INTRODUCTORY CLASSES
For new students, VAF offers classes & camps in Olympic Sport and Historical Swordsmanship. They are designed to introduce students to the world of fencing with a comprehensive but moderately paced approach. Students will acquire the fundamentals of fencing footwork, handwork, strategy formulation, etiquette, rules, and terminology. By the end of the course, students will be able to fence and referee bouts with each other.
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Olympic Sport
Known as the physical game of chess, Olympic sport fencing provides a tremendous physical and mental workout for students of all ages and athletic abilities. As one of the safest sports, fencing makes fitness fun! It builds muscle strength, provides a great cardiovascular workout, and improves endurance coordination and speed. VAF is a place where those who are just starting to learn fencing can do so in a safe, friendly, and fun environment. At the same time, VAF is also a place where more experienced and competitive fencers can receive the highest level of training offered in the U.S.
Our Introductory Classes and Camps primarily utilize the foil, a light thrusting sword, but also introduce the sabre (the modern equivalent of the cavalry sword) and the epee (the modern equivalent of the rapier). By the end of the course, students will be able to fence matches with each other.
Historical Swordsmanship
Explore the art of combat the it was originally practiced on the battlefields and dueling grounds of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance! The Historical Swordsmanship program explores the world of Historical European Martials Arts (HEMA) as students of all ages and abilities enjoy a tremendous physical and mental workout as they learn the techniques and strategies used by fencers who lived before the modern olympic sport was created, bringing these fighting arts to life in a safe and fun environment. Students gain fitness, coordination, reflexes, and endurance, as well as learning about the chivalric history of these knightly arts.
In our Introductory Classes and Camps, students will learn Italian Rapier and Dagger (dueling weapons of 17th Century), German Longsword (a knightly medieval sword), and Scottish Highland Broadsword (a one handed sword of the 17th and 18th centuries). By the end of the course, students will understand the different styles of swordsmanship used throughout history and be able to fence bouts with each other utilizing safe practice swords.