Our Intermediate Class is a more open-ended, tactical and strategic class built on top of the fundamentals. We cover a wide range of topics with a focus on physical fitness, footwork, core technical work, tactics and strategy. Where the Beginner class follows a set curriculum that rotates, this class is where you learn to actually think your way through a bout.
See the current class schedule for days and times, and our pricing and registration page for current rates.
Joining the Intermediate Class
To move up from the Beginner class, you’ll pass a skills-check lesson. This is a one-on-one assessment where you demonstrate all the core fencing actions from memory, without assistance. Asked to perform a given action — say, a parry 8 and riposte, or offensively taking the blade in 8 and hitting — you should be able to execute it on request, unprompted.
The bar is competency, not polish. You don’t need to be great at each action, only able to do it reliably from memory, so that this class can build on those fundamentals rather than re-teach them. We publish a reference curriculum listing exactly which actions the skills check covers, so you know what to work toward and every coach assesses to the same standard. Ask a coach for a copy, and to schedule your skills check when you’re ready.
It also helps to have been attending open fencing before joining. If you’re unsure whether you’re ready, talk to a coach — we’re happy to tell you what to work on.
Equipment
Fencers at this level are expected to have their own gear, including a full electric kit for open fencing. If you haven’t bought yours yet, ask about our equipment incentive — it’s available to fencers in the Beginner class, and we’ll help with sizing and ordering.
If buying equipment would be a barrier, please reach out to a coach. We offer scholarships and a sliding scale, and we’d rather help than lose you.
What Comes Next
Fencers who want to compete move on to our Competitive track. Fencers who simply enjoy training and bouting are welcome to stay in this class as long as they like. See your path through fencing for the full picture.