These classes are suitable for children and teens, boys and girls who have never experienced fencing before as well as for those who have some basic fencing knowledge.

The classes are run by a team of highly experienced coaches, who teach kids about fencing in a lovely and fun atmosphere. Each class is taught using plenty of games to improve speed and coordination and develop specific fencing skills and tactical thinking. Kids learn fencing blade and footwork, rules of courtesy during a fencing bout, and refereeing skills – all that of course while doing plenty of sword fighting! Children can take part in various competitions for their club, their school, and maybe even the country. Our coaches, all of whom have international competitive experience, are always there to help and motivate!

Boys and girls train together. At the beginner level, all fencing equipment is provided, children need to bring a T-shirt, trainers, and tracksuit.

Monday – St.Conleth`s College, Clyde Road, Ballsbridge

18.00 – 19.00 – Children (6 – 11 yrs)

19.00 – 20.00 – Children (11-14yrs)

20.00 – 21.00 – Beginners Adults

Tuesday – St.Conleth`s College, Clyde Road, Ballsbridge

18.00 – 19.00 – Children (6 – 11 yrs)

19.00 – 20.00 – Children (11 – 13 yrs)

20.00 – 22.00 – Teens 13+ and adults

Thursday – St.Conleth`s College, Clyde Road, Ballsbridge

17.30 – 18.30 – Children (6 – 12 yrs)

19.30 – 21.30- Children 14+ and adults

Sunday – Dalkey Loreto Sports Hall, Loreto Avenue, off Harbour Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin

11.30 – 12.30 – Children (6-11 yrs)

12.30 – 13.30 – Children (11 – 13 yrs)

11.30 – 13.30 – Children 13+ /competitive class/and adults

10 Benefits of Fencing for Children

Fencing for kids is a challenging sport for kids who want to try their hand at something a little more unusual in their after-school classes. Learning how to fence will also provide a wide range of different benefits to help keep your child happy and healthy.

  1. Fencing will keep your child moving: Fencing burns off plenty of energy, so it is one of the best kid`s activities to tire out energetic children and to ensure that they are enjoying a healthy, active lifestyle.
  2. Fencing uses the brain as well as the body: Fencing is a very strategic sport, almost like a physical form of chess. It teaches children to think for themselves and to analyse the way other people think. Your child will learn how to outthink their opponents quickly in order to succeed in their matches.
  3. Fencing for children improves balance and posture: Fencing will help your child to develop better balance and agility, which can help to keep them steady when they are enjoying other sports or kid activities.
  4. Timing is key in fencing: Fencing requires good timing, which is an ability that your child will be able to apply in other sports, in their music lessons, and in other kids’ activities as well. It is also great for improving coordination and reflexes, which will be similarly useful elsewhere.
  5. Independent sports make kids more self-reliant: Since fencing for kids is an independent sport, your child will learn how to work alone, and to take responsibility for their own successes or failures. They will have to think for themselves, develop the confidence to compete and learn from their mistakes. However, while they may be alone against their opponent, they will also have plenty of social interactions with the other children in their after-school classes.
  6. Fencing improves concentration: Fencing in their after-school classes will teach your child how to stay focused and follow instructions carefully. These are important skills that your child will be able to apply in school and during other kids’ activities.
  7. Fencing for children focuses on honor and respect: Kids taking after-school classes in fencing will learn how to compete against one another safely and fairly. Fencing is a very polite sport that encourages fair play. Practicing it in after-school classes will teach your child the importance of following the rules and being a good competitor. They will learn how to win and lose gracefully and to treat their opponents with respect.
  8. Fencing teaches self-control: Fencing is one of the best kids’ activities for learning self-control. It can provide a channel to turn stress, anger, and frustration into healthy competition. Fencers need to be able to control their own emotions in order to out-think their competitors and avoid making a mistake. Being able to handle their own emotions is an important life skill that will help your child in school and elsewhere, particularly when it comes to interacting with other children.
  9. Children who fence learn the importance of safety: Many kids will be inspired to take up fencing because they have seen people handling swords in films or video games. After-school classes can provide a safe environment where they can imitate these moves and learn how to handle their foils safely. They will learn how to treat the foil carefully and to respect the safety of others.
  10. Fencing is fun: Fencing is one of the kids’ activities with the widest appeal. It will attract children who enjoy other sports, but fencing for children can also be interesting for kids who are interested in history, historical or fantasy fiction or stage acting.

Whether you are new to fencing or a competitive fencer, you need to practice and learn new skills to advance your fencing knowledge and techniques. Pembroke Fencing Club offers lessons to suit all requirements that will enable you, whatever your level, to continue your fencing education.
Pembroke Fencing Club offers a beginner course to new fencers of all ages. You can start fencing at any age and soon reap the benefits: strengthening thighs, buttocks, and stomach, reducing weight, and increasing agility. The course is designed to introduce you to all the main components of the sport and help you discover your place in the world of fencing.
The PFC runs frequent beginner courses, the aims of which are to give beginners an introduction both to the sport of fencing and also to the PFC. Courses tend to fill up very quickly, and you should get in touch to reserve your place as soon as possible.
The beginner`s classes cover the main aspects of fencing and are ideal for people with no previous knowledge of the sport. The participants are introduced to the rules, techniques, and terminology of the sport of fencing. The class covers conditioning, footwork, blade drills, fencing with electric scorning equipment and individual instruction. While learning the types of attack and defence fencers exercise in pairs or with the coach. Acquired skills are practised further during the free fencing bouts.
All elements are taught slowly and repeatedly to ensure students grasp the move and understand when it should be executed! By the end of the course, the participants should have acquired a general knowledge of the sport and feel competent to bout with the more experienced fencers.
The beginner`s course is suitable for anyone aged between 15 and 70, male or female, right or left-handed!

Each beginner’s course lasts for eight weeks and includes 1 hour of coaching per week. The courses are taken by Olga Velma and are held at the PFC’s venue at St.Conleth`s College on Mondays and Thursdays. They are structured around group tuition, during which you are taught the basics of fencing with a foil/epee and the importance of footwork, blade work, safety, and the correct use of fencing equipment. The beginners’ course will also provide an opportunity for beginners to fence amongst themselves as they progress through the course.

Available private lessons in the club and at your venue. The 30-minute lesson cost 35 euros. All additional information can be found on the page “Private lessons”.

You don’t need to worry about having any specialised fencing equipment to attend a beginner’s course. All you need to bring with you is a pair of trainers and some clothes suitable for sporting activities (e.g. tracksuit trousers and a T-shirt). The PFC will supply the fencing kit that you will need.

If you have realised that you are a convert to the sport of fencing and wish to purchase your kit, the PFC can give you advice on purchasing the necessary equipment.
The beginner 8–week course costs €170, payable in advance at the start of the beginner’s course and is non-refundable. You can pay in cash or by cheque payable to “Pembroke Fencing Club”.
Anyone interested in joining a beginner’s course is welcome to pop in at the next scheduled course. If you would like to attend such a course, or if you have any questions about the beginner’s courses, please email us.

The club will be closed on Halloween from 30th October to 5th November, at Christmas break from 22nd  December to 9th January, during February midterm break from 12th February to 17th February, and on Easter break from 24th March to 6th April.

Please note that the hall is not available on the 27th, 28th, and 30th of November due to House Exams and in January no classes on the 18th and 25th of January.

NEW!!! SUMMER COURSES IN JULY and AUGUST!!!

The course will start on Monday the 15th of July at 6.30 pm and finishes on the 26th of August.

Another course will start on Thursday the 18th of July at 6.30 pm and finishes on the 29th of August.

Venue: Christ Church, Sandymount, D04VW68

Price: €160

Gear: provided

Available private lessons

Course for beginners €170. Venue: St.Conleth`s College, Ballsbridge
Start Date End Date Day Time
04/09/23 23/10/23 Monday 20.00 – 21.00
06/11/23 22/01/24 Monday CANCELLED
08/01/24 11/03/24 Monday 20.00 – 21.00
08/04/24 27/05/24 Monday 20.00 – 21.00
07/09/23 26/10/23 Thursday 18.30 – 19.30
07/12/23 29/02/24 Thursday 18.30 – 19.30
11/01/24 21/03/24 Thursday 18.30 – 19.30
11/04/24 30/05/05 Thursday 18.30 – 19.30

Structured Classes and Open Fencing

Thursdays are devoted to group classes for intermediate fencers from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm with open fencing to follow until 9 pm. Coaches are available at their discretion for private lessons throughout this time.

This class teaches advanced attacks, counter-attacks, and other important foil skills to make the fencer more knowledgeable about the variety of actions performed while fencing. Furthermore, the student is taught situational tactics and when to apply these skills. The class builds muscle memory within the individual fencer so that actions become faster and more instinctive.

