Zenith City Fencers
Zenith City Fencers is a group of foil and epee fencers based in Duluth, Minnesota. We meet twice a week for foil classes and open bouting at the YMCA in downtown Duluth. Fencers of all experience levels and all ages 10+ are welcome. We have all the equipment beginners will need to get started, and four electric strips for fencers with their own equipment. Whether you're hoping to compete on the national stage, or just try a new hobby for some fun exercise, we hope you'll join us!
Resources for fencers
Current Schedule
Mondays:
6:00-7:00 PM Beginner and recreational class
7:00-8:00 PM Open BoutingWednesdays:
6:00-7:00 PM Competitive class
7:00-8:00 PM Open boutingSpecific session dates and class registration can be accessed through the Duluth YMCA's website.
Contact
Have a question about fencing? Contact us here, or at [email protected]
Online Resources
Twin Cities Fencing Club, Center for Blade Arts, and Youth Enrichment League: Three great fencing clubs in the Twin Cities Metro Area. These clubs offer classes, clinics, and private coaching, and are well worth the travel to visit.
AskFred.net: The place to find and register for local tournaments and fencing clinics. In our case, most "local" tournaments will be in the Twin Cities, Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and the Chicago area.
usafencing.org: Website for USFA, the governing body for fencing in the US. The site contains links to the athlete handbook and rules of fencing, and it is the place to find and register for regional and national tournaments.
Academy of Fencing Masters Blog: A frequently-updated blog from the prominent Bay-Area club.
I Can Haz Armory Youtube Page: A good source for videos about maintenance and repairs of fencing equipment.
r/Fencing Reddit Page: The most active online fencing forum.
Equipment Buying Guide
Below is a list of reputable retailers that we recommend (DO NOT buy fencing equipment on Amazon or from anyone other than dedicated fencing suppliers).
Continuing fencing students in our programs will be expected to provide their own equipment after their first session.
Starter fencing sets are available from most fencing retailers in both electric and non-electric versions. These sets may or may not include all the required equipment, so please be sure to verify that your kit includes everything on the lists below. The minimum equipment for our Fencing I class includes:
Fencing jacket
(We recommend front-zip and stretchy material rather than cotton/canvas. 350N "non-FIE" gear is acceptable for US competition.)Foil mask with conductive bib
Glove (yes, just one!)
Foil:
(#5 blade size for ages 12+. Fencers ages 10-11 may require a smaller blade size such as #2, and a smaller-sized grip. This is dependent on the fencer's strength and hand size, so check with a coach before buying.)Plastron (underarm protector)
Rigid chest protectors are required for female fencers, and optional for males (there are different styles for male and female)
A bag for the equipment--included with some starter sets.
(Recommended) Groin protection (cup) for males.
(Recommended) Fencing knickers and socks are required for competition, but currently optional in our classes.
Although non-electric, "practice" equipment is acceptable in our Fencing I class, we recommend that all fencers interested in continuing in the sport purchase an "electric" set of fencing gear, which will allow you to fence with our electronic scoring equipment. This equipment forms the basis for how modern fencing is practiced, and is used during open bouting in our Fencing I class, and throughout the class in Fencing II. Having a full electric set is required for Fencing II.An electric set will include, in addition to the standard safety equipment listed above:
Electric foil
("Non-FIE" rated foil blades are fine for US competition, though the more expensive maraging steel "FIE" blades may last longer. We recommend German tips, and purchasing extra matching screws and springs. We recommend using a modern "pistol grip", such as visconti, Belgian, or Hungarian, although a standard French grip foil can also later be converted to pistol grip.)Lamé (electrically conductive vest—be sure to buy front-zip)
Foil mask with conductive bib
Mask cord (Connects mask bib to lamé)
Body cord (Connects foil and lamé to scoring system)
(Recommended) Having at least 2 foils, 2 body cords, and 2 mask cords is required for competition, and highly recommended for class in case of malfunction.
Content coming soon!
Feel free to contact us with any questions about fencing.
