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The Fencing Exchange

514 Lackawanna Avenue   Scranton PA  18503    570-969-1224

Private Lessons

$ 35.00 for 1 person       $50.00 for 2 people      $15 for each extra

Private lessons are a personal opportunity for children or adults learning to fence. These lessons may be given to a single person, couple or group. Instruction caters to an individual’s needs from the beginner to the advanced fencer. Class may last from one half to two hours 
depending on the number of people. Schedule by appointment.
Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Private Lessons are given for Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced fencers using Foil, Epee, or Sabre.

I would like to schedule private lessons.

Children's Lessons

What child wouldn’t learn to fence? Drop them off for a lesson while you go shopping at the Steamtown Mall. It is only half a block away!  Off-site group children's lessons also available by request.

Children's Private Lessons:  (see Private Lessons)
Children's Group Lessons:  $60 per month  (see below) 
Off-site Group Lessons:  Email or 570-942-4656 for info

"Having gone to untold lengths and expenses to support my children in their various activities only to watch them loose interest shortly thereafter, it was with a somewhat jaded eye that I viewed my ten year old daughter's interest in the sport of fencing. To my great surprise, I have watched my daughter thrive in this beautiful sport of ancient weapons and courtly manners. The Fencing Exchange, where my daughter Margaret continues to eagerly go for lessons, is filled with boys and girls as eager as she to be there.  It has amazed me to watch children, often with that age driven awkwardness, display such poise and self-assuredness.  Perhaps it is the instructor's emphasis on sportsmanship and strict adherence to decorum, or the physical and mental challenges of the sport... but whatever it is... it works.  I wholeheartedly encourage any parent to visit and bring their child to the Fencing Exchange."       
                                                                                                              Margaret's mom, Jane Mallonee

Level I   ~  Swashbucklers
For children 9 through 12, the Cavaliers is an ongoing introductory instruction which is designed 
with the child in mind. These classes move at a slower pace than with adults and special attention is given to encouragement. Information learned is equivalent to adult level Foil I and II. Games and exercises teach how to observe what the opponent is doing and how to counteract movements.

Because classes are ongoing, students are allowed more time to learn and the child gains 
a very broad understanding of how to fence.  A level II test is given once every quarter year.  
If the child passes the test, he or she may go on to a more advanced level called the Musketeers.

Level II   ~  Cavaliers
For children 9 through 12, this class builds upon what was learned in the Cavaliers. Material covered is equivalent to adult foil level III. Live fencing bouts and realistic fencing games are practiced more frequently. The Musketeers is a higher level class, but basic moves are not ignored!
Tests are given once every half year.

Level III   ~  Musketeers

Foil I          Foil VI

Foil II         Foil VII

Foil III        Foil VIII

Foil IV        Foil IX

Foil V         Foil X   
 

Group Classes

For beginner through advanced, these classes provide a progression and a sure path to excellent fencing.

The ten levels concentrate on body poise. A deep bend in the knees, strength, and pliability of limbs is reinforced. Achieving a long and powerful lunge while remaining relaxed is an important cornerstone.

A gentle, long extension of the sword arm and a firm, yet supple grip on the handle give fencers a smooth and mobile way of handling the blade. Actions are fluid and cool, preparations with the blade begin soft but end vigorously.

Keeping in line with French theory, emphasis is focused on parries and ripostes as the back bone of defense. Also found in the early levels are simple attacks, considered to have better control and weighed as being lower risk. Higher risk compound movements and counter attacks finish advanced levels.

CURRENT CLASS SCHEDULE
 

Foil 1 - Group Class        $ 90.00 - 8 classes
                                                            Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Since Foil I introduces fencing to people who have never wielded a sword before, a wide range of games and exercises teach the student how to actually fence and get an overall feel for swordplay.

Centering, balance and good poise are taught first. Basic footwork is taught next along with a few lively fencing games using gloves and simple objects serving as a foil.  A brief history of the practice sword is explained. Parts of the foil are described and listed. How the foil is held, the salute, coming to on guard, extension of the sword arm, offensive moves and defensive guards are taught.

The three fencing distances, close, middle, and far are learned. Students are coached how to 
defend with the guards and when it is a good time to attack. Fencing rules are explained. 
The concepts of attacking and defending, called the "right of way", are carefully studied.

In short, this class covers a lot of ground in one month. 

I would like to register for the Foil 1 Class.

