Frequently Asked Questions

The answer is yes. It caters for men [boys] and women [girls] of all abilities and ages and is a ‘sport for life’.

Fencing is a tactical sport and it teaches you to think on your feet.

It is also a sport, which develops fitness with short bursts of intense exercise. It will improve your stamina and reflexes.

Fencing can be a relatively inexpensive sport. Camden Fencing Club charges approximately £5 a session for one and a half hours exercise. This includes high quality professional coaching/teaching and access to basic equipment, which is used for training at club.

Fencers who compete need to buy their own equipment and costs are determined like in most sports, by your level of performance. However, the cost for children, are quite modest since we enter mainly local competitions.

All fencing specific equipment is supplied by the club.

The club operates a strict dress code whereby fencers are required to wear fencing breeches or tracksuit bottoms and sensible sport shoes for every session. 

There is always an element of risk in all sport, but fencing with developments in safety of equipment is considered a relatively safe sport.

For example the masks are made of steel and have a high Neutron Rating. Jackets and Breeches are made of Kevlar, which is used in body armour and weapons are made with high quality steels. The equipment despite its safety specifications is light to wear.

Camden Fencing Club carries out regular checks on all its equipment by Safety Officer, Armourer and Coaches.

There are three weapons used in competitive sport. These are Foil, Epee and Sabre.

Camden Fencing Club offers the Foil and Sabre Weapons.

Foil is the lightest and traditionally the teaching weapon. You score hits with the point on the trunk of the body above waist. There are conventions, which determines who scores hits.

Epee is the heavier and traditionally the duelling weapon. You score hits with the point on all parts of the body including arms and legs. The conventions are more straightforward than foil.

Sabre is a cutting weapon and traditionally the cavalry weapon. You score hits with the side of the blade on all areas above waist including arms and head. There are conventions similar to foil.

It is a sport requiring a level of concentration and we do not recommend that you start before the age of 7.

Mini Fence which uses foam weapons can be introduced at an earlier age.

This is a modern sport and can be enjoyed both recreationally and competitively.

Fencing was introduced in the first modern Olympiad and is one of only four sports which has been included in all Olympic Games.