Fencing Academy - Main Line

610.889.0300

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Fencing Academy Main Line

Welcome to the Fencing Academy Main Line!
[Providing fencing lessons and fencing classes on the Main Line since 1993]

We generally meet at our host:
Church of the Good Samaritan, U.S. Rt. 30, Paoli, PA
Wednesdays and Fridays
from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM

OUR NEW SESSION BEGAN
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30TH

PLEASE NOTE OUR EVENINGS AT:
Wilson Farm Park

Individual Lessons by appointment


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Local Clubs:
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PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

SAFETY
At all times, each fencer will be responsible for their own actions. Rules relating to safety apply to EVERYONE - AT ALL TIMES. There are no provisions for exceptions or warnings. We cannot afford any accident.

HONESTY
Every club member will be expected to be honest with themselves as well as others. Club members will be expected to acknowledge points against themselves in practice. Club members will also be expected to honestly evaluate their own progress, and to communicate with the coaching staff when they need assistance, have questions, or when they are injured.

RESPECT FOR OTHERS
Each member, being a critical component of the Club, will respect the person, rights, property, and privacy of the other club members and any host organizations.

THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
Each fencer will be responsible for their own development. Personal improvement will require practice. The coaching staff will assist members in achieving each member's goals.

SPORTSMANSHIP
Sport can teach many things, and courtesy will be one of them. Each fencer will be expected to develop and refine their attitudes of sportsmanship. We will learn to win graciously, and to lose politely. However, we will NOT learn to lose and LIKE it.

TEAMWORK
Teamwork, being critical to the success of both the club and each fencer, will be the foundation of the program. Team support has proven invaluable in competition, and will be emphasized not only during competition, but also during practice. When fencers help their clubmates improve, they will have better opponents with whom they can practice, which in turn helps their own efforts to improve.

 


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DIRECTIONS

The Church of the Good Samaritan is located at 212 W Lancaster Ave. [US Route 30] in Paoli, PA, 0.9 mi. West of the intersection of US Rt. 30 and PA Rt. 252.  [Click here for a map from Yahoo].    [Click here for a satellite map from Google].

We generally meet in the auxiliary building of Church of the Good Samaritan, upstairs in Walton Hall. The church has finished its reconstruction; there may yet be occasional space constraints. Please frequently check our calendar for changes. Announcements will be made during club nights.

PLEASE ENTER THROUGH THE DAY SCHOOL ENTRANCE under the timberframe portico between the chapel and the Christian Education building [the main office-building-looking structure]. For those who are differently-abled, the main path to the fencing room(s) is now wheelchair accessible.

It is suggested to bring water to drink. Fencers must dispose of their trash.

IF YOU CANNOT FIND A WAY IN, PLEASE CALL THE CLUB CELL PHONE AT: six-one-zero.889.0300

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

From the North & East:
Take the best way to exit #326 [Valley Forge] of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. After the toll plaza, take exit #328A to US Route 202 South, to PA Route 252 South. At the traffic light immediately after going under the railroad bridge, turn right onto US Route 30 West for 9/10 mile.
The Church is between the 4th & 5th traffic lights [between the Burger King & Wendy's] west of PA Route 252, on the South side of US Route 30. The Church parking lot is on the left, adjacent to the road.

From South of West Chester, PA:
I-95 to US Route 202 North in Wilmington, DE, and follow the directions from US Route 202 North [below].

From the West:
Pennsylvania Turnpike to the Downingtown exit, to PA Route 100 South. Follow that to US Route 30 East [Exton Bypass], to US Route 202 North.

From US Route 202 North:
PA Route 29 exit, turn right. Past 2 traffic control lights, turn left onto US Route 30 East. Continue for about 6 traffic lights, to just past the Wendy's. The parking lot is on the right, adjacent to the road.

ADDITIONAL SITE:
Here are directions to our occasional additional site: Wilson Farm Park in Chesterbrook. This link should bring up a browser window with a satellite picture centered on the location of the pavilion, with a street reference to Lee Road. We usually meet at the pavilion in the South-Eastern corner of the park, past the basketball and volleyball courts. When you get to the entrance to the park at the end of Lee Road: turn right, and follow the park road south past the large baseball field, east past the football field and basketball courts, and turn into the parking lot on the left.

