The Birmingham Fencing Club will host a foil clinic on Saturday, July 29th,
from 1:00pm to 5:00pm (central time). Detailed directions to Hall-Kent
Elementary School are provided below. Please read all the following
information carefully. If you have any questions or need additional
information, contact David Arias at arias@fencingclub.org or by telephone
205-824-6635. While preregistration is not mandatory, it is extremely
helpful to know how many fencers will participate and WE ASK THAT YOU RSVP
to David Arias using the contact email/phone above.
We decided to hold several specialized day camps rather than a big weeklong
production. Training will be more highly focused, allowing fencers to
choose training in one weapon or all three (at other clinics). The cost
will ultimately be lower since we can get a site at a very low costs for
several hours, rather than trying to find a place that can provide a long
block of time. The number of fencers should also be lower, allowing more
one-on-one time with our coaches.
Although this schedule will have a degree of flexibility, we will closely
follow the following timetable:
1:00-1:30 warm-ups and stretching
1:30-2:00 footwork drills
2:00-2:30 bladework drills
2:30-3:00 combined footwork/bladework
3:00-3:30 fencers paired off for drills
3:30-5:00 fencers will bout with electric gear while each students
receives a private lesson of approximately 15-20 minutes.
The clinic will be divided between novice fencers and those with
approximately a year or more of experience and have begun competing. Our
coaches will make this determination in cases where it is not clear. Please
do not let classifications like this worry you... simply call or email if
you have any questions.
Our coaches are Hongyun Sun and Yuanjing Wang, formally Chinese National
Fencing Team Coaches. Both have degrees in fencing and international
experience as coaches and competitors. You can get more details regarding
their qualifications at the following web site:
http://www.fencingclub.org/coaches.html
The cost will be will be $40 for the four-hour clinic. Electric gear will
be made available to the novice/newer fencers who have not yet purchased
their own. ALL fencers are otherwise expected to have their own equipment,
and all equipment must pass basic safety standards. This includes punch
tests for your mask, plastrons are mandatory, knickers are strongly
suggested but long pants are required, breast protectors are required for
women, athletic cups are strongly recommended for the men.
Light food and drinks will be provided at no cost, throughout the day, and
there will be breaks between sessions (or as needed). A few fencing
t-shirts from past tournaments will be available to purchase for $10.
USFA membership is not required, but is strongly suggested. USFA membership
includes liability insurance that protects you individually in the events of
an injury to someone else. While we have a $2 million liability policy for
the Club, it is only intended to protect the Club and its officers. Forms
will be available at the registration desk.
This should be an excellent clinic. We know of fencers from Alabama,
Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia that have already confirmed their
intentions to attend. We reserve the right to limit the number of
participants.
Thanks for your attention. We look forward to meeting you! Please pass
this information to others in your club. And please REMEMBER TO RSVP if at
all possible.
ADVANCE NOTICE: Although we have not finalized every detail, the Birmingham
Fencing Club will host an EPEE clinic the following weekend, Saturday,
August 5th. Format and times will likely be the same as the foil clinic
described above, including the venue and directions
David Arias
President, Birmingham Fencing Club
Other Club Officers:
Liz Rock, Vice President
Meg Stubbs, Secretary
William Patterson, Treasurer
DIRECTIONS:
>From I-65 heading south, you will take the Lakeshore Boulevard exit, which
is about one mile past the Oxmoor Road exit. At the light at the end of the
exit ramp, take a left heading back over I-65. Go through the first light
(which is just an entrance back onto I-65) until you reach the second light
at a fairly big intersection (a BP gas station will be on your right) At
this intersection of Lakeshore Boulevard and Greensprings Highway, turn left
heading north on Greensprings Highway (toward downtown). At the second
traffic light, turn left onto Raleigh Avenue. Then turn left at the second
stop sign. The school will be on your left. The gym entrance is behind the
school.
If heading north on I-65 (as if coming from Montgomery), the Lakeshore exit
will be about one mile past the Alford Avenue exit. Take a right at the
light at the end of the exit ramp. you will be taking a left at the same
Lakeshore/Greensprings intersection described above (with the BP station on
your right). Continue following the directions to the school as noted
above.
[This message has been edited by arias (edited 07-18-2000).]
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