Fencing Equipment Care Guide
Weapons:
Never store uniforms--especially sweaty uniforms--in your fencing bag. This can lead to rusty blades and rust stains on your uniform.
Some rust on blades is normal and they can be scoured with a green ScotchBrite pad (take care not to rub the insulation off the wire of electric weapons) and lightly lubricated with oil or petroleum jelly.
For electric weapons, a sheath of PEX tubing or PVC pipe will help protect the wire and tip from damage when not in use.
Ensure that tip screws are tight.
Periodic disassembly of the tip and cleaning of the barrel and point with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab will remove debris that can accumulate during normal use. This will help ensure that the circuit functions properly.
Use only gaffer’s tape for the foil tip insulation, such as Pro-Gaff or Tesa. Other types of tape can cause excessive buildup and transfer adhesives into the tip of the weapon, resulting in a malfunction.
Periodically inspect the socket to ensure that the contact screws are tight. Tighten the grip as necessary using a 6mm allen wrench or “outside nut” socket wrench, depending on the style of pommel nut you have.
Body/Mask Cords:
Wind them up neatly and without kinks or tight bends. Do not attach the alligator clip back to the wire as this can damage the wire--just leave it loose.
Inspect them regularly for damage.
Inspect and tighten loose screws as needed.
We recommend storing cords in a separate bag or container to keep them from becoming entangled with and damaged by other equipment in your fencing bag.
Masks:
Remove from your fencing bag after every use. Wipe down with a moist rag.
If the mask has removable padding, wash it per manufacturer’s instructions.
Masks can periodically be washed by submerging them in a laundry tub and using a small amount of gentle detergent. Be sure they are rinsed thoroughly and allowed to dry fully before using.
Uniforms:
Wash per manufacturer’s directions. Washing after every use is good practice and will not harm the clothing. Generally use warm water, gentle cycle and gentle detergent, such as Woolite. Extra sweaty/stinky uniforms can be periodically soaked in an enzyme cleaner made for clothing, such as this one.
HANG TO DRY AND DO NOT USE BLEACH! Fencing uniforms are designed for puncture resistance; bleach and machine drying can reduce the protective qualities of the fabric.
Always remove your uniform from your fencing bag after class and wash it or hang it to dry. Do not store sweaty unforms in your fencing bag.
Lamés:
Hang to dry after every use. Do not store lamés in your fencing bag.
Rinse monthly in the shower and hang to dry.
Can also be hand washed with a capful of Woolite and a capful of Windex in a water-filled wash tub to help remove corrosion (this is most common with copper lamés as opposed to stainless steel). Be sure to rinse well and hang to dry after washing.
Your First Tournament
Information on upcoming fencing tournaments in our area can be found at AskFredAll sanctioned fencing tournaments require at least a USA Fencing "Access" Membership ($29/year). There is no need to get the "Competitive" membership until you are ready to sign up for a regional tournament.
Check-in
You will need your USFA membership to be current, and your mask and glove will be inspected and stamped. Be sure to have a water bottle and some snacks with you.
Warmup
Spend 15 or 20 minutes stretching and getting your heart going prior to the close of registration. Find someone else to do some warmup bouts with, but be careful not to burn too much energy. Try to be wired up and ready to go by the close of registration. You can keep your lame and jacket partially unzipped since the referee will need to see your plastron.
Initial Seeding
Seeding will be posted sometime after registration has closed. Depending on the number of fencers, this can take 15-30 minutes or more. Initial seeding is mostly randomized. Most tournaments use fencingtimelive.com for posting tournament information, but some still use paper copies that are taped to the gym wall.
