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The Fencing Exchange

514 Lackawanna Avenue   Scranton PA  18503    570-969-1224

Private Lessons

$ 50.00 for 1 person       $60.00 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 individuals 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.

Children's Classes

Ages 11-12

Best learned by older children.  Phrase of arms in open bouting and competition after 13.

Children's Private Lessons:  (see Private Lessons)
Children's Group Lessons:  $80 per 4 classes (see below)
Off-site Group Lessons:  Email or call 570-969-1224 for info.

Rental Equipment is included!

Cavaliers- Fencing is hard, it goes against instinct.  It gives directions similar to 18^th century Prussian drill by making decisions  contrary to impulse.  In comparison the movement of Karate is natural and suitable for younger ages.  Physical conditioning and preparatory exercises are taught at this age level.  Some fencing is done.  A little more at 13 years.

First day of class is an audition. Certain requirements: Students must be willing to work hard and pay attention. Physical Conditioning: 20 push-ups, 30 sit-ups, 1 mile run.

Foil I          Foil VI

Foil II         Foil VII

Foil III        Foil VIII

Foil IV        Foil IX

Foil V         Foil X   
 

Adult Group Classes (Ages 13 +)

For beginner through advanced students, these classes provide a progressive and 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 - 4 classes (8 hrs.)
                                                            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. 

Foil I  Students Study:

Foil II - Group Class    $ 180.00  - 8 classes (16 hrs.)
                                              (may be paid for in two monthly 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 attackers 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.

Foil III - Group Class      $ 180.00  - 8 classes (16 hrs.)
                                                  (may be paid for in two monthly 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.

Foil III  Students Study:

Foil IV - Group Class       $ 180.00  - 8 classes (16 hrs.) 
                                                (may be paid for in two monthly 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 counter disengage, 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.

Foil IV  Students Study:

Foil V - Group Class            $ 180.00  - 8 classes (16 hrs. )
                                                      (may be paid for in two monthly 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.

Foil V  Students Study:

Foil VI - Group Class        $ 180.00  - 8 classes (16 hrs. )
                                                      (may be paid for in two monthly installments of $90)
                                                                    Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Foil VI  Students Study:

Foil VII - Group Class        $ 180.00  - 8 classes (16 hrs. )
                                                        (may be paid for in two monthly installments of $90)
                                                        Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Foil VII  Students Study:

Foil VIII - Group Class          $ 180.00  - 8 classes (16 hrs. )
                                                          (may be paid for in two monthly 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 fencers 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.

Foil VIII  Students Study:

Foil IX - Group Class          $ 180.00  - 8 classes (16 hrs. )
                                                      (may be paid for in two monthly 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 double.  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.

Foil IX  Students Study:

Foil X - Group Class           $ 180.00  - 8 classes (16 hrs. )
                                                     (may be paid for in two monthly installments of $90)
                                                                  Price includes rental equipment, if needed !

Preparatory centering and footwork and bladework are combined into one drill. New offense is the one two with coupe. 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.

Foil X  Students Study: