A family-focused Fencing Club

Parents and youngsters

Homeschooling or off-campus PE classes

All ages welcome

Beginning Foil Instruction - April 2009

Siblings, couples, entire families

No-cost introductory lessons, and local tournaments

A great workout, and plenty of competitive fun!

Click here to see upcoming fencing competitions in Alaska

Beginning fencing class starts May 25th, 2009 ... click for details

Alaska State Championships held 17-18 May ... click for results and photos

Pacific Northwest Section Championships May 9-10 at the Egan Center ... click for link

Armorer's Column ... click for photos and discussion

Beginners Foil Class ... click for details

Click for info on classes

We meet at the YMCA gym

every Monday and Wednesday

evening.

The meetings last from

7:00-9:30PM. we need to be

out of the facility before 10:00.

The next beginners foil

class starts on 25 May and

ends on 15 July. Anyone

interested in the next class

please contact us by phone

or eMail.

Individual instruction sessions

are offered on request for

members.

Check back here for changes and

announcements.

AFC Tournament schedule

equipment orders:

The Anchorage Fencing Club receives a discount of as much as 20% on fencing equipment and clothing ordered from Absolute Fencing Gear when the order is placed through the club. The savings to our members can be substantial.

The discounts we receive depend upon the brand of the equipment you order, with the highest discounts applied to the Absolute labels.

Anyone interested in ordering equipment or clothing can provide our club purchasing coordinator (Roger Hull) with a description of what you need. Payment is made made upon receipt of the equipment. The club receives no benefit from these sales and there is no fee other than the cost.

Unfortunately, we don't have a way to process credit card orders, so your payment will need to be by cash or check.

Please be sure to specify the size, quantity, etc. for each item to make sure you get what you need.

Because these are group orders, it is no problem to order small, single items like a bag of set screws or an epee tip whenever you need it.

We can place orders as often as we want, so you shouldn't have to wait long to receive what you need to keep fencing.

Photos from a fencing clinic

If you live near Fairbanks, contact the Fairbanks Fencing Club

Beginners Foil Class Photos ... click here

Statewide Tournament:

2008 Alaska State Championship fencing tournament photos: State Competition page.

For more details, please view the "AskFred" web site.

USFA Member Club

2009-2010

Join the club:

The Anchorage Fencing Club always welcomes new members. You can simply show up at a meeting on Monday or Wednesday evening, or send us an eMail by entering your address below:

Touch counter

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Sentiment du fer

Literally, "Feeling of and through the steel", this French term refers to the basic truth of fencing, which is that your only contact and means of communication with your opponent is through the blade.

It is counterintuitive to consider communication with your opponent as a necessary part of fencing competition. Our competitive tradition in the United States involves distancing yourself from the opponent, who is perceived as the enemy. We think that we must separate ourselves from the enemy, and see the enemy as the "other".

Communicating with the enemy in this context is seen as weak and possibly dangerous. But how else can you get to know your opponent well enough to excel in your own fencing without communicating? Don't forget, too, that communication can be falsified - you can send conflicting signals through that blade to confuse and feint your opponent.

This is the essence of Sentiment du fer. It cannot be explained further. Only experience can teach you what it means and how to use it. Just be aware of the sensations coming though your weapon from the opponent, and learn to correlate those sensations with what your opponent does in the attack and defense. Also be mindful of how your action on your opponent's blade may send information about your intentions. Above all, develop a sense of comradeship with your opponent. You are communicating out there on the strip, and when the bout is over you will salute, shake hands with and thank an opponent who is also a friend.

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Welcome to the

Anchorage Fencing Club

The oldest fencing club in Alaska

Location for Club Meetings and Classes

The club meets at the YMCA on Lake Otis Blvd, between Tudor Road and Dowling Road, every Monday and Wednesday evening from 7:00-9:30.

Formal classes last from 7:00-8:00, when a class is in session. Normal bouting activity and individual instruction opportunities last from 8:00-9:30PM each evening.

AFC Membership meeting

(Click for minutes)

At AFC, we are always glad to welcome folks to our club, whether you are an experienced fencer, beginner, or just visiting the Anchorage area for a short time.

We offer classes in foil fencing as well as individual instruction in all three weapons. Photos from the current Beginners Foil Class are posted here.

If you are a beginning fencer or are curious about fencing and would like to give it a try, then come on by the club. We have club equipment you can use. You can receive a lesson from one of our coaches, and we can give you the "Everything you ever wanted to know about fencing" speech in about 15 minutes.

General FAQ's

Equipment FAQ's

If you're visiting the Anchorage area for a short time, but left your fencing gear at home, fear not! Just come by the club, suit up with club equipment, select a foil, epee or saber, grab a willing partner and fence the night away.

Where we meet:

The club meets at the YMCA at 5353 Lake Otis, between Tudor and Dowling, from 7:00-9:30PM.

Directions: The YMCA is on the east side of Lake Otis Blvd, north of Dowling and south of Tudor Road.

Fencing as a sport:

Fencing is an excellent way to improve your physical conditioning, flexibility, hand-eye coordination and stamina. The sport is an excellent family activity with almost no age restrictions or other limitations on participation.

The club provides fencing equipment for members, so very little personal investment is needed. All you really need to bring to our fencing classes are simple gym clothes and a positive attitude.

The Anchorage Fencing Club members fence all three weapons: Foil, Epee, and Sabre. Try all three or focus on your weapon of choice.

Fencing hours:

The club meets on:

Monday evenings 7:00-9:30
Wednesday evenings 7:00-9:30

New fencing student?

Click here to learn what you need to bring and what to wear. More>>