3 BIG Reasons You Should Compete in Fencing Tournaments (and 10 small reasons)
In fencing, tournaments are a time when many fencers - sometimes from far away - will come together to see how well they can do against rival clubs and teammates alike. Everyone tries their hardest to win their bouts, and it can create an incredible atmosphere of competition and fun.
At Fence St. Louis, we believe that taking part in tournaments is an essential part of the joy of fencing. There are a lot of reasons to fence at tournaments, so here is a short list of reasons to consider signing up for one near you.
Fence St. Louis Summer Camps 2026: A Fun and Engaging Experience!
Parents can have a tough time finding “summer camps near me” that are actually fun and exciting for their kids. If you’re looking for an active, engaging summer camp in St. Louis that’s a little out of the ordinary, the summer fencing camps at Fence St. Louis offer exactly that. Conveniently located at 7527 Ravensridge Dr, St. Louis, MO 63119, the club is a USA Fencing-sanctioned club and all coaches are background-checked through Safesport. We are proud to offer a safe, structured, and fun way for kids to learn the Olympic sport of saber fencing.
Why You Should Try Fencing Class as an Adult (Yes, You!)
If you’re an adult looking for a hobby that’s more exciting than the treadmill and less dangerous than, say, medieval jousting, allow us to introduce you to Olympic fencing. Fast, strategic, and wildly satisfying: it’s the most fun you can have while wearing a mask.
Here’s five reasons why adults are picking up a saber (a safe, flexible, sport-approved sword, but still a sword!) and giving fencing a try.
From En Garde to Empowerment: How Fencing Benefits Women and Girls
The sport of fencing has always symbolized agility and intellect. When most people imagine fencing, they picture two masked duelists lunging and parrying in a battle of speed and precision. For centuries, though, that duelist was almost always assumed to be a man. Fencing’s long history is rooted in military training and aristocratic tradition, worlds that largely excluded women and girls.
Women broke into fencing in the early 20th century. They eventually carved out space on the Olympic stage to inspire generations to come. Today, women and girls are not only participating, but are empowered by fencing.
How to Clean and Maintain Your Saber Fencing Gear
No one likes a stinky fencer! Learn below how to maintain your saber fencing gear, from whites to lamés.
Bill Starr and Fencing Center of Chicago RYC/RJCCs: April
We attended not one, but two regionals last month: the Bill Starr RYC/RJCC here in St. Louis (April 13-14), and Fencing Center of Chicago WYC/RJCC in Niles, IL (April 20-21).
5th Annual Don Bone Classic: Apr. 7, 2024
This past Sunday, 11 of our fencers competed in Wentzville at the 5th Annual Don Bone Classic. We competed in three different events: Y12 Mixed, Senior Women’s, and Senior Mixed.
Fence St. Louis Birthday Bash: March 17, 2024
We spent our St. Patrick’s Day doing what we know best - fencing! Our one day, saber only tournament at our club was a success and well-attended despite the holiday and spring break. We hosted four different events: Senior Women’s, Senior Mixed, Y10 Mixed, and Y12 Mixed.
Queen City Cup 2024: March 9-10, 2024
On March 9-10, 2024, Coach Annamaria and fencers Lillian S., Caden B., and Gregory S. traveled out to Cincinnati for our clubs first official travel regional away from home with multiple fencers!
Caden B. and Gregory S. each competed in one event - Y14 Men’s Saber and Y12 Men’s Saber respectively. Lillian S. competed in Y14 Women’s Saber and fenced up into the Cadet Women’s Saber for the first time, too!
7th Annual Join the Pirate Crew: Jan. 27, 2024
Buccaneer Blades hosted their 7th Annual Join the Pirate Crew this past weekend on January 27. We brought a great group out to Wentzville for the tournament: check out this tournament recap to see how our fencers performed.
Fence St. Louis December Duel: Dec. 2-3, 2023
We hosted our winter fencing tournament, the Fence St. Louis December Duel, this past weekend and had an excellent time! Check out this tournament recap to see how our fencers performed.
Where Are the Women Fencing Coaches?
Take a look around any large tournament and you’ll find a lack of women coaching fencers. In 2019-2020 fencing season, WFencing released a report card. The report card looked at a lot of different roles within USA Fencing, NCAA, and USFCA, among other groups, to see how women were represented in senior, professional roles. However, the report card did not take a look at individual clubs and how they were staffed. I was curious to take a snapshot of how clubs present themselves and their coaches through their websites to see how prevalent women were at the club level.