Frequently Asked Questions
How old do you have to be to start fencing? Can my whole family participate?
Fencing is a sport that can be practiced by all ages. For safety reasons, we do not take students younger than 7. This is a sport where discipline and attention span are required! Some 7-year-olds are ready, some are not. Fencing is a sport that can be practiced by the whole family. Age categories are not separated as they are in karate or other martial arts; so many families choose fencing and participate together. ( Tampa Fencing Academy offers family membership plans to make fencing affordable for families.)
How much will it cost to start fencing? How do beginners get started?
Group Lessons are for beginners and are scheduled six days a week. Check the program page for specific days and times, but the general schedule is as follows: Monday-Thursday, 4:30 – 6:00pm. Saturday and Sunday 10:30 am – 12:00. Join a class once per week for $65 per month, or twice per week for $120 per month. See the group lesson flyer for more info and a registration form. Tampa Fencing Academy has all of the equipment that beginners need to fence. Equipment rental is included in beginners’ class fees. Once you graduate from the group classes and begin electric fencing, we request that you buy your own electric equipment. These items are in short supply and we don’t have enough to lend to everyone. All other items can be rented until you decide to buy your own.
What is the difference between Competitive and Recreational Fencing?
Competitive fencers compete in tournaments and recreational fencers don’t. We have both at Tampa Fencing Academy, but competitive fencers make up the bulk of our membership. They enter competitions at the local and national level. All fencers start off with a “U” ( Unranked) classification. Fencers earn higher classifications, ranking “E” up to “A” by finishing at the top of larger events. The ultimate goal of each season is to compete in the Summer Nationals Championships and the Junior Olympic Championships. We have many nationally ranked fencers at Tampa Fencing Academy. We have National Champions, National silver and bronze medalists, and even a fencer who was selected for the USA National Cadet and Junior teams. All of our recreational and competitive fencers train and fence together. Many of our recreational fencers are former competitive fencers who are no longer on the circuit. At the other end of the spectrum are those fencers who are just starting out and are not ready to fence competitively. This environment combines to create a high powered fencing experience for every recreational and competitive fencer at Tampa Fencing Academy.
