About Us
Have you ever picked up a stick and imagined yourself as a swashbuckling fencer? Live out that dream with Sword Play.
Fencing is a great way to exercise, stretch your mind, and meet interesting people. The biggest appeal, however, has always been the chance to play with swords. With Sword Play, you and your kids can learn how to use swords like the fencers of the past, all in a safe and fun environment.
Below, you can learn more about the weapons and types of fencing you can learn with Sword Play.
Foil
Traditionally, fencers often learned the foil as their first weapon. It is used only to thrust and the rules restrict the target area to the torso. The foil was first designed for French fencers in the late 1700s as a training weapon, to learn some basic skills and principles before picking up a “real” sword. It has since developed into a sophisticated pursuit of its own.
While time has passed and fencing has evolved, the foil remains a good introduction to the basics of European swordplay.
Despite the foil’s French origins, instruction at Sword Play Fencing follows the Italian tradition, with our students becoming the most modern link in a living chain of fencers that stretches back centuries.
Italian swordplay focuses on good timing, controlling the opponent’s blade, and a strong offense as the best defense.
Saber
Saber is a cut-and-thrust weapon, using both the edge and the point. It shares some of the foil’s limitations, providing guide rails to new students. However, it loosens restrictions in other areas to allow greater freedom in bouting. This weapon can require more control to use safely, so there is a greater emphasis on drilling and discipline in class.
Saber instruction at Sword Play also follows the Italian tradition. In the 1800s, Italian saberists, or sciabolatori, were considered the best in Europe. Our saber classes draw from their impressive example, while also keeping classes light and fun.
Historical Swordplay
Historical European swordplay has become increasingly popular in the last few decades. If you’re interested in learning to use a rapier, military saber, sidesword, or other weapons from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Sword Play can act as a guide.
HEMA (historical European martial arts) allows you to learn genuine fighting techniques from history, compete with other swordplayers, and learn more about the history surrounding the weapons. With Sword Play, you can focus on competition, historical interest, or just having fun.
At the moment, Sword Play Fencing is only offering historical weapon instruction in individual lessons. We plan on offering some classes as soon as we can, however.
Classical Fencing
The idea of classical fencing arose several decades ago, as Olympic fencing drifted further away from its historical roots in European swordsmanship. The “classical” ideal looks to old school-fencing masters for methods of fencing and teaching fencing.
It’s similar to historical fencing in many ways. However, HEMA sword training seeks to reconstruct methods that died out, using historical resources.
Classical fencing has been passed down in unbroken lines from the original masters who developed the techniques and principles in the 1700s and 1800s, like the masters in the picture to the left. It includes traditional practices and drills that have only been taught by masters directly to their students.
Instructor Sean has been training in classical fencing for over two decades. While he doesn’t always stick to classical teaching methods, he draws from those lessons to give students the best fencing instruction possible.
“Sean was a fantastic instructor and my two sons loved his class! The way Sean combined teaching with play, interlaced with conversations about the history of fencing, left my boys eager for the next class even before the current one was over.”
— Happy parent after a Kids’ Foil class