Olympia’s Guide to Success
A Sport for Everyone
Fencing is a sport for everyone, regardless of age barriers or body type.
A discipline that combines the benefits of physical exercise with the thrill of strategic sword fighting, fencing is often referred to as “physical chess” because it requires quick thinking, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.
The benefits of fencing extend far beyond the fencing strip: it teaches resilience, the ability to handle pressure, perseverance, good sportsmanship, and other valuable skills that can be applied in everyday life.
For children and young adults, fencing provides opportunities to make friends through group training and competitions, building a sense of community.
Best age to start fencing
Opinions differ, and the ideal age depends on an individual’s goals and maturity, but many experts suggest that the sweet spot for starting competitive fencing is between 7 and 10 years old.
However, it is never too late to start for fitness, fun, or as a personal challenge.
At Olympia Fencing Center, starting fencing around age 8 is a proven path to future success when followed as recommended.
However, the age of eight is not set in stone as a starting age; if your child has a strong body frame and advanced thinking skills, we’re happy to offer them a free class as early as seven years old, but not earlier.
Follow this link to book your FREE TRIAL today!
Planning for the future: Long-Term Athlete Development
According to EBSCO (“a company that provides research databases, e-journals, and other information services”), Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) is a developmental framework designed to guide athletes from childhood through adulthood, promoting their maximum potential in sports.
Over the years, the general athlete development systems for most sports have evolved from focusing on chronological age to developmental age, allowing all participants (not just top performers) to reach their full potential.
The general Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) stages include a “fundamentals” phase (ages 6-10) for fun-based learning, a “learn to train” phase (ages 10-12) for technical skill, and “train to train” (ages 13-16) for more structured, high-intensity work.
Redefined Long-Term Athlete Development for Fencing
Fencing, however, takes a different approach, especially since fencers typically reach their competitive peak around age 16 and can continue growing into adulthood (ages 30 and beyond).
The fencer’s recommended growth path varies depending on the athlete’s goals and the starting age.
Some fencing clubs offer introductory classes for children as young as four, emphasizing fun and basics while using “toy swords”.
At Olympia, we focus on teaching the “real” sport, using real “weapons” (épée), so aspiring fencers must be strong enough to handle them without discomfort.
The idea is for beginner fencers to practice basic fencing moves, using both their upper and lower bodies, in controlled movements that will later define their aptitudes.
The ideal age to start learning fencing is around eight years old, when the child has developed the necessary motor skills and mental ability to learn through repetition, while also enjoying the sport and building their fencing skills.
Stages of development in fencing
- Fundamentals (Ages 8-9): Focuses on introducing athletes to fencing weapons and developing basic skills through play.
The primary goal is to keep training fun and engaging, and learning through repetition.
Some low-level, local competitions are recommended to introduce the fencers to the competitive aspect of the sport. - Learn to Train (Ages 10-11): Transitions towards more specific technical training while maintaining a fun element, and gradually move on toward a competitive aspect among peers.
This is the phase when introducing private lessons in their training is crucial, while the fencers are introduced to low-pressure fencing competitions, learn the rules, and discover their fencing style and personality. - Train to Train (Ages 12-13): Athletes learn to compete and give maximum effort in a more structured environment.
This is the phase when the decision is made between competitive and recreational levels.
Those with competitive aspirations begin participating in sanctioned regional and national competitions, while those who prefer a more leisurely approach continue to enjoy the sport through low-key club practices. - Training to Compete (Ages 14-16): Involves high-intensity training that includes all aspects: physical, mental, and technical.
This is the stage at which fencers have a thorough understanding of the sport and typically participate in higher-level national competitions.
The fencers start earning national points and rankings, and set higher goals, such as making the national travel team and competing in international fields. - Training to Win (Ages 16+)
Refines performance to achieve maximum success in competition.
This is the phase when college recruiting takes place, laying the foundation for a lifelong relationship with the sport.
How far can my child go in fencing??
As far as they want to!
Children start fencing for different reasons, such as the desire to become their favorite Star Wars character, or becasue their parents wish for more physical activity time.
However, very few know from the beginning where this new path will take them and how far they will go.
The truth is, fencing is a unique sport that offers almost instant gratification and the fantastic opportunity to be part of a very inclusive community that includes athletes of all ages and levels. There is no other sport where a 13-year-old can get the chance to fence an Olympian!
Based on our 20 years of experience and raising generations of champions, these are TWO SIMPLE TIPS we can offer to start your fencing journey and try your chances in becoming an accomplished fencer.
1. Believe in your children
The most common opinion we hear from parents of novice fencers is “my child will NEVER be an Olympian…”
Just ask those parents of those Olympians, or the Olympians themselves.
- “I think the champions come from within. I think the kids who are going to be champions are the ones who are self-driven. They’re not going to be the ones whose parents are forcing them or wanting them to be the champions.”
(Cathy Zagunis, mother of the most decorated American fencer in the history of our sport, sabre fencer Mariel Zagunis). - “The main thing here is not to “include” your parental ambitions, or unfulfilled dreams in your parenting”.
(Elena Grishina, mother of Sergey Bida, three-time European épée team champion, and 2021 Olympic épée team silver medalist). - “There are 10,500 Olympians in London. There are almost double that number of parents who have stood behind their children, hands outstretched not to push them but to catch them if they fell.
The scary thing about raising a kid,” Fiona Imboden says, “is asking yourself the question, Is it my goal or my kid’s goal?”
(Fiona Imboden, mother of three-time Olympian, Race Imboden)
- “One of the secrets to being a good fencer in general is really similar to any sport – a passion and commitment to your sport and your goals within the sport. For me, going in to train is something I enjoy, and I have fun every time I am at practice, no matter how tired I am. This allows me the ability to improve, because it isn’t a task or chore to me”.
(Gerek Meinhardt, a five-time Olympian and a two-time team Olympic bronze medalist).
2. Be patient
Many talented children we’ve seen over the years, from their very first class, expected instant gratification.
Fencing is unlike other sports where being fast, strong, and athletic paves one’s path to success; fencing takes time to form good habits, learn the skills progressively, and apply strategic thinking on the strip, while facing different fencing styles.
While starting young is a plus in fencing, the younger the age, the longer the wait. National points in fencing don’t count until almost entering the Cadet age group (15+), but the journey to becoming an accomplished fencer starts sooner.
Final notes
- Specializing early in a sport does not always guarantee elite success.
As in most sports, factors such as commitment, consistency, intensity, and the quality of training sessions, along with coaching and peer support, will ultimately determine the level of success. - Ultimately, age progression in sports should be individualized, taking into account the athlete’s specific needs, goals, and abilities, as well as factors such as psychosocial development and environmental influences.
Explore more helpful information about the recommended growth path for beginner fencers in our club, and details about our intramural D’Artagnan Series for Novice Fencers, the low-pressure competition where all our champions started their competitive journey.
Contact us here if you have any questions or to inquire about our classes.
Olympia Fencing Center offers fencing classes for children ages 8 and older, focusing on both competitive and recreational fencing.
Our club shelters the largest teen (ages 13-15) and adult (ages 16+) classes in the Northeast, and has produced the most successful generations of fencers since its inception in 2012.
Whether your goals are to fence for fun, exercise, or become a fencing champion, Olympia Fencing is the place to be.
Follow this link to book your free class and try fencing today!!
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