Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

DrunkenUmpa · 10-29-2003, 08:34 PM

I've been looking around to see about learning how to fence since its something that i've been interested in for a while but i've had apsolutely no luck. I live in north denver and have checked both online as well as in the phone book. If anyone knows of any place in denver that teaches fencing or simply have any suggestions please drop me a line.

Duelist · 10-29-2003, 08:42 PM

Congradulations on your excellent choice of sports. I recomend you check the listings at usfencing.org

DrunkenUmpa · 10-29-2003, 08:46 PM

Thanks duelist its much appreciated.

Rolls · 10-30-2003, 09:08 AM

This is off topic, but...

Quote:

and have checked both online as well as in the phone book

A while back there was a thread on marketing fencing clubs. I suggested that the two most likely places for someone to look would be online and in the phone book.

I think that clubs should REALLY consider these two places when thinking about marketing. It is MUCH more effective than the post flyers all over the place method.

Rolls.

Capt. Slo-mo · 10-30-2003, 11:21 AM

DU:

In the Denver metro area, you have 4.5 choices.

1. Mile High Fencing Club. This is a good club for beginners. They don't push a lot of competition, unless you'd like that sort of thing--mostly a recreational club. They teach out of a rec center in Lakewood, and offer a 12 week foil instruction club. They have gear for beginners, but encourage you to get your own after completing the class. Good mix of adults and younger fencers.

2. Cheyenne Fencing and pentathalon and a bunch of other esoteric things: located on East Colfax in Denver. Good strong program for foil and especially epee, lotsa kids, some adults. Run by Olympian Elaine Cheris. Some fencers love her, some hate her. You decide after being there a while.

3. Colorado Fencing Academy. Sabre club, run out of Arvada. Developing a large kids program, some adults. They have aspirations to develop an Olympic-level training program. Just ask them.

4. Denver Fencing Club. Adults, mostly sabre, a few epee, a few foil. Meets Monday and Wednesday at the Turnverein Center (north of Colfax about Downing or so). Primararily a recreational club, altho a few members compete. This club does have Bill Goering and Archil L. there as coaches, so there's some firepower there.

4.5. Northern Colorado Fencers. In Boulder, alas. National caliber kids program in foil, epee...a few adults.

My recommendation? Check out the Mile High club to start, and then if you want to specialize, and they aren't doing enough for you, go to one of the other clubs as well for more practice.

You can find info and contact on these clubs by going to:

usfencing.org

then click on the Information for Fencers line...click on the "Where can I fence?" item and go to Colorado on the map. It'll give you all the Colorado based fencing clubs.

Mo · 10-30-2003, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Capt. Slo-mo

4. Denver Fencing Club. Adults, mostly sabre, a few epee, a few foil. Meets Monday and Wednesday at the Turnverein Center (north of Colfax about Downing or so). Primararily a recreational club, altho a few members compete. This club does have Bill Goering and Archil L. there as coaches, so there's some firepower there.
You can find info and contact on these clubs by going to:

usfencing.org

then click on the Information for Fencers line...click on the "Where can I fence?" item and go to Colorado on the map. It'll give you all the Colorado based fencing clubs.

The Capt is right in most of this post but starting at DFC or Denver Fencing Center is a much better idea. The Denver Free University has classes at DFC taught by Bob Block and others.
Archille and his Dad are there, Bill Goering too. DFC has excellent coaches for all the weapons and since there are all three weapons at DFC, a person can choose.
Mile High has classes for beginners but the beginner must start in foil and deal with the horrible boringness of the first couple classes. The instructor there is fairly hostile to kids. if you like kids, seeing the way they are treated is kind of disheartening.
I would vote for DFC over Mile High especially because of the caliber of coaches at that club. The only downfall is that they only practice 2 nights a week.

JEC · 10-30-2003, 12:09 PM

For a year or so, I watched (was injured) the DFC fencers at the Turnverein (a couple of blocks from the Argonaut - the best wine store in Denver, and the cathedral) once a week. I took my son who was 8 to get some lessons there, while he did not participate with the adults.

DFC is an adult club that is also very strong in Epee. I do recall watching some foil, but rarely. Nice camaraderie among the fencers. EDEW would be extremely happy, as they used to have a ballet class just before that. Parking was a problem rarely, it is next to an independent theater. The flooring is great, nice hardwood. About 6 strips with Uhlmann reels. Bob Block is a gentleman, and likewise for Goering. In '99, the usual attendance was about 20 fencers meeting twice a week from about 7 to 9:30.

We looked at the time at other clubs, but despite living a mile from Cheyenne, but crossed town all the way to NCF in Boulder.

Capt. Slo-mo · 10-30-2003, 02:14 PM

Wow, JEC, I didn't realize we nearly crossed at DFC.

The funniest part about the DFC club is that it's held in a ballroom area. One of the nights each week (at least a couple of years ago) there was also clogging practice being held simultaneously with the fencing.

Nothing teaches you formidable powers of concentration like fencing with twelve hoofers clogging 50 feet away!

Re: Mile High. If Tom Raffey or Bob Block are teaching the beginning class, it's great. Just inquire at their website. I'd be a bit surprised if the sometimes cranky older instructor is still teaching the beginners.

I_luv_saber · 10-31-2003, 04:26 PM

Good luck on the club search! Oh, by the way people, should I change my signature to a Monty Python and the Holy Grail quote too? I love the movie, but until coming here, I really never thought about sticking it in a quote... maybe, "Weeeee're knights of the Round Table! We sing when e're we're able!"

DrunkenUmpa · 11-01-2003, 03:25 AM

Wow thanks for all the info and replies! Its funny that most of you are suggesting the DFC since thats the one i've been looking at the most. Mainly cause it looked fairly close to me and it works great with my schedule, being that I only have one class on mon/wed at 11 am. Again thank you all for your help.

JEC · 11-01-2003, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Capt. Slo-mo
Wow, JEC, I didn't realize we nearly crossed at DFC.

I think our kids crossed at NCF. I was there from early '99 until 10/00.