Fencing Advice

[emxtrix]

So here's my problem. I fenced at my university in January and was totally hooked on it. Four or five months later the school year ends, I come back home, and purchase a foil, thinking to myself "I'll fence all summer in New York City". Summer is now over and I have decided to take a semester off from school -- I can't find one decent place to fence in NYC.

NY Fencer's Club is booked for the next YEAR, New York Athletic Club is by invite only and looks obscenely expensive, Brooklyn Fencing is way too far of a commute, and I just can't find anything else.

Somebody please give me some advice. No fencing is like having no air to breathe.

[fencergal33]

It's fairly easy to find places to fence.
Go to the USFA website: www.usfencing.org

Click on "Where can I fence?" or similar, and find places in NYC. After all, it's NYC!!!!! There are a million of 'em!

Good luck!

[SmokeyTheCat263]

This is a common problem for newcomers in the NYC area.

FC is closed, but they still take fencers who are...ahem...elite, if you will. But, unless you are on the point standings for something, ur SOL with Fc.

AC, however, does not have a particularly elite foil progam. They'd probably take you, depending on your level. You just gotta know who to talk to. I'm outta the loop, but I wanna say email Yale Cohen. Someone else on this board should be able to verify that.

Other options? Brookyln Fencer Center, and Fencing Academy of Westchester. If you think Bkfc is a hike, FAW isn't any better. Quite frankly, I don't think Brooklyn is that far. I lived in Greenwich Villlage last year and it was only a 20-25 minute subway ride away.

Sorry, NYC just isn't the place where you can have your cake and eat it too.

[Araznal]

Well, there is one more club in the New York area which is not mentioned by Smokey: NAFA. It's on the upper west side. You can check them out at nyfencing.com , but I would suggest just going up there yourself because the address on the site is wrong. Best time to come is after 7 when all the younger kids are done with class on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. I can't give you an exact address, but I can give you really good directions if you PM me.

[ReverseLunge]

Are you black? If you are then you probably could go to Westbrook's place.

[emxtrix]

I've checked the US fencing site, all those locations are either remote or somehow impossible for me to reach. I don't live in the city, I live on Long Island 10 minutes from JFK (a 35 minute train ride into Manhattan). NAFA is attainable, I guess I'll contact them.

If anyone can pull a string and get me into NYFC I would owe you my soul.

Thanks for the info guys

[Araznal]

If anyone can pull a string and get me into NYFC I would owe you my soul.

Now don't say that. I already owe my soul to the one who got me in.

[fencerchica]

You live on Long Island? No problem, go to the Fencing Center of Long Island!

They're a pretty solid club with good coaches, some competetive fencers, an okay space, and host a bunch of competitions every season.

The website is www.fencingcenterli.com

[nyacfencing]

If you go to the division website (http://www.metrodivision.com) you can see a list of all the clubs. That being said, much of what was said is true:

The FC has the best program, but is hard to get into due to demand. Did you contact them directly?

The AC is mostly an epee and saber club, and though it does have a few strong foilists, there isn't much of a program if you are a beginner and this is probably not your best bet. Though if this is your only option you can probably get in easier than you think (they are a little more relaxed about letting collegiate fencers in as guests). Contact Chris O'Loughlin via his info on the division website.

Brooklyn FC is a really nice club and I suggest you head down there one day just to check it out. It is pretty close in to Manhattan and may not take as long to get to as you fear.

The New Amsterdam club is also a good bet... and their address is correct, as they just moved.

[cfaustus]

There is also Maestro Martinez's Academy on 330 Broome Street.

