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GROUP CLASSES
Off Campus (External) PE
Physical Education credit for Public School Graduation
Fencing Institute of Texas is a partner with area public schools to provide off-campus physical education hours and/or grades necessary for graduation. Students should contact their school administration office to obtain the paperwork necessary to participate in this program. Our off-campus PE coordinator is Brenda Waddoups who may be contacted at: info@fenceintexas.org
Private School Tutorials
Students at private schools may obtain permission from their campus to attend training at FIT as tutorials. Students in tutorial are expected to follow all requirements of students enrolled in external PE, including signing in and out.
Middle School and High School Programs at FIT
Several schools are holding training sessions at FIT to meet the training restrictions of COVID. FIT is part of the Texas High School Team and promotes competitions between middle and high school athletes. If your school is interested in starting a school fencing program, either on campus or at FIT, we will be happy to help.
Many schools prefer beginning their programs at FIT so they do not have any expense outlay for scoring apparatus and fencing equipment.
Youth Programs for Beginner and Intermediate
Musketeer Program for 6 - 9 year old athletes
This is an introductory beginner group class for our youngest athletes. The students come once a week, on Saturday mornings from 9-10 am. Other times may be arranged at the discretion of a coach or instructor. FIT supplies all the equipment students need to participate in class. We do not require them to purchase equipment until they begin copeting outside of the club.
Musketeer Goals
- Learn basic fencing movements such as on guard, advance, retreat, parry and disengage
- Understand basic safety requirements
- Develop good fitness habits
- Understand how to put on required fencing equipment, ensure it fits correctly, and how to properly care for club and personal equipment.
- Required to have the basic membership with USA Fencing.
Play is key with this age because their growth plates are still soft, and their attention span is not lengthy. If you'd like to feel what fencing is like for them, hold a soup can at arm's length for 3 minutes. Pay particular attention to how your shoulder and elbow feel. Then stand in a ballet plie in 4th position with the feet apart and the front foot pointing forward for 3 minutes and pay attending to how your calf muscles and hips feel. It may seem like our coaches are just playing with the students, but each game is designed for a specific purpose. Some teach hand-eye coordination, some strength, some endurance, and some just train their mind to focus.
Bronze and Silver (Beginner to Intermediate youth) Levels
Bronze Level is the introductory or beginner group for athletes who are 10 to 15 years of age. Bronze level students meet Saturdays 10-11:30.
Bronze Level
- Students come once per week for 1 and 1/2 hours (90 minutes).
- Learn basic fencing movements such as on guard, advance, retreat, parry and disengage
- Understand basic safety requirements
- Develop good fitness habits
- Understand how to put on required fencing equipment, ensure it fits correctly, and how to properly care for club and personal equipment.
- Understand general tactics
- Compete in Rising Stars Beginner tournaments held at FIT
- They will be introduced to all three weapons.
- Required to have the basic membership with USA Fencing, must upgrade to Access or Competitive when participating in a tournament.
Silver Level
- Silver students have usually decided which weapon they want to fence.
- Students are expected to come 2-3 times per week for 1 hour of class and fencing afterwards. Students are usually training for 1-2 hours for each session.
- In addition, most silver students take one private lesson per week, although this is not required.
- Have a clear understanding of the goals in Musketeer or Beginner I
- Understand the tactical wheel and ability to apply it
- Participate in local and Regional tournaments; some may participate in National tournaments.
- Students should have at least the Access membership with USA Fencing; this must be upgraded to Competitive to participate in Regional tournaments.
Silver Foil meets Saturday mornings 11:30-12:30, Monday/Wednesday 7-8pm, and Tuesday/Thursday 6:30-7:30pm. No group class on Friday.
Silver Epee meets Saturday mornings 9-10am, Monday/Wednesday 6-7pm.
Silver Sabre meets Monday/Thursday 6-7pm and Saturdays 10-12.
Gold Level I and II - Competitive Team Fencers
Gold Level Fencers
Many of these students use the competitive team for Off-Campus PE credit. This is arranged through your child's school. Various ISD's have different requirements.
Gold level members must have a Competitive membership with USA Fencing.
Gold Level I fencers usually attend group sessions three or more times per week for 1 - 1/2 hours and fence 1-2 hours after group session. Most gold level training is Monday through Friday 6-7pm and either Saturday morning or afternoon. Students are not required to attend all sessions.
