Getting Started
There is an introductory course for beginners every fourth Sunday at 12:00 where anyone interested in fencing is most welcome. We suggest that beginners first participate in the introductory lesson before participating in regular training. An introduction lesson will give you an overview of the history of fencing, the equipment and techniques used, as well as the club’s goals and vision. The introduction lesson takes place in the fencing hall and you already get the opportunity at the introduction lesson to fence in the club’s wonderful facilities. Look in the club’s calender or on the news page for the dates of the Sunday Introduction lessons.
If you have already been to an introductory lesson as a result of a school visit, a child’s birthday or a company’s visit to the fencing club, there is no need to participate in the Sunday introduction lesson. Instead you can start training immediately - just check out our training times.Read also about:
- Sunday introduction lessons
- Why start fencing?
- What happens at training?
- Is it dangerous to fence?
- What about tournaments and competitions?
The fencing club receives applications from very young children about starting to fence. Over the last 10 years, where the club has not offered this service, these children have been asked to wait until they’ve become a little older. But now the club has started Minitraining so as to accommodate the training of very young children.
Training in a fun and supportive environment
Minitraining for the younger children will be made in such a way as to meet the needs of the children. The focus will be to learn how to fence through play within safe parameters. Learning the basic skills of fencing as well as developing motoric skills will be emphasized. Competition in sport will not be prioritized but will be present now and then through play, smaller games and minor competitions.
Good training forces and parameters
Minitraining will be lead by Kamilla Buchter, who has several years of experience with training younger children. Kamilla started in the club as a child with her younger brother and has been the Danish Champion at both children’s and youth level several times. The parents of children are very welcome to attend training and help their children. The club has, over the summer, invested in extra equipment for children.
Minitraining takes place on Wednesdays from 16:30 - 17:30, along with Wednesday’s children training from 16:00 - 17:30. Children training is for children between 8 and 12 years of age and is supervised by Martin Wiuff, who is also the trainer of the Youth Team on Wednesdays. Martin has been a children’s and youth trainer at the club for about 8 years. In this way, the possibility exists to gradually move from mini teams to children’s teams, and from children’s teams to youth teams. The children’s team on Wednesdays will still have contact with Kamilla, as she is present at training, and still is the trainer for the children’s team on Mondays. All teams are supervised by the club’s main coach, Andrey Kluyshin, who is present at training.
How do children start fencing?
The first training is on Wednesday, the 14th of November from 16:30 - 17:30. Children can start at any time. So you can start at anytime of the season. The club announces introductory Sundays for beginners, but it is not necessary to attend these Sundays for starting at Mintraining level. Just come to the club and participate!. Come a little earlier if you wish to look around the club which is open from 16:00.
Training
After participating in a Sunday introduction session, you may participate in ordinary training on the following teams:
If you are between 8 and 12 years, you can come : Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 16:00 - 17:30
If you are between 11 and 16 years, you can come Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 17:30 - 19:00
If you are an adult or over 16 years, you can come : Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 19:00 - 21:00
See specific training times here also.
You may train as many times as you wish. It is advantageous to train a minimum of twice weekly. It doesn’t matter if it is with two weapons. You don’t have to just train with epee or foil if you train only twice weekly. You can come and try training free of charge 3 - 4 times. After this, the trainer will ask you if you wish to join the club.
You can become a member via the homepage under membership.
You can also start in our satellite club in Hørsholm Rungsted Fencing Club.
You can borrow the club’s fencing equipment during the first quarter you have begun training in the club. After that, we expect you to buy your own equipment. Always remember to bring your own pants, T-shirt, shoes and towel.
Look also under Fencing equipment - "Køb og Salg"
To be good at fencing demands patience as fencing is a technical sport. Don’t be surprised if you are ”beaten” by the more experienced fencers. It is wise, therefore, to start with a friend, so you are sure that they are on the same level as you. However, there are also other beginners who you can train with.
At some of the levels, there are several fencers and it can tend to get crowded. We think it is an advantage to have many fencers as it creates a lively club and allows for some fun. On certain days, there still aren’t so many members. For children and Juniors, Monday is the best day and Mondays and Wednesdays are best for senior members.
Why start fencing?
Because it’s fun and makes you sweat profusely. Fencing is an exciting sport that gives you the chance to develop your strength, agility, speed and brain cells. Fencing is also a sport with culture, long traditions, a good atmosphere and spirit: Even if we are enemies on the fencing piste, we are friends in all other places. Fencing is an individual fighting sport , where within clear boundaries you can get rid of your aggression, get an adrenalin rush and obtain musketeer dreams.
What does training consist of?
To become a good fencer, it requires basic training in 4 areas:
These 4 areas will be focused on in daily training.
We start with a warm up at every level. Fencing is much more physically demanding than it looks. When you watch the Olympics or the World Championships on the television, you see athletes who have trained everyday for many years. They are in top form and they make it look easy. There are also other ways of maintaining your basic fitness level, namely in the fitness centre located in another part of the building.
Next are the leg exercises. Leg exercises teach fencers to move effectively on the fencing piste. It requires much effort but a good leg workout is perhaps 70% of what makes a good fencer. When doing leg workouts, legs are trained to move automatically in relation to the conditions during the fencing match. Therefore, it’s not necessary to have to think all the time about this, like when you are walking in the street.
Fencing lessons teach the fencer to use his weapon in conjunction with his leg workout. You learn, for example, to attack, to trick, take the blade aside, beat the blade, control the point of the blade, and to defend by parading and using counter attacks. Fencing lessons are individualized with an instructor, where you systematically exercise certain movements with the instructor as an opponent, so the movements will gradually come naturally in a fencing match. Fencing lessons with a fencing instructor is the classic way to learn how to fence. Leg workouts and lessons are trained throughout your entire fencing career, because there are always areas that have to be corrected or perfected. You can always learn something new!
Top fencers will also train their basic fitness level further. Match training is called assautfencing, consisting of fencing matches solely for training’s sake. This is perhaps the most fun part and which the most time is spent on. During fencing matches, you train your techniques, leg workouts, tactical understanding, fighting psychology and much more. You will never become a good fencer without participating in matches.
Look also under training times.
Is it dangerous to fence?
Fencing is a fighting sport and there is always an obvious risk connected to any form of physical activity. At Hellerup fencing Club, we attach a lot of importance to safety and teach students how to follow all security regulations. In the end, safety is the fencer’s own responsibility.
Fencing equipment is nowadays manufactured to minimize the risk of injury caused by the weapons.
You may often get bruises or red marks. If you follow the club’s recommended security policies for acting and the dress code, injuries should be avoided. Read more about this on the homepage or under About fencing and fencing equipment.
The majority of accidents in fencing are common sporting accidents as a result of overuse of the legs, in particular.
What about tournaments and competitions?
In a fencing match, there will always be a winner and a loser. In this way there isn’t a big difference between a usual fencing match when training in the big hall and taking part in a competition. So why not get involved and partake in some competitions right away?
At Hellerup fencing Club, we like to see as many fencers as possible represent the club in tournaments and competitions.
Competitions are not only for the top fencers but for everyone. At competitions, you get a sporting experience and get the opportunity to develop your fencing. It’s exciting to be in a competition where you meet fencers from other clubs. Apart from this, competing in competitions provides a social and cultural experience - you meet new people and get the chance to perhaps travel. There are several competitions both here and abroad at many different levels. Invitations to tournaments are always hanging up in the fencing hall and posted on the website but you can always ask your instructor for information too.
