What we offer – fencing
Sports fencing as seen in the Olympics remains a popular draw outside of mainstream ball-and-ball sports.
West Devon Swords is fully insured with British Fencing and has two qualified coaches in the three sporting weapons – foil, epee and sabre.
We can provide safety kit in metal and plastic fencing for both adults and children.
Our offer for sports fencing includes:
- beginners’ courses – single weapon and tasters, 4, 5 and six week blocks
- taster sessions
- demonstrations and displays
- taster sessions
- fund-raisers
- corporate events
- safe ‘Go-fence’ sessions with the plastic mini-fence equipment.
What we offer – fencing Read More »
by Robin Catling: 
West Devon Swords is setting up beginners classes in épée and sabre, which anyone can learn safely with the proper teaching. Would-be duellists and buccaneers start here… …
Your fencing questions answered. New to fencing? 
Modern fencing is a martial art derived from older forms of duelling with swords. The objective is to hit your opponent without being hit yourself. Modern fencing is a competitive form that emulates a duel – the weapons are blunt and a secondary objective after winning the bout is not to injure anyone. 
Before you even walk into any fencing club or tournament, you’ll hear the bright sound of clashing steel. This is both combat martial art and sport.
Not if done properly. Although executed at speed, a good, clean fencing attack hurts no more than a tap on the shoulder. The force of the blow is normally absorbed by the flex of the blade. Reckless and overly aggressive fencers can occasionally deliver painful blows, however. Fencing *is* a martial art, so you should expect minor bruises and welts every now and again. They are rarely intentional. The most painful blows tend to come from inexperienced fencers who have not yet acquired the feel of the weapon. 
Fencing is a safe sport. Regulation equipment conforming to safety standards and common sense fencing helps to maintain our good safety record. 
Notes from the conditioning session given by Matt Kearns of Solent University at 
To clarify the rules regarding the boundaries of the piste, following the 2005-2009 revisions, this is our current understanding: