You don't need to be tall, strong or experienced. You need trainers, tracksuit bottoms and a bit of curiosity. Here's exactly what to expect.
Use our club finder and email the club. Most run beginner courses (typically 4–8 weeks) and taster sessions throughout the year.
Wear trainers, tracksuit bottoms or leggings, and a t-shirt. The club lends you a mask, jacket, glove and weapon — you don't buy anything to start.
Footwork first — the on-guard position, advancing, retreating, the lunge. Then blade work, and before long you'll be fencing real bouts with electric scoring.
Yes — fencing has one of the lowest injury rates of any Olympic sport. The kit is designed to exacting safety standards and weapons are blunt with flexible blades.
Many Yorkshire clubs take juniors from around 7–8 with plastic or mini-fencing equipment, and there's no upper limit — veteran fencing (40+) is thriving.
Beginner courses are usually modestly priced and include kit hire. Once you're hooked, club nights typically cost less than a gym class. Your own kit comes later, piece by piece.
Fencing will make you fit. It's brilliant for agility, core strength and reaction speed — but every beginner course starts from zero.