The core of our program. Group instruction with
drills. Starts with modern foil fencing and adds modern sabre and epee techniques, followed by
German Longsword and its many corollaries.
Teaches Flexibility - Footwork - Balance - Leverage - Weapon handling - Tactics & strategy.
You can join at the beginning of any 6-week session. Class content depends on the ability of the average member of the group, not the slowest. 6-week sessions:
Sep 4 - Oct 9
Oct 23 - Nov 27
Dec 11 - Jan 29 (no class Dec. 25, Jan 1)
Feb 12 - Mar 19
Apr 2 - May 7
New this year, the week between class sessions is reserved for extra historical fencing work or just a full evening of open fencing.
Classes run Tuesdays 6:30 pm - 7:30+ pm Class fees: 6-week session: $60 per non-member student, any age (no discount for added sessions)
6-week session: $30 per member student, any age NOTE: Before you enroll, read Getting Involved. Beginners (new to fencing) NOTE: Class will not slow down for you. We will explain words as we go. For the first two weeks, beginners should allow time after class for 15-minute individual "catch-up" lessons which will be provided.
Open club fencing
September 4 - May 28
The doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall every Tuesday evening. Enter at front vestibule. Bring indoor-only court shoes. There are two restrooms. No food or drinks allowed upstairs. We lay down rubber strips for the modern fencers according to the number fencing and generally share the rest of the floor between the historical styles. You are welcome to fence in your own way as long as you neither injure nor endanger anyone. The veterans present will generally give advice and even lessons when asked.
Summer Fencing on the Deck
A nice, more relaxed way to keep your hand in
through the summer.
Group drills 6:30 - 6:45
Open fencing 6:45 - 9 pm
Practice targets
Individual lessons on request
$5 floor fee
Call us or email for a pdf map/directions to site.
Theatrical Combat
The Ann Arbor Sword Club, participating in the Ann Arbor Medieval Festival in the 1980s, developed its own methodology for presenting live swordplay in real time as a stand-alone entertainment. Like the “sword jugglers” who played for coins at medieval fairs, we try to be realistic up to a certain point, stopping short of acting out gory wounds and deaths. We use theatrical rapiers made for the 1973/4 Musketeer films as well as purpose-made German longswords. Basic lessons in our method are freely
available and a theatrical practice “fight” may break out during club time any Tuesday evening.
See the Theatrical Swordplay page for more.
Outside the Box
On occasion we will organize a demonstration, visit other clubs, enter tournaments, take a canoe trip, go
out to dinner after fencing, or throw parties. You do
not have to be a long-time member to be involved in
these activities.
Joe and Matt use pollaxes theatrically in a demo
for the Ypsilant Chamber of Commerce’s “Ypsilot,” February 2010
The Sword Club regularly appears at the Saline Celtic Festival.
