Hello,
Im going to spend some time in california 3 - 13 of october.
It would be nice to be able to meet some new fencers and do some epeefencing. Where do I find the "best" or most "active" clubs in california this time a year. If someone needs additional training I do not mind to give some lessons as well. The condition unfortunately is that I need to borrow gear since I cannot bring my own gear this time.
Best regards,
Bjarne
Well I will be traveling with a group of collegues. We land at LAX stays a few days, the goes on to Las Vegas, returns to LA for another 4 days before we fly back. Now my plans can be changed if it seems to be more fun to fence than going to Las vegas.
Ah, that certainly helps! I live about 15 minutes north of LAX, and the clubs closest to that immediate area would be LAIFC (Los Angeles International Fencing Center), and BHFC (Beverly Hills Fencing Center). LAIFC has a great staff of coaches, and one of the best selections of people to fence, in this immediate area. They have epee fencing on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and things usually get rolling at 7:30pm. They have a junior program, for the kids, in the afternoons, which I believe starts up at 4pm.
BHFC is a bit smaller, but has metallic strips, and about 3 or 4 regular coaches. They have epee fencing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, again, starting at about the same time. One of their top epee coaches will be out for this month though, so it may be a bit sparse right now, but by October, it should pick up a bit more. Let me know if you plan on visiting either of these, as I'd be sure to show up and get some fencing in!
Others, in the general SoCal area that I'm familiar with, would include Swords, which is a good studio, up in the Pasadena area. Not too sure about their epee schedule though, but they have some good coaches. Also, Swordplay is in Burbank, which (I believe), may have a bit sparser epee crowd, but I can't speak to that too much, as I've never been there. There is also Swords, a bit north as well. Then you have the Orange County crowd as well, but I'm not quite as familiar with the latest goings on down there, although I could recommend a few places, if interested.
Hope this helps!
"Life is like a wheel, where everyone steals, but when we rise, it's like Strawberry Fields."
Oh, and there's also a quite excellent club out in Las Vegas that could be worth checking out as well. Yves Auriol instructs there, and I forget it's exact name, but something fairly obvious, like Las Vegas Fencer's Club, or something similar.
"Life is like a wheel, where everyone steals, but when we rise, it's like Strawberry Fields."
SwordPlay is primarily a foil club, but we DO have epee classes on Thursday starting at 8pm....not sure about the floor fee policy, however....that's not something I keep track of.
Keep in mind that the epeeists are either basically beginners...although if Victor Cervantes jumps in, he'll be a good fight!
Thank you for all the advice. I will try to visit FAN i Las vegas 6 or 7 october, LAIFC on the 9 or 10 of october and BHFC on the 10 october. Anyone wants to join me for some fun??
I'd be more than happy to meet up at BHFC and LAIFC, just drop me a message close to the time that you'll be visiting, and I'll be sure to meet up with you and introduce you to some of the yocals!
"Life is like a wheel, where everyone steals, but when we rise, it's like Strawberry Fields."
Ah, that certainly helps! I live about 15 minutes north of LAX, and the clubs closest to that immediate area would be LAIFC (Los Angeles International Fencing Center), and BHFC (Beverly Hills Fencing Center). LAIFC has a great staff of coaches, and one of the best selections of people to fence, in this immediate area. They have epee fencing on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and things usually get rolling at 7:30pm. They have a junior program, for the kids, in the afternoons, which I believe starts up at 4pm.
BHFC is a bit smaller, but has metallic strips, and about 3 or 4 regular coaches. They have epee fencing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, again, starting at about the same time. One of their top epee coaches will be out for this month though, so it may be a bit sparse right now, but by October, it should pick up a bit more. Let me know if you plan on visiting either of these, as I'd be sure to show up and get some fencing in!
Others, in the general SoCal area that I'm familiar with, would include Swords, which is a good studio, up in the Pasadena area. Not too sure about their epee schedule though, but they have some good coaches. Also, Swordplay is in Burbank, which (I believe), may have a bit sparser epee crowd, but I can't speak to that too much, as I've never been there. There is also Swords, a bit north as well. Then you have the Orange County crowd as well, but I'm not quite as familiar with the latest goings on down there, although I could recommend a few places, if interested.
Hope this helps!
Ummm, Last time I checked, Fortune Fencing was in Pasadena, not Swords... Even though it looks like they're losing their building, it's bad form to hate on them yet, even though 4quarters might not agree... (doesn't like their foil program.) With friends like you guys, who needs enemies? lol.... To the OP, good epee fencing there.
Ummm, Last time I checked, Fortune Fencing was in Pasadena, not Swords... Even though it looks like they're losing their building, it's bad form to hate on them yet, even though 4quarters might not agree... (doesn't like their foil program.) With friends like you guys, who needs enemies? lol.... To the OP, good epee fencing there.
Ummm... what? I obviously had a typo in there as I mentioned Swords twice, it should've said "Fortune, which is a good studio up in the Pasadena area." Sorry for that minor oversight and error, but I don't see how you figure I'm "hating" on them, by mistakingly writing the wrong name.
"Life is like a wheel, where everyone steals, but when we rise, it's like Strawberry Fields."
even though 4quarters might not agree... (doesn't like their foil program.)
It's good that you know me so well , but to set the record straight, I've never said that I don't like their foil program. I think they are a really good club and have often recommended people to Fortune.
From an outsiders perspective, the LA area has a tremendous amount of high-level epee opportunities. Anybody traveling there is indeed lucky. Fencers living there are even more fortunate.
An unbiased opinion:
LAIFC has a great deal of depth and very high quality of fencers, Fortune (which won Summer Nationals ME team) has some really impressive guys (saw them win at San Jose) and Swords produced one of the best young talents I've seen in a long time (won Div 1As).
Really a lot there. One of the best places to go in the U.S. for epee, I think.
R-
"Some people are born great fencers, some people achieve fencing greatness, and some people have it thrust upon them."
From an outsiders perspective, the LA area has a tremendous amount of high-level epee opportunities. Anybody traveling there is indeed lucky. Fencers living there are even more fortunate.
...
Really a lot there. One of the best places to go in the U.S. for epee, I think.
R-
Almost makes me feel like I should switch weapons!
Ummm, Last time I checked, Fortune Fencing was in Pasadena, not Swords... Even though it looks like they're losing their building, it's bad form to hate on them yet, even though 4quarters might not agree... (doesn't like their foil program.) With friends like you guys, who needs enemies? lol.... To the OP, good epee fencing there.
Don't hate de playa, hate de GAME, Yo.
Randal : [after the fire at the Quick Stop] Terrorists?
[Dante shakes his head]
Randal : I left the coffee pot on again, didn't I?
[Dante nods]
Thank you for all the advice. I will try to visit FAN i Las vegas 6 or 7 october, LAIFC on the 9 or 10 of october and BHFC on the 10 october. Anyone wants to join me for some fun??
Tuesday, Oct. 8 might be better at LAIFC. Wednesday and Friday nights are usually foil fencers.
There are two tournaments the weekend of Oct. 10 - 12. The NAC in Columbus and a Jr. WC in Bratislava.
Although Michael Raynis, Swords, and Garrett Carnahan, Fortune, often come to LAIFC, both are going to Bratislava, so they probably won't be there Thursday. For sure the epee girls will be there Tuesday.
Originally Posted by seven6ty 
, but to set the record straight, I've never said that I don't like their foil program. I think they are a really good club and have often recommended people to Fortune. 
