Please help....

[M.R.]

Can someone please help me? I'm trying to find ANY information on any fencing clubs near the Kingsport, Tennessee area and I'm not having any luck. I've checked online and keep getting referred to the United States Fencing Association Tennessee division, but the site isn't working -- I'm not able to get a list of any clubs.

I would really like to get into this sport and was hoping there were some clubs close by -- Johnson City, Jonesborough, Bristol & Church Hill are all areas near Kingsport that I could make it to. If there is nothing near Kingsport please let me know that as well so I don't keep looking.

I would really appreciate any help anyone can give. Thanks in advance.

M.R.

[RITFencing]

This is from the USFA's site, under "find a club." Hope it helps:

http://www.usfencing.org/do/clublist?state=TN

[M.R.]

Thank you! That has helped tremendously! Wish me luck....

[RITFencing]

Luck? Bah. Good hunting.

[jdoiv]

www.tnfencing.org

It's the division website. Though, as far as I know the closest thing to you will be Oak Ridge FC. UT Knoxville also has a club, but they were having issues with the Recsports department not allowing non-students or non-faculty fencing with the club. Of course you could always sign up for a couple of classes and then you could fence.

Other options are to drive to Frankfurt KY or Greensboro NC.

Not much else I know of up there, though I could be wrong.

[JackOfHearts]

Welcome, and good luck. Don't be a stranger.

[wrdbrn]

[url]http://www.ncfencing.org/[/url]

We would love to have you in TN... however you are probably closer to the NC division clubs... Ashville about 85 miles.. and Boone under 60.. Our friends in Knoxville are only 112 and Oak Ridge about 135, The Virginia clubs that I found are healthy drive...I stand to be corrected... Welcome to fencing in the "South"!

[M.R.]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help. I looked yesterday for hours and again this morning (and I looked ALOT before I joined this forum) and I'm having no luck in locating anything that's close enough to make it to on a regular basis Although I will check into the Boone location that was mentioned.

If anyone hears of anything coming closer to my area please post and let me know. I'll keep checking the forum.

I'm surprised there's nothing closer to Kingsport, maybe someone will see the opening and start something up -- I can hope.

This was something I wanted to get into completely and I guess I'm disappointed. Thanks again for your time.

[RITFencing]

Don't give up completely; you can still check out local colleges for fencing clubs (they usually let non students practice) and look at YMCAs or community centers to find out if classes are offered.

[M.R.]

Will do Thanks. I'll check on those today.

I'll keep you guys posted if I find anything. Thanks for all the encouragement and help!

[Josephine25]

You might try usfencing.org that site may have more info. on fencing clubs then any other place.

[tbryan]

www.tnfencing.org

It's the division website. Though, as far as I know the closest thing to you will be Oak Ridge FC. UT Knoxville also has a club, but they were having issues with the Recsports department not allowing non-students or non-faculty fencing with the club. Of course you could always sign up for a couple of classes and then you could fence.

Other options are to drive to Frankfurt KY or Greensboro NC.

Not much else I know of up there, though I could be wrong.

If you're going to NC, there are clubs much closer than Greensboro. Check the NC fencing website: ncfencing.org. I know that the TCA club in Elkin is active (I saw some of their fencers last weekend at Divisionals), and I think that there's still a club in Blowing Rock. Anyway, take a look at the ncfencing website, and contact the clubs nearest you to see whether they're still active. If you can get to a club once a week for your first year or so, you can learn a lot and figure out whether fencing is for you. If it is, you'll figure out a way to do it, even if you have to move.

[Amber]

My husband and I are also searching for a fencing club (or at least the opportunity for instruction) in the Tri-Cities. We live in Kingsport and don't want to travel very far to do so.

Fortunately, after much searching, I found a listing on TriCities.com for the Tri-Cities Fencing Club in Johnson City. The contact person is Steve St. John and his listed phone number is 423-257-6799. I have no idea what his credentials may be, but this is definitely a place to start!

We have not called him yet (I need to sign off the computer first) but hope for positive results.

[Padawan]

how close are you to morganton nc. it is exit 105 on Interstate 40?

[Beowulfman6]

I think the closest thing in NC is going to be Boone. ncfencing.org has a club listed in Asheville, but from all of my attempts to contact them (we are only 30 minutes from there) I have been unable to determine whether they are active. They also seem to practice "classical fencing."

I hope you find something closer, and if not- start one! That's what we did here in Brevard.

[Sword Hobbit]

I hope you fined something soon, have you tried contacting the fencing clubs that are out of your way? some times they will rent room at health clubs or other places an till they can get a building.

[sjpfencer220]

Hello and welcome to the forums, I hope you found a club, there should be some in or near that area.