 


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PREVIOUS FALL SESSION PROGRAM:
6:30 PM to 9:30 PM

GOALS:

We continue to work toward the goal of TEAM

  • To develop and ingrain TEAM habit and dynamic to our fencing training, emphasizing mutual support and encouragement
  • Our secondary goal is for each member to understand:
    • TEAM development assists their personal development
    • Assisting others helps one's own understanding
    • More capable opponents generally results in more interesting fencing
    • More fencing is better

Activities which distract from the development of the group will be strongly discouraged

Goals I have defined for the personal improvement of each individual member are:

  • More efficient time management during fencing practice, which will result in more actual fencing
  • Greater general physical condition which will translate into better preparation and performance as a fencer
  • Greater precision of fencing actions, including footwork and bladework
  • . . . all of which should result in each fencer having more fun

Each member should also define for themselves their personal goals

PROGRAM:

Our new session began Wednesday September 5th. New members will be accepted through September 14th.

The class schedule is set to accommodate the greatest number of class students and levels.

The first week was group practice, and was largely a continuation of our summer activities. Class and Module members are now limited to the time of their instruction; Intermediate and Advanced fencers may stay until 9:30 PM.

Late Intermediate arrivals will work on their conditioning, bladework, and footwork drills before fencing. Our Intermediate members may participate in bouts after completion of the evening's defined activities.

Advanced members [these are primarily adults], may bout after warming up and stretching.

 


SCHEDULE:

GENERAL GUIDE TO OUR PREVIOUS MAR/APR TRAINING SCHEDULE
MEMBERS: 6:30 7:15 7:45 8:15 - 8:45 8:45 - 9:15 9:30|
FOCUS: > BEGINNERS BEG II & ADVBEG PRE-INT INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED CLEAN
BEGINNER CLASS RETIRE @ 7:15 PM
BEG II, ABI, ABII ARRIVE 6:30 - 7:00 TECHNICAL RETIRE @ 7:45 PM
PRE-INTERMEDIATE ARRIVE 6:30 - 7:00 FOOTWORK TECHNICAL RETIRE @ 8:15 PM
INTERMEDIATE FUNDAMENTALS FOOTWORK DRILLS FENCING CLEAN
ADVANCED FUNDAMENTALS FOOTWORK DRILLS FENCING CLEAN
SCHEDULE FOR INTERM & ADV LATE ARRIVALS [EXAMPLE: @ 7:00 PM]:
"THE CARDS" DRILLS FOOTWORK FENCING CLEAN
SCHEDULE FOR INTERM & ADV VERY LATE ARRIVALS [EXAMPLE: @ 7:45 PM]:
WARM & CARDS DRILLS & FOOTWORK FENCING CLEAN

 


FEES:

TRAINING FEES
MEMBERSHIP FEE LEVEL MODULE MODULE FEE TOTAL
-ALL MEMBERS-
-2 MONTHS @ $120-
-DUE 1ST ATTENDANCE
OF SESSION:
SEP/OCT, NOV/DEC, JAN/FEB
MAR/APR, MAY/JUN, JUL/AUG
1st SESSION BEGINNER FOOTWORK $50 $170 / 2 MONTHS
BEGINNER II BLADEWORK $80 $200 / 2 MONTHS
ADV. BEGINNER I
ADV. BEGINNER II
PRE-INTERMEDIATE
INTERMEDIATE $120 / 2 MONTHS

$5 LATE FEE AFTER:
NOVEMBER 9, 2007

Drop In:   $20 upon arrival  [For fencers who attend sporadically]

MEMBERSHIP:

The below parameters regarding due dates and late fees apply as well.

Membership is due the first attendance of the session, or the Friday of the first week of the session.

A nominal $5 late fee will apply to membership fees received on the member's second attendance of the session, IF that 2nd attendance occurs after the first Friday of the session. The table above indicates those dates. Membership [and, if necessary, late] fees must be paid prior to participation on the 2nd attendance of the session.

