Open bouting on Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. We are adding saber! Potential Sabreurs shouls join us on Sundays.

The Calendar has been updated with classes and times. Also listed are upcoming matches for the Inland Empire division.

The hours for classes have changed.

Beginning fencing is now Saturday from 10:00AM-12:00PM

Intermediate/advanced foil is Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:15-7:15 PM

Intermediate/advanced epee is Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30-8:30 PM

The Helena Fencing Club will hosts its first USFA match March 6 from 8:30AM-4:45PM. Currently, we are planning Novice foil, Mixed Open Foil, Novice Epee and Mixed Open Epee. Check http://www.askfred.net for details.

Nee Beginning Foil Classes will start March 20 at 10AM and are open to ages 9 and older.

New Epee classes Start 6:15PM March 18 and are open to ages 13 and older subject to instructor approval.

Beginning classes last 8 weeks and all equipment is provided by the Helena Fencing Club. The fee is $45 for YMCA members and $65 for non-members. In addition, there is a $10 equipment fee payable to the Helena Fencing Club.

We've changes our schedule again to accomodate new classes.

Fencing at the YMCA is now Tuesdays at 7:00-8:30PM, Thursdays from 6:15-8:30 and Saturday from 10:00AM-12:00PM.

New beginning fencing classes start January 14 and 16.

Beginning epée starts January 14 and runs through March 4. Classes are at 6:15-7:15PM on Thursdays at the YMCA

Beginning Foil starts January 16 and runs through February 27. Classes are at 10:00-11:00 on Saturdays at the YMCA.

The cost is $45 for YMCA members, $65 for non-members. In addition, there is a $10 equipment fee payable to the Helena Fencing Club. All equipment is provided. Just wear a light shirt (e.g. T-shirt), long comfortable pants and comfortable shoes with a non-marking sole. Epée classes are for anyone age 13 and above, foil is for anyone 8 and older.

Intermediate classes and open fencing will be on Tuesdays, and immediately following classes on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Helena will host is firts USFA sanctioned fencing match on Saturday Mar 6 styarting at 9AM. Spectators are welcome. You must be a USFA member in good standing to compete in mixed foil, mixed epée and/or mixed sabre. The novice foil even is open to non-USFA members.

More info at http://askfred.net/Events/moreInfo.php?tournament_id=10460

The intermediate epée class has been postponed until furthjer notice. The instructor will not be available due to family issues. We will have and epée class later in the year and will announce it when we have a firm date.

Beginning foil classes start 8 September at the YMCA. Classes last 8 weeks and are on Tuesday only. There will be an intermediate epée class starting 9 September. This class is open to students who have completed the beginning foil class or who have a good foundation in fencing. Students must have the instructors approval. Age 14 and up.

New beginning fencing classes will start June 16 and 18 at the YMCA from 6:00-8:00 PM. Signups will be June 9, 10, and 11. Cost is $55 for YMCA members and $75 for non-members. The class is 8 weeks long and covers the basics of foil fencing. No experience is required.

On June 9th, 2009 the Helena Fencing Club will become part of the Helena YMCA. We will be providing classes and facilities through the Helena YMCA. Membership will be free for YMCA members, and $30 per month for non-members.

--Tod

Our third beginners class is off to a great start, with a giant turnout. This has meant that we have had to buy a lot of new gear and has depleted the clubs saving. At the same time we are looking for a summer facility as the end of the school year approaches I don't yet know the full implications, but it looks like we will have to increase the class fees and dues slightly. As of May 2008 we are going to increase the beginning foil class fee to $75, and monthly dies will go to $30 per month. If you have already prepaid dues, you wil not be effected.

For those of you who have your own fencing gear, dues will remain at $15 per month. The increase cost is to recover funds spent on new equipment for the club.

--Tod

New classes are starting in March. Our Epee instructor will not be available to teach, so we will offer a beginning foil class on Mondays and Tuesdays. Wednesdays will continue to be open bouting and individual instruction.

Signups will be the first week of March

--Tod

New Classes are starting in January. We will be meeting Mon, Tues and Wed from 6-8PM at the Lincoln school gymnasium.

Mondays: Begining epee
Tuesdays: Beginning foil
Wednesdays: Open bouting and individualized instruction (including intermediate foil)

We will have open fencing and signups January 5,6 & 7 from 6-8PM at Lincold school. Formal classes will start on the 12th of January. Please call or email for more information.

--Tod

The calendar has been posted to cover through January 2009. We have practice scheduled, but have not determined the exact classes in January.

We will be finishing up introduction to fencing The week of Nov 17 & 19. The last week of November (24 & 26) will be run as a regular fencing match, with seeding events and an elimination round.

We won't be offering another class until January. We will be doing drills, exercises and individual lessons through the month of December, and regular dues will apply.

We haven't determined what classes will be offered in January. Possibilities include another beginner foil class, intermediate foil and a beginner epee class. We will be seeking input from current members.

Finally, we are considering offering gift certificates for lesson or membership for the Holiday season. Please let me know if anyone is interested.

--Tod

I've finally got around to updating the web site. There's some new photos and some movies from the Bozeman match in the gallery. We continue to get inquiries and we will be starting some new classes in December or January.

The current intro to foil fencing will be endingthe 19th of November. We will constinue to meet Mondays and Wednesdays, and anyone who is taking the class is paid up through the end of November. I will be spending the rest of November working with individual fencers on their technique.

We have not yet determined what classes we will be doing next. We will probably start another beginnning class if there is enough interest, offer an intermediate class in foil, and an introduction to Epee given by our resident epee coach, Taryn Hall.

We are considering offering gift certificates, in case anyone would like to give the gift of fencing - either as a class or as a membership. At the end of the class, I will be placing another order to our supplier, so if anyone is thinking about getting their own gear, you can order with the club and get the club discount.

--Tod

We now have an indoor location. We will meet at the PAL alternative high school on Monday and Wednesday night from 6:00pm - 8:00PM starting October 6, 2008. We should have classes starting in the next week or two, but in the mean time, there will be informal instruction and bouting in the PAL gym.

More information to follow.

We had a couple of new fencers join us at the park yesterday (20 Sep) and interest comtinues to grow. We also had a visit from Beartooth news, and had a short segment about the clubon the 5:30 and 10:00 PM news. I will try and get copies to post on the site.

Taryn Hall also joined us for the first time. She is an experienced epee fencer and will be coordinating epee training.

Don't forget the metting Sept 22 at 6:30 PM at the Lewis and Clark Library

--Tod

We will be having a club business meeting at the Lewis and Clark library from 6:30 to 7:30 in the small conference room. We need to formally setting up the club, liability insuance, etc. This will also be a great time to meet other fencers. and learn more about the sport.

--Tod

We will be fencing in the park every Saturday from around 10:30 AM to Noon at or near the aphitheatrer as weather permits. All are welcome.

--Tod

The formation of the Helena fencing club is well under way. We have a web site (obviously), a mailing list, and we are accumulating fencing equipment so that we have gear to loan out to members and use for classes.

We are currently looking for a venue. Ideally, I would like to have a couple hours twice in the weekday evenings and once during the day on Satuday or Sunday to accomodate as many people as possible. If you know of a appropriate facility, please let me know.

--Tod