Gold Level 2 fencers are also called elite level or highly competitive fencers. These students attend four to six group sessions each week for 1 1/2 - 2 hours and fence 1 - 2 hours following. These students also take 2 to 3 private lessons per week.
Gold Level fencers must have a competitive membership with USA Fencing listing Fencing Institute of Texas as their primary club, North Texas Division, Region 5. Those who fence on a high school team should list their high school team as their secondary club. Gold Level students are asked to purchase at least a team jacket for medals presentation.
Athletes participating in tournaments will incur expenses related to coaching fees for tournaments in addition to the entry and travel expenses. Coaching fees are collected by the office to reimburse the team coach for hotel, travel and per diem. These expenses vary from tournament to tournament and are cost-shared among the fencers attending the events. In addition, each fencer pays a strip fee which reimburses the coach for lost wages. Strip fees are a set amount per event. All FIT fencers attending a tournament where a coach is assigned are required to pay coaching fees. This does not ensure the coach will be beside your fencer 100% of the time. Coaches will prioritize their time with the fencers who need attention most; however, they are watching your fencer even when not by the strip.
All Gold Level fencers are expected to participate in FIT-sponsored tournaments as an athlete or ancillary staff (referee, bout committee, or armorer). Fencers from around the region know the quality of the FIT fencers and want to compete against them. This supports our club by bringing in additional income. FIT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and relies on tournaments to support our programs.
Gold Level I Goals
- Students establish personal goals with their respective coaches.
- Recreational Gold Team students compete locally and at Regional tournaments and may fence more than one weapon.
- Competitive Gold Team students compete in Regional and National tournaments, and generally focus on only one weapon.
- Students are expected to lead minor training exercises for younger students as directed by the Head Coach.
Gold Level II Goals
- Students concentrate on fencing one weapon competitively.
- Personal goals are established with the weapon Head Coach.
- Fencers compete in Regional, National, and International tournaments.
- Students generally take 2-3 lessons per week.
- Students are expected to lead training for younger students under the direction of the Head Coach.
- Students should become a rated referee in their weapon and at least one other.
Parafencing (Wheelchair)
Wheelchair Athletes and Parafencing
Wheelchair athletes participate in recreational and competitive fencing. Coach Jeff Crowe has taken students all the way to the Paralympics. Coach Michael D'Asaro was the USA Fencing Paralympic Coach at two games.
Paralympic Goals
Students must fence at least two weapons (foil, epee, sabre) to compete at the National and Paralympic level. Paralympians train 2-4 days per week with the addition of private lessons required.
USA Fencing holds two Parafencing competitions at North American Cups (NACs) during the fencing season. In most non-Olympic years, the national Parafencing championship is held at Summer Nationals over the 4th of July holiday. In Olympic years, the national Parafencing championship is usually held in April.
Recreational Wheelchair Fencing
Students come on Sunday at 3 pm to learn fencing and participate in tournaments at the local level.
Students may take private lessons; however, the primary focus is to learn the basics and have fun.
Categories of Competition
There are three categories of competition, based upon disability classification.
The three categories are: A, B, and C, with each category indicating the degree of disability from least “A” to most severe “C.”
For the Paralympic Games, the competitions are only for “A” and “B” fencers with separate competitions for each group. Category C fencing is not contested at the Paralympic Games.
An official classifier for IWAS determines the specific category for each wheelchair fencer. Athletes compete according to category at international tournaments, but the categories are combined for competition at U.S. tournaments.
For more information, see the USA Fencing website: https://www.usafencing.org/parafencing-101
Victorian Fencing
Study fencing as it was during the Victorian Age
The Victorian fencers meet Wednesdays from 8-9 PM and one Sunday a month for a Victorian Salon. This active group performs demonstrations throughout the southwest for festivals, special events and school programs.
- Current FIT fencers may participate with the Victorian class at no additional cost.
Dickens on the Square
Coach Carr welcomes all interested persons into this group. If you are currently enrolled in a FIT program, you may attend this group at no additional fee.
Sunday Salon
Sunday Salon is held once a month from 6-9 PM at FIT. Light refreshments and a discussion group of literature and other VIctorian age items are discussed.