NEW MEMBERS:

  • As we are looking for commitment from students, we do not prorate or give refunds.
  • We do not do trials. We prefer to await a commitment from our members rather than trials.

For beginners and those less experienced, in the past we have offered Instructional Modules from September through June. Two-month sessions generally begin the first Wednesday in any odd-numbered month of the year. Our classes meet generally on both Wednesday and Friday; as many nights' attendance as possible is hoped for.

Students are expected to come prepared for exercise. We do not currently require all who participate in our activities to be members of the USFA, but after some administrative issues are resolved, that will be a requirement. This is a yearly fee of $50. More information will be covered during sign-up.

When paid ahead, the below discounts apply to membership fees [but not individual lesson fees]:
Second Family member receives a 25% discount.
Third Family member receives a 50% discount.
Fourth Family member receives a 75% discount.

Lessons and lesson packages are available by arrangement, both at the club and on-site.
Please see coach Bullock for details.


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FALL / WINTER / SPRING
CLASS INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

Overview

Our Modular structured program consists of 5 successive sessions of approximately 8 weeks, from 'Beginner' to what we call our 'Intermediate' level. 'Intermediate' fencers may participate in supervised fencing bouts. Only 'Advanced' fencers may fence without direct supervision. Equipment is provided for the first two class sessions, about 4 months. There are about fourteen 45 minute focus modules in each session, depending on holidays and church functions. Classes meet on both Wednesday and Friday. After successful completion of our 'Intermediate' evaluation, we offer our regular 'Training' membership to our students. Instruction is not included in the 'Training' membership. Individual lessons may be arranged.

Details

Advancement to the next level is by Instructor evaluation. We accept students as young as 8 to ... whatever. Differently-abled students are welcome and encouraged to participate. After the second session, we must have our students on a path to purchasing their own equipment. By the fourth session, the fencer must have a complete kit [1 of each].

Our classes help a fencer develop a solid understanding of the fundamentals of Fencing. New material is presented each class, and is fairly fast-paced. The structure of our classes presumes, and an individual's progress depends on, practice at home of the material presented. Progress beyond the 'Intermediate' level comes from continued practice of the exercises and drills previously presented and actual fencing practice with other club members. Also at that time individual lessons become cost effective, and are available by arrangement. Individual lessons provide a fast-track to fencing excellence.

Course Outlines

Our Beginner class includes material from the very basic fundamentals of exercise. We cover nutrition, stretching, fencing footwork, elementary tactics, and basic bladework. By the end of the class, the student will understand the terms involved with the training and will have practiced basic positions, movements, and bladework. At the end of the session, you will poke the instructor.

Our Beginner II class continues the above, and emphasizes proper footwork and becoming more comfortable with movement.

Our Advanced Beginner I class continues to refine the basics from the above, and is concerned with achieving proper form. There are many drills and exercises which help develop the strength and technique required to fence well.

The focus of our Advanced Beginner II class is coordinating bladework with movement. The goal is to help the student feel the correct concepts and rhythms of fencing through practicing drills with the instructors as well as other class members.

Our Pre-Intermediate class prepares the student for the 'Intermediate' evaluation. We cover more basic fencing concepts and more bladework while emphasizing proper form. Structured practice with other class members is the norm.

Achieving the 'Intermediate' level gives the student the opportunity to fence with other club members in supervised bouts, and at this time, the fencer must have a complete set of equipment.

After passing the 'Intermediate' evaluation, Individual lessons give the student an opportunity to develop their fencing game as well as technique. By the end of the classes, in any group there will be a range of technique levels, and at this point lessons are the way to go. By this time filling out a fencer's repetoire and raising the level of precision needs to be done on an individual basis. The intense concentration achieved during lessons and the precision repetition improve the fencer, but needs can differ greatly by this time.