Foil I  Students Study:

Foil II - Group Class    $ 180.00  - 16 classes
                                              (may be paid for in two installments of $90)
                                                          Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

The class covers everything learned in Foil I, but with greater detail. The parry of opposition is learned, which is a parry that deflects the attacker’s blade without roughness. A written, oral, and practical test is given at the end of class. Students must pass the test in order to go on to Foil III.

I would like to register for the Foil II Class.

Foil III - Group Class      $ 180.00  - 16 classes
                                                  (may be paid for in two installments of $90)
                                                              Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Foil III is more structured than Foil I or II. Emphasis is placed on technical drills from simple to complex movements. A preparatory centering drill is given to help the student understand the fine details of body posture and centering. Footwork and bladework are choreographed. 
This teaches the fencer to memorize and excel with fencing specific movement.

New vocabulary includes fencing time, plie, appel, and reprise.  Bladework material is listed below. 
A short fencing phrase is made up by the instructor where the students perform a sequence
of attacking and defending moves with each other.

All bladework routines are done a close, middle, and far distance. The supinated guards of 6, 4, 8, and 7 are used in every exercise. This reinforces the fencers skill in all four guards at all three distances with each exercise. Focus is directed to keeping the eyes on the target area. Test is written and practical.

I would like to register for the Foil III Class.

Foil III  Students Study:

Foil IV - Group Class       $ 180.00  - 16 classes
                                                (may be paid for in two installments of $90)
                                                Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Students begin with preparatory centering, footwork and bladework positions, then partner drills at close, middle, and far distance.  Preparatory bladework is the change of engagement with the coupe and the transports using opposition, cross, bind, and envelopment. New offensive bladework is the coupe, beat, opposition, and feint attack.

Defense uses the parry with a gliding riposte in all four guards. 
Emphasis is placed on refined movement and balance. Test is practical.

I would like to register for the Foil IV Class.

Foil IV  Students Study:

Foil V - Group Class            $ 180.00  - 16 classes
                                                      (may be paid for in two installments of $90)
                                                                   Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Students begin with preparatory centering followed by footwork and bladework. The movements are a little more complex and rhythmic. Although the speed picks up, moving correctly is as rigorous as ever.

Close, medium, and far distance are used with partner drills.  New footwork is the double advance, double retreat, triple advance, triple retreat, jump forward, jump backward, and a compound motion called the ballestra (also known as a jump lunge).

Blade work changes little. The cross and bind are used as a prise de fer, which is a taking and controlling of the blade. Good posture and body placement are expected. A fencing phrase is done with more realism.  Test is written and practical.

I would like to register for the Foil V Class.

Foil V  Students Study:

Foil VI - Group Class        $ 180.00  - 16 classes
                                                      (may be paid for in two installments of $90)
                                                                    Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Foil VI  Students Study:

Foil VII - Group Class        $ 180.00  - 16 classes
                                                        (may be paid for in two installments of $90)
                                                        Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Foil VII  Students Study:

Foil VIII - Group Class          $ 180.00  - 16 classes
                                                          (may be paid for in two installments of $90)
                                                                        Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Footwork and bladework are practiced. Different kinds of footwork rhythm with skips and shuffles ads to fencer’s mobility.  Partner drills are done from three distances using all eight guards.

New attacks are the press followed by a disengage, and the beat feint followed by a disengage. Defense covers circular parries and ceding parries followed by the riposte.  A renewed attack called the redoublement gives fencers a way to immediately attack twice in succession.  Test is written and practical.

I would like to register for the Foil VIII Class.

Foil VIII  Students Study:

Foil IX - Group Class          $ 180.00  - 16 classes
                                                      (may be paid for in two installments of $90)
                                                      Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Preparatory centering,  footwork and bladework are combined into one drill.  New offensive is the 
one two with disengage and the doublé. Defense reviews the ceding parries and riposte.

Counter attacks are entirely new elements. These are the counter attack with opposition, the stop hit into time, counter time via the stop hit, counter time with point in line and derobement, and counter time with ceding opposition. Test is practical.

I would like to register for the Foil IX Class.

Foil IX  Students Study:

Foil X - Group Class           $ 180.00  - 16 classes
                                                     (may be paid for in two installments of $90)
                                                                  Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Preparatory centering and footwork and bladework are combined into one drill. New offense is the counter disengage and the one two with coupé. Counter attacks use the feint into time with via the stop hit, feint into time with point in line and derobement, and the feint into time with ceding opposition.

Body evasions are used. These are the inquartata, intagliata, ducking, passata sotto, volte, reassemblement, and arabesque.  Test is practical.

I would like to register for the Foil X Class.

Foil X  Students Study: