Our Beginner’s Courses

Truro Fencing Club runs beginner courses for both children and adults (separately) throughout the academic year.

This page takes you through the many benefits of fencing, the three weapons and includes details of our current courses for you to join. Please feel free to explore the website and if you have any further questions, queries or concerns at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.

Truro Fencing Club’s 7-session Beginners’ Courses run on Wednesday evenings for adults, and Thursday evenings for children. All courses take place at the Cornwall Fencing Centre. The 7-session course costs £49. On completion of the course you will be entitled to the 3-month Beginner membership at £20 / month. This begins in the first full month following completion of the course.

NB: no sessions during half term or on bank holidays.

ADULT & CHILDRENS BEGINNER COURSES

  • CHILDREN’S COURSES are for ages 8+ (fencers must be 8 years of age or over  to join the next CHILDREN’S beginner course)
  • ADULT COURSES are for ages 15+ (fencers must be 15 years of age or over to join the next ADULT beginner course)

There will be no more than 12 fencers on each course of mixed gender groups.  All equipment is provided and included in the course fee.  Places are allocated on a first come first served basis and fencers may pay in advance, to secure their place with a completed enrolment form.

  • CHILDREN’S COURSES are held on Thursday, 18:30-19:30, with Monday & Thursday sessions in the final week
  • ADULT COURSES are held on Wednesday, 19:30-20:30.

2025 children’s BEGINNER’S COURSE DATES

CBC225 – CHILDREN’S Beginner Course

  • THUR 27TH FEBRUARY
  • THUR 6TH MARCH
  • THUR 13TH MARCH
  • THUR 20TH MARCH
  • THUR 27TH MARCH
  • MON 31ST MARCH
  • THUR 3RD APRIL

(18:30-19:30, 7 sessions, Course fee £49, payment ref: CBC225 enrolment form & bank details below)

CBC325 – CHILDREN’S Beginner Course

  • THUR 17TH APRIL
  • THUR 24TH APRIL
  • THUR 1ST MAY
  • THUR 8TH MAY
  • THUR 15TH MAY
  • MON 19TH MAY
  • THUR 22ND MAY

(18:30-19:30, 7 sessions, Course fee £49, payment ref: CBC325 enrolment form & bank details below)

NEXT STEPS:
JOIN: Truro Fencing Club FB Group, for updates and announcements as they are released.
COMPLETE: an enrolment form at the bottom of this page for you or your fencer to be added to the WAITLIST for the next course and receive a priority notice – you will be contacted first to pay in advance to secure the place on the course.

ADULT’S FENCING COURSES, CORNWALL FENCING CENTRE

Adult fencers (15+) may also consider the 1-2-1 courses below, specifically designed for fencers who have some previous experience.
Please email TFC Coach James Martin admin@trurofencing.com is you would like to book any of the 1-2-1 courses.

  • Start Fencing’ 1 x 1-2-1 introduction, £32.50 (1 x 50 mins) (introduction to fencing for the complete beginner)
  • Fencing Refresher’ 3 x 1-2-1 coaching, £55 (3 x 30 mins) (for anyone getting back into fencing after a break)
  • Fast-track your Fencing’ 4 x 1-2-1 lessons, £72 (4 x 30 mins) (for novices looking to improve quickly)

2025 ADULT’S BEGINNER COURSE DATES

ABC225 – ADULT’S Beginner Course

  • WED 26TH FEBRUARY
  • WED 5TH MARCH
  • WED 12TH MARCH
  • WED 19TH MARCH
  • WED 26TH MARCH
  • WED 2ND APRIL
  • WED 9TH APRIL

(19:30-20:30, 7 sessions, Course fee £49, payment ref: ABC225 enrolment form & bank details below)

ABC325 – ADULT’S Beginner Course

  • WED 16TH APRIL
  • WED 23RD APRIL
  • WED 30TH APRIL
  • WED 7TH MAY
  • WED 14TH MAY
  • WED 21ST MAY
  • WED 28H MAY

(19:30-20:30, 7 sessions, Course fee £49, payment ref: ABC325 enrolment form & bank details below)

NEXT STEPS: JOIN: Truro Fencing Club FB Group, for updates and announcements as they are released.
COMPLETE: an enrolment form at the bottom of this page for you or your fencer to be added to the WAITLIST for the next course and receive a priority notice – you will be contacted first to pay in advance to secure the place on the course.

Enrolment

To secure yours or your fencer’s place:​

Please complete the online enrolment form (below) and process the course fee of £49 using the payment reference relevant to your chosen course.  TFC bank details are:

TFC Bank, HSBC
Sort code: 40-44-34
Account: 41728296
Course fee: £49
Payment Reference: course code +  fencers surname
IBAN: GB35HBUK40443441728296
BIC/SWIFT: HBUKGB4160H

Please email us directly admin@trurofencing.com with any questions, queries or concerns you may have.

