Group Classes for Children
Group classes emphasize technical drills with the foil. They revolve around a set curriculum of movements, "touching"
an opponent and willingly being "touched." Classes are meant to familiarize fencers with terminology,
to impart muscle memory, and to hone technique with practice. We try to allow time for sparring towards the
end of each session.
Choose a class according to your child's age, ability, and competitive goals. Each class is $15. Purchasing a series of classes in advance lowers the rate per class. Monthly rates are also available for those who come more frequently.
In addition to our Santa Barbara classes, we are now offer group classes in the Santa Ynez Valley. For more information, please see Presidio North.
Students in our group classes are expected to have some basic fencing skills. For more information, click on Learn to Fence.
Youth (Ages 8-12)
Presidio's Youth Program is for children between the ages of 8 and 12 and is a natural progression for children who have confidently completed a set of introductory lessons. Classes help children develop a foundation for sport fencing through games and exercises in a fun-filled environment. By implementing a specific set of movements and drills, we emphasize improving overall coordination, balance, and manual dexterity; building self-confidence; learning etiquette through competitiveness; and gaining an understanding of the basic rules for foil fencing.
Youth 14 (Ages 12-14)
This class is for those Junior High School students who want to fence and possibly begin competitions. While fencers in this class will continue to develop technical skills through drills, this class introduces more opportunities for sparring than the Youth class does.
Cadets & Juniors (Ages 14-18)
Our Junior class is for high-school athletes who have made fencing their sport of choice. Many of our Cadets and Juniors are taking Independent PE and they attend competitions on a regional, sectional, and national scale. Classes begin at 4:00 pm with conditioning workouts designed to improve the flexibility, strength, and power necessary for success during competition. After training, the athletes undergo bladework exercises and controlled sparring. Along with a focus on the various technical and tactical elements of sport fencing, this class also addresses elements pertaining to all sports, including nutrition, goal setting, and tournament mentality. Many Juniors who are serious about training will then take additional private lessons with a coach. Most also attend Saturday Footwork classes.
Homeschool
We offer opportunities for physical education for families who home-school their children. Children, aged 8 to 15, fence together in a controlled setting and with a continually advancing curriculum. Some parents fence in the group, too, making the class very family-oriented.