 


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CONTACT US

 

Please send an e-mail to:

info [and the " @ " symbol with no spaces, then > ] FAMainLine [and the "dot": . ] com

 

CLUB CELL NUMBER: six-one-zero.889.0300

 


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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS JANUARY 2008 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1 2
NEW SESSION BEGINS
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
3 4
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
5
6 7 8 9
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
10 11
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
12
13 14 15 16
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
17 18
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
19
FAML:
INT. EPEE
20 21 22 23
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
24 25
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
26
PSU
8:00 A
27 28 29 30
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
31

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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS FEBRUARY 2008 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
2
FAML:
SABRE & EPEE
U17 S@10:30A
U20 E@12:00 N

3 4 5 6
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
7 8
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
9
FAML: SABRE
Y14 S@10:30A
OPEN S@1:00 P

10 11 12 13
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
14 15
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
16
FAML: EPEE
CANCELLED
17 18 19 20
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
21 22

WEATHER CANCELLATION

23
FAML: SABRE
WEATHER CANCELLATION
24 25 26 27
NEW SESSION BEGINS
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
28 29
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam

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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS MARCH 2008 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1
NJFA Youth
RYC

2
NJFA Youth
RYC

3 4 5
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
6 7
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
8
9 10 11 12
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
13 14
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
15
16 17 18 19
NO FENCING
20 21
NO FENCING
22
23 24 25 26
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
27 28
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Club @ WFP

29
Denise O'Connor RYC
30
Denise O'Connor RYC
31

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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS APRIL 2008 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1 2
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
3 4
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
5
6 7 8 9
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
10 11
6:30 - 9:30 PMClub @ WFP
12
13 14 15 16
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
17 18
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
19
20 21 22 23
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
24 25
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
26
FAML: EPEE&SABRE
OPEN E@10:30A
OPEN S@2:00 P

27 28 29 30
NEW SESSION BEGINS
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam

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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS MAY 2008 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1
2
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
3
4 5 6 7
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
8 9
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ WFP
10
11 12 13 14
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
15 16
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
17

MAD ANTHONY
WAYNE

18 19 20 21
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
22 23
NO FENCING
24
25 26 27 28
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
29 30
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
31

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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS JUNE 2008 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1 2 3 4
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
5 6
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
7

8 9 10 11
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
12 13
NO FENCING
FAIR DAYS

14
15
16 17 18
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ WFP
19 20
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ WFP
21
22 23 24 25
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ WFP
26 27
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ WFP
28
29 30

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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS JULY 2007 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
JUNE 29 - JULY 8
SUMMER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
MIAMI, FL
8 9 10 11
SUMMER SESSION I
7:00 - 9:30 PM

Club @ Good Sam
12 13
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
14
15
16 17 18
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
19 20
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
21
22 23 24 25
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
26 27
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
28
29
30 31

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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS AUGUST 2007 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
2
3
SUMMER SESSION
END I / START II

7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
4
5 6 7 8
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
9 10
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
11
12 13 14 15
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
16 17
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
18
19 20 21 22
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
23 24
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
25
26 27 28 29
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
30 31
NO FENCING

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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS SEPTEMBER 2007 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1
2
3 4 5
NEW SESSION
6:30 - 9:30 PM

Club @ Good Sam
6 7
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
8
9 10 11 12
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
13 14
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
15
16 17 18 19
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
20 21
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
22
23 24 25 26
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
27 28
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
[ASHTON HALL]
29
30

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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS OCTOBER 2007 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1 2 3
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
4 5
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
6
7 8 9 10
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
11 12
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
13
14 15 16
17
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
18
19
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
[ASHTON HALL]
20
21
22 23
24
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
25 26
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
27
28
29
30
31
NO FENCING

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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS NOVEMBER 2007 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1
2
NEW SESSION
*FRIDAY START*

6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
3
 
Temple Open
4
 
Temple Open
5 6
7
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
8 9
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
10
11 12
13 14
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
15 16
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
17
PSU
8:00 A
18
PSU
8:00 A
19 20 21
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
22 23
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
24
25 26 27 28
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
29 30
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam

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CALENDAR

< PREVIOUS DECEMBER 2007 NEXT >
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
1
2
3 4 5
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
6 7
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
[ASHTON HALL]
8
9 10 11 12
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
13 14
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
15
COMPETITION
[TBA]
10A-4P
16 17 18 19
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
20 21
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Club @ Good Sam
[ASHTON HALL]
22
COMPETITION
[TBA]
10A-4P
23 24 25 26
NO FENCING
27 28
NO FENCING
29
30

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