No -- especially once you learn! A two-month introductory fencing class at SCF costs $180 -- only $90/month. Expenses drop one you have finished your first six months. If you can afford cable TV, you can probably afford fencing -- and fencing is better for your body and mind than television! 

So, we offer a household discount for members of the same household (i.e. living at the same address, regardless of relation). The first fencer pays full price; additional fencers receive a $5/month discount PER FENCER (cumulative). So, a household with four fencers, for example, would pay $110/month ($35 + $30 + $25 + $20).

Yes, we do offer a limited number of need-based scholarships for class tuition, user fees, and equipment. We are not going to pry into your finances. A big part of fencing is honor, respect, and chivalry. We model that by trusting that folks who say that they need financial assistance are being honest, and that they will be honest about how much assistance they need. 

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If you decide fencing is the sport for you, a basic set of fencing gear (foil, jacket, mask, and glove) costs about $165 to $200. Fencing equipment will provide many years of service, except you will need to replace your glove every year or so ($10-20) due to wear and tear. 

Younger fencers will outgrow most of their equipment long before it wears out, creating opprtunities for hand-me-downs or selling used equipment to other fencers.

Fencing, the art and science of swordplay, consists of three main areas:

• Postmodern (electrical) fencing
• Modern/classical (standard) fencing
• Historical/classical fencing

Fencing (as seen in the Olympics) is the purview of the US Fencing Association (USFA) and the Federation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), the two governing bodies for national and international (respectively) competitive fencing that is electrically scored. This is the type of fencing that is featured on cable sports channels such as ESPN2 on rare occasions in this country. It is also the type of fencing that is done at the Summer Olympics every four years. It is very fast and very athletic. The weapons used are the foil, the epee, and the saber.

Historical/classical fencing is practiced by a number of small groups all over the United States and in other countries as well. The weapons used vary widely, but include rapier, broadsword, sword and dagger, single stick, and others, as well as the foil, sabre, and epee. The approach is that of a martial art -- not a sport -- supported by research into past fencing practices. Competitions are unusual. The closest thing to a governing body is a fledgling organization called the Association for Historical Fencing (AHF). The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) also engages in historical fencing (with degrees of historical accuracy that vary widely). Historical fencing tends to be slower and more deliberate, with a heavy emphasis on bladework and form. The period covered by historical fencing ends roughly in 1900. 

Modern/classical fencing is practiced by an increasing number of fencing clubs throughout the United States. Because "classical fencing" increasingly refers to 19th-century historical fencing, we are beginning to use the term "modern fencing" and "standard fencing" to (hopefully) avoid confusion. The governing body of standard fencing is the American Fencing League (AFL).

Modern fencing is both a sport and a martial art, with roots in the traditions of European dueling. It supports both competitive and purely recreational fencing. The pace of modern fencing, which de-emphasizes pure athletic ability, is somewhat slower than postmodern fencing, but faster than historical fencing, making it an excellent spectator sport. And modern fencing is a great aerobic, co-ed activity that can be participated in by people from age 12 to 60+. The weapons used are the standard (non-electric) foil, saber, and epee. The rules are similar to those of post-modern fencing, with the main exception being the scoring system. All scoring is either on the honor system (recreational) or by a jury (competitive) -- no electrical scoring apparatus is used. There is a strong emphasis on form and clarity. The principle of right-of-way (or the priority of touches) is strongly maintained. Touches must be made in a manner that  is consistent with the use of a sharp weapon -- even though the weapons are blunt.  In short, modern fencing is fencing from the first half of the 20th century blended with the knowledge of the second half of the 20th century. It is a different sport from postmodern fencing, with different rules and a different mindset. Modern fencing does not attempt to recreate a bygone era. Instead, it firmly maintains its roots in history, while simultaneously looking forward.  

We encourage anyone interested in modern/classical fencing to join the American Fencing League and support its activities.