Pools—the first round of bouting
Pools will be posted shortly after initial seeding has been posted. Look for your name and number and what pool you are in. Make note of your number in the pool—referees will often refer to you by number rather than name. Pools may be as large as 7 or 8 fencers.Shortly after the pools are posted, referees will start calling people to their strips. Listen for your name/number or pool number to be called to a strip. It’s very hard to hear in a noisy gym, but you will eventually find your strip. Officials and other fencers will do their best to find you if you haven’t made it to the appropriate strip on time.When you get to your strip, your referee will check everyone’s mask and glove for the inspection stamp, as well as plastrons for all fencers and rigid chest protector for women. Just leave your jacket partially unzipped so the referee can see that you are wearing the appropriate equipment underneath.After inspections are completed, bouting will begin. Referees will call the fencers to the strip and announce who’s on deck for the next bout. Fencers may be called by their name, but usually are called by their assigned number.Keep in mind that the first name called is always on the referee’s right, unless there is a lefty/righty matchup, in which case the left-handed fencer goes on the referee’s left. It’s easy to get mixed up and go to the wrong side, but don’t sweat it—everyone makes mistakes.When it’s your turn to fence, hook up to the strip (mask cord attached to the lame and body cord attached to the cord reel, lame and weapon) and approach the referee to do a weight test on your weapon. This simply means that you hold the tip up for the referee to put a weight on it to verify that your equipment is functioning properly. If something doesn’t pass, the referee can usually figure out what it is and may ask you to change to a different weapon or body cord.After the weight test, the referee will signal for both fencers to test their equipment by advancing toward each other and simultaneously touching each other’s lames with their foil tips. (Be sure to cover your face with your mask when you do this). When you touch, take note of which color light you are—red or green.Once the equipment is tested, retreat to the en-garde line, salute your opponent and then salute the referee. Then put on your mask and get ready to fence!
The referee will call “En garde, ready, fence!” (Some referees will use the full French…”En garde, prets, allez!)Don’t stop fencing until the referee calls “Halt!” If a point has been scored, go back to your en garde line. If there was an off-target touch, the referee will signal where the center of action is—this is where the tip of your blade should be if you extend your arm when fencing resumes.You will fence everyone in your pool, so try to observe the other bouts while you are waiting so you can learn something about the people you will be fencing. Pool bouts are 5 points or three minutes, whichever comes first.Once everyone in the pool has fenced everyone else in the pool, this portion of the tournament will be over. Some pools will take longer to finish than others.When your pool is finished, the referee will ask you to sign the scoresheet, indicating that you agree with the tally. Be sure to look it over carefully and bring it to the referee’s attention if you think there’s an error.
Direct Elimination (D.E.)—the second round of bouting
There will be a long break after pools finish. This is a time to hydrate, eat some healthy snacks and try to regain some energy.During the break, Bout Committee will be structuring the first round of D.E. brackets. Most of the time with local tournaments, there is 100% advancement to D.E. after pools.D.E. brackets will be posted—look for your name and opponent.
Remember that you may not be fencing right away since there usually aren’t enough referees and strips to have everyone fencing at once.Again, listen for referees to call you to a strip.Bouting and initial equipment checks/testing will go the same as pools, however…D.E. bouts are 3, three-minute periods or 15 points, whichever comes first (Veterans D.E. bouts are 10 touches). There’s a one-minute break between periods. Use your energy wisely.If you lose your first D.E. bout, then you are finished for the day and free to leave if you’d like, or you can stay and watch the rest of the competition.If you win your first D.E., then you will have another break until the next round of D.E. begins.D.E. proceeds in this manner until the final two fencers have finished.
After each D.E. round, you will need to sign the scoresheet to certify that you agree with the tally.
Tips
Take time to thank all the officials—Bout Committee, referees, tournament organizers. These folks put in countless hours to make fencing a success.As with any sport, use good sportsmanship. Arguing with a referee will usually not go in your favor. However, politely asking questions if you need clarification is generally acceptable.Try to set some small goals at first, such as scoring a touch in each bout. Don’t be discouraged if someone beats you 5-0 in less than a minute. Just try to learn from every bout.Don’t let frustration or desperation take over. Staying calm and controlled is the best strategy. If you are losing, try to learn from it. If you are winning, try to learn from it.If this is your first tournament, don’t be shy about seeking out a more experienced buddy in your pool who can help you out if needed.There is a lot of commotion and a lot to remember. Depending on your personality, this can be stressful or energizing. Just remember that everyone wants you to have an enjoyable time.