[carlos]

747 Amsterdam Ave 917-570-0078

"The founding coach, Marek Wyszynski, studied under world renowned fencing master Dr. Z. Czajkowski. One-time Polish junior champion, Marek imparts to his students the keys to success. Two of his fencers, John and Larissa González, compete nationally and have coached at Manhattan public and private schools since 1997. They now own New Amsterdam Fencing Academy. The third NAFA coach is Jason Sheridan. Jason is a competitive saber fencer. He recently earned the title of Master of Arms in Poland where he studied for four years under world renowned Fencing Master Dr. Zbigniew Czajkowski. He coached in Poland and in California before coming back to New York. Also on staff is Jason Riffaterre, who first began fencing as a New York City high school student. Jason has coached in New York public and private schools since 1996 and has a been a nationally ranked competitor. "

[Araznal]

Sorry, that information is incorrect. Website updates have slowed ever since the move. The address is 2726 Broadway (between 104th and 105th on the east side of the street) 2nd floor. It's almost done there and it looks great.

However, NAFA will be closed this next week. It will open again on the 12th.

[fencerontheline]

There is also Maestro Martinez's Academy on 330 Broome Street.

I'd definitely reccomend this club, doubly so if you're a lazy overweight bandanna-harnessing classical fencer who carries around table-talk pies in a pouch for easy access.

[fencerchica]

OMG, fencerontheline almost made me spit out / choke on my coffee. I wish I could see this phenomenon he describes. It sounds equal parts pathetically adorable, yet profoundly disturbing.

[Larrison]

OMG, fencerontheline almost made me spit out / choke on my coffee. I wish I could see this phenomenon he describes. It sounds equal parts pathetically adorable, yet profoundly disturbing.

What has me worried, is that he was able to give such an immediate and detailed explaination, as if from personal experience....

[Jason]

The NAFA website is being redesigned.
The old one is pretty retarded.
Here's a top-secret link to the new site as it currently is (don't judge it, just use it for info). Not all the links work.

http://www.graphomanic.net/NAFA/index.html

There's loads of good foil. We have current and former nationally ranked fencers like Eli Miloslavsky, John Gonzalez, Jason Riffaterre, and a whole assortment of wandering souls from the now expired Metropolis.

We just moved into a great new space, with lockers, showers, grounded strips, and plenty of other goodies.

We're closed from September 5 - 11, but we'll reopen on the 12th.
For more info, call 212 662-FENCE

[emxtrix]

The NAFA website is being redesigned.
The old one is pretty retarded.
Here's a top-secret link to the new site as it currently is (don't judge it, just use it for info). Not all the links work.

http://www.graphomanic.net/NAFA/index.html

There's loads of good foil. We have current and former nationally ranked fencers like Eli Miloslavsky, John Gonzalez, Jason Riffaterre, and a whole assortment of wandering souls from the now expired Metropolis.

We just moved into a great new space, with lockers, showers, grounded strips, and plenty of other goodies.

We're closed from September 5 - 11, but we'll reopen on the 12th.
For more info, call 212 662-FENCE

I'll be dropping in this week. Thanks

[stealingophelia]

Are you black? If you are then you probably could go to Westbrook's place.

haha where is the westbrook foundation? do they do everything at the FC? i've seen his students, him, and their lockers there..

[VELISARIOS]

So here's my problem. I fenced at my university in January and was totally hooked on it. Four or five months later the school year ends, I come back home, and purchase a foil, thinking to myself "I'll fence all summer in New York City". Summer is now over and I have decided to take a semester off from school -- I can't find one decent place to fence in NYC.

NY Fencer's Club is booked for the next YEAR, New York Athletic Club is by invite only and looks obscenely expensive, Brooklyn Fencing is way too far of a commute, and I just can't find anything else.

Somebody please give me some advice. No fencing is like having no air to breathe.

Hello,
I find this :
FENCING CENTER OF LONG ISLAND
289A Subarban Ave
Deer Park, NY 11729
(631) 586-4455

http://www.fencingcenterli.com/masterframe.html

And this one


ISLAND FENCING ACADEMY
location: 101-32 Dupont St Plainview
mail: PO Box 69 Huntington NY 11743
phone: (516) 576-0646
email: ifa8@aol.com

http://islandfencingacademy.com/_wsn/page11.html

I hope to help you. I do not know the distances because I have never visit NY and America but I have search in the network to help you.

[RITFencing]

I can also recommend FCLI; they know what they're doing and have turned out some good fencers.