited to join the senior sessions on Thursday.
Our junior coaches are Chris Beadling, Chris Eastham, Dan Redshaw, Stephen May (Penzy) and David Gray. Dave Kirby will teach senior sessions.
The previous coach at the club was Jim Amberton who sadly passed away in 2006. He was a wonderful coach and friend and we miss him terribly.
There are 9 grades in any of the three weapons. The grades are designed to improve your knowledge and confidence in both fencing and refereeing by giving a full summary of the rules and diferent actions that are used when fencing. The grades provide a starting point as well as a good tool to mark progression in the sport.
British Fencing has detailed information on the grades for Epee, Sabre and Foil.
