Youth Program Progression

  • Children should begin with either a 6-week Intro to Fencing Program or a 4-5 day Fencing Camp
  • Upon completion, they are ready to move onto Step 2
  • After completing a beginner program or camp, kids should join our main program
  • Our main program runs September to June and fencers can join at any point
    • This program is billed monthly ($147-294/month)
  • This program includes multiple classes per week
  • You can choose the level of commitment:
    • 1-class per week
    • 2-classes per week
    • Unlimited classes per week
  • Fencers should begin to include Private Lessons in their fencing program. Private Lessons are ​1-on-1 sessions between a coach and fencer wherein the coach is able to give highly specific and individualized feedback on technique and tactics
  • As fencing is a highly technical sport, lessons are a necessary component of skill development. Private Lessons are not mandatory, however, they are strongly recommended. The one-on-one setting encourages:
    • Increased focus, coordination, and technique
    • Development of new ideas and strategies
    • Increased engagement in group classes
    • Improved sense of connection with a coach/mentor
  • Private Lessons can be purchase individually, in a multi-pass, or in a monthly package.
  • Recommendations:
    • 6-11yos: 15min lessons, 1-3 times per week
    • 12-18yos: 20min lessons 2-4 times per week
  • Click here to learn more about private lessons

Teens & Adults Program Progression

  • We recommend that teens & adults begin with an Intro Pack of Private Lessons – Three 20-min lessons for $99
  • Upon completion, they are recommended to move on to Step Two
  • After completing an Intro Pack of Lessons:
  • Teens are recommended to join group classes
    • This program is billed monthly ($140-280/month)
    • These programs range from Recreational to Competitive
  • Adults are recommended one of two options:
    • An Open Bouting membership combined with Private Lessons (See Step 3)
    • An Adult Active for Life Group Class Membership that includes Unlimited Open Bouting
  • Fencers should begin to include Private Lessons in their fencing program. Private Lessons are ​1-on-1 sessions between a coach and fencer wherein the coach is able to give highly specific and individualized feedback on technique and tactics
  • As fencing is a highly technical sport, lessons are a necessary component of skill development. Private Lessons are not mandatory, however, they are strongly recommended. The one-on-one setting encourages:
    • Increased focus, coordination, and technique
    • Development of new ideas and strategies
    • Increased engagement in group classes
    • Improved sense of connection with a coach/mentor
  • Private Lessons can be purchase individually, in a multi-pass, or in a monthly package.
  • Recommendation: 20min lessons 1-4 times per week
  • Click here to learn more about private lessons

Beginner Links:

After the beginner program:

Recommendations For Youth Fencers

  • At Epic Fencing, we aim to provide quality fencing instruction in a fun and hardworking environment.

  • We believe in the importance of a strong athletic foundation and participating in a variety of sports and activities growing up

  • We also know that fencing is a highly technical sport and that attendance and quality repetition are key to providing kids the foundation so they are positioned to succeed in the sport and strengthen their self-confidence

  • At Epic Fencing, we are uniquely positioned to provide quality fencing instruction to prepare fencers for provincial, national, and international competition at an appropriate pace, if they so choose.

  • Fun, fitness, and personal growth are at the heart of what we teach at Epic Fencing. We believe that for many fencers, competition plays a role in that growth and learning. We believe in the value of competition for the lessons it teaches:

  • ​The correlation between hard work and tangible improvements

  • The value of discipline and self-regulation

  • The importance of taking care of your body and mind

  • We recommend that families start with two fencing sessions per week and increase to Unlimited Classes or a Package Membership when kids show continued interest. We continue to recommend exploring other sports and activities alongside their fencing journeys

Recommendations For Adult Fencers

  • Canada’s physical activity guidelines recommend:

    • Be active at least 2.5 hours a week to achieve health benefits.
    • Focus on moderate to vigorous aerobic activity throughout each week, broken into sessions of 10 minutes or more.
    • Get stronger by adding activities that target your muscles and bones at least two days per week.
    • Get into a routine — go to the pool, hit the gym, join a spin class, or set a regular run and do some planned exercise. Make it social by getting someone to join you.

    Adult Fencing at Epic provides a great opportunity to fulfill all of the above guidelines and tips

    • According to Sport Canada, Active for Life can manifest in three different ways for adults:

      1. ​Fit for Life: Daily Physical Activity, organized or non-organized

      Epic Fencing offers adults structured classes, non-structured bouting, and access to our weight room

      2. Competitive for Life: Engage in age-group specific organized sport (new or familiar)

      ​Alberta Fencing, Canadian Fencing, and International Fencing all provide opportunities for adults 40+ to compete with other adults. In Alberta, Veteran-age categories begin at 30+.

      3. Sport & Physical Activity Leaders: Coaches, officials, administrators, and media: Ensuring a positive environment for sport

      Fencing has many outlets for adults looking to engage with and contribute to a community

More about Epic Services, Memberships, and Program Progression

Epic Fencing Club Services

1.Classes

  • Who takes classes?
    • Fencers from beginners to Olympians take part in group classes to improve their skills, strategies, and/or competition readiness
  • What to expect in a class:
    • Warm-up: prepares the body for fencing by mobilizing joints, activating key muscle groups, and increasing the heart rate.
    • Footwork: rehearsal of key lower body movements, focusing on technique, coordination, efficiency, and/or conditioning
    • Drills: depending on the focus of the practice, drills may consist of technical or strategic partner exercises, group lessons, or bouts with a specific direction.

2. Private Lessons

  • What are private lessons?
    • 1-on-1 sessions between a coach and fencer wherein the coach is able to give highly specific and individualized feedback on technique and tactics
    • As fencing is a highly technical sport, lessons are a necessary component of skill development
  • Benefits:
    • Increased focus, coordination, and technique
    • Development of new ideas and strategies
    • Increased engagement in group classes
    • Improved sense of connection with a coach
  • When should someone start taking lessons?
    • Fencers can start taking lessons any time.
    • Our coaches recommend starting during the FUNdamentals or Learn to Train stage

3. Cross Training

  • What is Cross Training?
    • The development of speed, power, strength, and endurance to improve sport performance
  • Benefits of Cross Training:
    • Improvement in physical capacity
    • Reduced risk of injury
    • Increased confidence
  • Who should do Cross Training?
    • It is recommended for all athletes and participants, particularly in fencing to avoid imbalances
  • When to start and how often:
    • 8-12yo: Develop strength through bodyweight exercise & Med Balls
    • 11-16yo: Introduce free weights for general sport conditioning; 1-2X/week
    • 15yo+: Sport specific physical conditioning; 2-4X/week
    • Active for Life: Minimum of 60 minutes moderate activity or 30 minutes of intense activity daily

Epic Fencing Membership Options

1.Class-Based Memberships

Class Memberships Include:

  • Weekly Group Fencing Classes
  • Membership Discounts on Private Lessons, Camps, Clinics, Items in the Epic Store

*Adults also have the option of an Open-Bouting or Fitness Footwork- Only Membership

2.Package Memberships

  • Get a discount on training when you package into one membership
  • Package memberships include:
    • Group fencing classes,
    • Private fencing lessons,
    • Cross training
    • 10-15% Discounts on top of regular member discounts
  • Ideal for fencers looking to maximize their training.
  • Recommended for fencers looking to challenge themselves at competitions outside of Alberta
  • Package levels: Red, Black, and Platinum
    • Additional discounts for Black and Platinum
  • Payments are monthly or every two months
    • Additional discounts for bi-monthly commitments
  • Lessons cannot be transferred between pay periods

For more info on Epic’s Programs, including Long Term Athlete Development and the Epic Skills Pathway, click on the link below: