Coming Back to Fencing, or Adding a Second Club

Whether you stopped fencing years ago or you train somewhere else now, you are welcome to fence with us. Both situations are common, and the sensible steps are much the same: tell the coach where you are, be patient with the first few sessions, and choose a place where the coaching suits you.

This guide covers two kinds of fencer. The first is coming back after a break. The second already trains at a club and wants to add another to their week. They have different questions, so each gets its own section.

Coming back to fencing after a break

Fencers stop for ordinary reasons. School or university ends, National Service starts, work or family takes the evenings, or a posting abroad means a few years without a salle nearby. Nobody needs to apologise for any of that, and coaches see returning fencers all the time.

What to expect in the first sessions

The first sessions back may feel rusty. Footwork can feel slower than you remember, and your timing may be off. That is normal, and it is not a sign you chose the wrong time to return.

A few practical things help:

• Tell the coach roughly when you last fenced, and in which weapon. That is enough for our coaches to plan the early sessions around it.
• Build your fitness back gradually. Fencing asks for short, sharp effort and a lot of repeated footwork. Start with a manageable load and let it grow.
• Check your old kit. Masks, jackets and blades that sat in a cupboard for years may no longer fit or may not be in good condition. Ask your coach to look at them before you rely on them.
• Ask about rules and equipment standards. Both can change over the years, so a coach is the best person to tell you what applies now.

If you are coming back later in life, our piece on veteran and masters fencing covers competing as an adult, and starting fencing in your 40s and 50s is worth a read if you are weighing up how much to take on.

Adding a club to your training

Plenty of fencers train in more than one place. Adding a club does not mean you are unhappy where you are. It is simply another place to fence.

Why fencers train at more than one club

The reasons are practical:

• More and different sparring partners. Every salle has its own mix of styles, and fencing different people sharpens your reading of a bout.
• A particular weapon. Some clubs have more depth in foil, sabre or épée on certain days or with certain coaches.
• Individual coaching. A private lesson with a different coach can add a new view on a problem you have been working on.
• Schedule or location. A second club can fill the days when your usual training is not on, or sit closer to home or work.

None of these says anything about the club you already belong to. They are about adding to your week.

Doing it courteously

A little courtesy keeps everyone comfortable:

1. Tell your current coach. A short, friendly conversation avoids surprises.
2. Keep your commitments. If you have classes, team sessions or events at your current club, keep turning up.
3. Keep both coaches informed about competitions. Share your plans so that two coaches are not preparing you in different directions without knowing it.
4. Give it more than one session. Cues, terminology and drills differ between coaches, and it takes a few weeks to settle in.

What to look for in a club you add

Whatever your reason, a few things are worth checking before you commit.

Coaching for your stage. Ask whether the coaches work with fencers at your level. Questions get more individual as you progress.

Your weapon. Check that the club coaches the weapon you fence, at your level, on the days you can train.

Competition support. Ask how fencers are prepared for tournaments, including choosing events and what help is on offer on the day.

Culture. Watch a session if you can. Look for discipline balanced with encouragement, and fencers of different ages and levels training alongside each other.

Our guides on how to choose a fencing club in Singapore and what makes a good fencing coach go into more detail, and you can read about our coaching philosophy to see how we work.

How to start with us

If you have fenced before, you do not take the beginner trial. You enquire for an assessment instead. A coach watches your footwork, blade work and bouts, then recommends a group class or a private coaching plan that fits. It is a coach’s session, not a grading.

In your enquiry, tell us which weapon or weapons you fence, where you train now or last trained, your level and any results, and whether you have your own kit. If you train elsewhere, say so. The coach will suggest sessions or coaching that fit around it. The coach confirms the details when replying to your enquiry.

You can read more on the page for experienced and returning fencers, or use the button below to enquire about an assessment.

If you are new to fencing and have never held a blade, the fencing trial class is the place to start instead.