NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FENCING CLINIC

The week of July 26 - 30, 2010, 2010 Todd will teach a Fencing Clinic in several sites in the San Francisco Bay area.  The clinic will meet each day, Monday - Friday, for 1 1/2 hours. 

The clinic will cover the basic skills in foil fencing including footwork, right of way, attacks, parries, and some history of fencing.  All students will be able to handle the foil and actually fence with another student throughout the week. All students will wear the normal protective gear when fencing with the actual foil.  This is a safe sport when done correctly with proper protective gear on, but students still could get some small bruises from the foil.

We will spend the first day covering footwork, body position, holding the practice foil in a group, and talk about the different types of fencing.  The first and second day we will work on attacks and defenses, using primarily the practice foil in the hands of each participant.  The third -  fifth days will be actual bouts between students with the foil and all protective gear. 

This clinic will give your kids the chance to experience fencing without a major investment and a major time commitment on your part!  No equipment purchase is required - just come and enjoy!  Students will need to bring a handkerchief, scarf, or skull cap of some kind to wear under the helmet when they fence with the protective gear on.  Fencing masks will be shared by students in the class so everyone must wear something on their head under the mask.  It is also helpful if your student wear something with some padding such as a jean jacket, sweatshirt, or something to provide some more padding on the torso.  Students can wear jeans or sweatpants, but should NOT wear shorts.  Something long on the legs is required.  Closed toe shoes laced up and tied are also required.  Sandals, flip flops, and other non-protective footwear will not work.

The class is open to boys and girls.  Recommended youngest age is 7 years old.  If you have a child who is younger and think they may be capable of handling the class, talk to Todd Nash.  There are a couple factors to consider.  One is motor skills and capability to handle the physical skills required.  The second is the physical element of taking hits from the foil on the body.  Sometimes is can sting, and sometimes can even leave a bruise.  The sport is safe, and they will not get injured with the protective equipment on, but a scoring hit from the foil is still felt, and some younger kids may not be ready for this.

Registrations in the east and south bay areas are being conducted by several home school groups.  If you would like to join us, call me on my cell at 760-458-9753 for details and to get signed up.

Cost:  The fee for the class will be $90 per student.  There are no discounts for multiple siblings.  The fee must be paid prior to the start of the class.  Please mail your check for $90 after registering on this website.  Your check will not be deposited until the class has started.   If your check for $90 is not received prior to Todd departing for N Cal on the Saturday prior, you will need to give him a check, even if you have mailed one.  Your mailed check will be shredded when he returns to San Diego. 

Requirements:  Wear tennis shoes, athletic sweatpants or other long pants, and a T-shirt.   Bring water.  Bring along a sweatshirt or  jacket if you would like to have it for additional padding.  All fencing equipment is provided, but if you already own equipment, feel free to bring it along, particularly if you have a jacket, mask, or gloves that fit you.

SHOES:  Parents, please do not bring your kids to classes with Sandals, slip on shoes, or barefoot.  Without proper shoes, children may be forced to sit out the class.  Many of the activities in class could injure your child's foot without adequate support and protection.  Lace up tennis shoes that are tied snugly (not baggy, untied, and loose) are the only proper footwear.  Slip on shoes are not good - they fly off when exerting minimal effort in sports, and force the athlete to develop BAD HABITS of pushing the toes down into the shoe to hold it on.  Help your child excel, and do not get them slip on shoes for sports!  Sandals are never appropriate for sports - they do not provide support or protection.  A ball or other object hitting the open, exposed toes of a student in sandals would likely break their toes.  Please bring them to class in LACE UP TENNIS SHOES TIED SECURELY.

If you have questions or need to contact Todd, email him at CalAthletics@sbcglobal.net or call him on his cell at (760) 458-9753.