Beginner's Course Enrolment Form 2025

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Please enter a number from 0 to 120.
  • DD slash MM slash YYYY
  • Enter payment reference for this course in this field e.g. ABC419 - this can be found in the course information above this form.
  • (if applicable)
  • (An email acknowledging form submission will be emailed to this address)

  • Enrollment

    Please use the information listed above this form to make a valid payment of £49 to Truro Fencing Club upon completion of this form.
    I accept that Truro Fencing Club and its coaches and officials will not be held responsible for any loss or damage to my property or person during this fencing course, unless caused by their negligence. I am in a fit condition to participate in physical exercise. Please check box to accept.

Why Start Fencing?

The Olympic sport of fencing provides a well-rounded form of mental and physical exercise essential for total health and wellness.

When practiced by children during their developing years, martial arts such as fencing have been shown to increase executive function including focus, suppression of impulsive reactions, and mental manipulation of ideas.

It is a fast-paced sport and a great way to burn calories and stay in shape generally; for example, fencers have been shown to have significantly increased bone and muscle mass compared with controls, which help prevent injury and osteoporosis.

Fencing – despite appearances – is also an exceptionally safe sport, with fencers suffering fewer injuries than athletes in most other Olympic Sports including swimming, table tennis, and curling.

Being a member of Truro Fencing Club offers you the opportunity to experience what can be a lifetime sport.

School-age children, teenagers and college students fence at local clubs and at their schools and universities, while adults from their twenties into their seventies can be found on fencing pistes around the country, exercising their minds and bodies – and winning medals for the club!

FENCING PROGRESSION FOR BEGINNERS, CORNWALL FENCING CENTRE

  DESCRIPTION DURATION PAYMENT REF FEE
BEGINNER COURSES (CHILDREN/ADULT) Learn the fundamental skills of the Olympic sport of sabre fencing with our top-class coaching team. Footwork, technical and tactical skills, and the basic rules of the game will be covered. All kit will be provided, and by the end of the course you will have learnt enough to join the intermediate course and develop your skills to the next level. Truro Fencing Club’s (TFC) 7-week Beginners’ Courses run on Wednesday evenings at the Cornwall Fencing Centre. The 7-session course (last two children’s sessions held in the final week, Monday and Thursday) costs £49. 7 sessions THE COURSE CODE £49
TFC BEGINNER MEMBER Unlimited access to TFC training sessions in your fencing category. Special TFC Member rates for additional 1-2-1 lessons of 30 mins for £22 (email TFC Head Coach James Martin admin@trurofencing.com to book) 3 MONTHS BEG £20
TFC MEMBER (YOUTH/SENIOR) Unlimited access to Truro Fencing Club training sessions in your fencing category. Special TFC Membership rates and priority places for additional 1-2-1 lessons, training camps & TFC managed events, including domestic and international competitions. For TFC Member rates for additional 1-2-1 lessons of 30 mins for £22 please email TFC HEAD Coach James Martin, admin@trurofencing.com to book. ONGOING YOUTH £40 pcm
Foil

Foil

The foil has a flexible rectangular blade, approximately 35 inches in length, weighing less than one pound. Points are scored with the tip of the blade and must land within the torso of the body. The valid target area in foil is the torso, from the shoulders to the groin, front and back. It does not include the arms, neck, head and legs.

The foil fencer’s uniform includes a metallic vest (called a lamé) which covers the valid target area, so that a valid touch will register on the scoring machine. A small, spring-loaded tip is attached to the point of the foil and is connected to a wire inside the blade. The fencer wears a body cord inside his uniform which connects the foil to a reel wire, connected to the scoring machine.

There are two scoring lights on the machine. One shows a green light when a fencer is hit, and one shows a red light when her opponent is hit. A touch landing outside the valid target area (that which is not covered by the lamé) is indicated by a white light. These “off target” hits do not count in the scoring, but they do stop the fencing action temporarily.

Sabre

Sabre

The sabre is the modern version of the slashing cavalry sword, and is similar in length and weight to the foil. The major difference is that the sabre is a thrusting weapon as well as a cutting weapon (use of the blade). The target area is from the bend of the hips (both front and back), to the top of the head, simulating the cavalry rider on a horse.

The sabre fencer’s uniform includes a metallic jacket (lamé), which covers the target area to register a valid touch on the scoring machine. The mask is different from foil and épée, with a metallic covering since the head is valid target area.

Just as in foil, there are two scoring lights on the machine. One shows a green light when a fencer is hit, and one shows a red light when the opponent his hit. Off-target hits do not register on the machine. A sabre fencers is known as a ‘sabreur’.

Epée

Epée

The épée (pronounced “EPP-pay”), the descendant of the dueling sword, is similar in length to the foil, but is heavier, weighing approximately 27 ounces, with a larger guard (to protect the hand from a valid hit) and a much stiffer blade. Touches are scored only with the point of the blade. The entire body is the valid target area. Épée does not use the right-of-way in keeping with its dueling origin – he who first gains the touch earns the point. Or, if both fencers hit within 1/25th of a second of each other, both earn a point. However, it is equally important to have a sound defence for épée, since the entire body must be protected from a touch.

The blade is wired with a spring-loaded tip at the end that completes an electrical circuit when it is depressed beyond a pressure of 750 grams. This causes the coloured bulb on the scoring machine to light. Because the entire body is a valid target area, the épée fencer’s uniform does not include a lamé.