8-week course for Intermediates

Location: St.Conleth`s College, Clyde Rd, Ballsbridge

Start Date End Date Day Time
07/09/23 26/10/23 Thursday 19.30 – 21.00
09/11/23 18/01/24 Thursday 19.30 – 21.00
25/01/24 09/05/24 Thursday 19.30 – 21.00
11/04/24 30/05/24 Thursday 19.30 – 21.00
The price for this course is €170
Equipment is provided

NEW!!! SUMMER COURSES IN JULY and AUGUST!!!

The course will start on Thursday the 18th of July at 7.30 pm and finishes on the 29th of August.

Venue: Christ Church, Sandymount, D04VW68

Price: €160

Gear: provided

Available private lessons

The club will be closed on Halloween from 30th October to 5th November, at Christmas break from 22nd December to 9th January, during February midterm break from 12th February to 17th February, and on Easter break from 24th March to 6th April.

Please note that the hall is not available on the 27th, 28th, and 30th of November due to House Exams and in January no classes on the 18th and 25th of January.

The fencing gym is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays for fencing practice and private lessons.

Advanced classes are for teens over the age of 14 and adult fencers. This class focuses on all of the basic fencing techniques and strategies while providing a great environment for our older fencers to learn the sport. It is never too late to start fencing!

Tuesdays: 20.00-22.00 (foil & epee) and Thursdays: 19.30-21.30 (foil & epee), Venue: St.Conleth`s College, Clyde Road, D-4

Sundays: 11.30-13.30 (foil & epee), Venue: Dalkey Loreto Sports Hall, Loreto Avenue, off Harbour Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin.

Private Lessons are an important part of a fencer`s training.

One to one lessons with Fencing Master is the ultimate experience of fencing training. The Master will be working individually with you and if there is one, your fencing partner.

Private lessons are the ideal way to advance your fencing skills, create muscle memory, and get individualised instruction and mentoring. Also, if you plan to miss a class session, a private lesson would be the best way to make up that class session.

We are pleased to offer private fencing tuition addressing aspects of your individual fencing style, skill and fitness. One to one lessons are the ultimate experience of fencing training and it is recommended that any fencer should have at least one lesson a month. If you compete, it should be 1-2 lessons a week.

Private Lesson Policies

  • Private Lessons are by appointment only and should be scheduled directly with your coach.
  • Arrive for lessons on time and be ready at the scheduled lesson time. If a fencer is going to be late for any reason the coach must be contacted directly by a personal cell phone.
  • If you are unable to attend a scheduled lesson, it is your responsibility to contact your coach directly by personal cell phone or email 24 hours in advance to reschedule the lesson time/date. Cancellations without 24 hours notice are subject to payment for the scheduled lesson.
  • All coaches may be reached directly via personal cell phone or email.
  • Payment is due to your coach for each private lesson, in advance, or at the time of the lesson. Your Coach will accept cash and a cheque at lesson time. Forgetting to pay for a lesson is very insulting.
  • Once a lesson is scheduled the fencer is financially responsible for that lesson fee.
  • Club members & currently enrolled students have priority for lesson times. Lessons for non-members will be scheduled as time allows.
  • The fee for a private lesson with our Master of Arms is as follows: 60 minutes – €70,  30 minutes – €35.
  • Lesson Cards Pembroke Fencing Club offers lesson cards for purchase in blocks of six lessons.

Do private lessons really make a difference?

This is a question the coach gets asked a lot by parents, but there is no general, one-size-fits-all answer.  The short answer is yes, private lessons will make a significant difference.  That said, there are many factors to consider before committing to private lessons.  They require effort, time, commitment, money, and an idea of the desired outcome.

When your child is just starting out, we suggest participating in a group class initially.  This will give the student a feel for the sport, establish camaraderie, and boost confidence among peers to achieve difficult skills.

But once your child becomes bitten by the “fencing bug” and wants to compete or move up a level, one-on-one lessons with an experienced coach can be invaluable.

It’s not only a matter of private lessons improving your child’s fencing skill set – it’s also about how much faster your child will grow as a fencer.

For example, we took a look at a group of young fencers in one of our classes.  It was amazing to see the difference between those who were taking private lessons in addition to the class and those who weren’t.  The private lesson participants moved to the top of the group and into the next level TWICE as fast!

In another case, we saw two friends (same age, same athletic ability) who started the Beginner Fencing Class at the same time.  After two months, one decided to take private lessons, the other didn’t.  The results were astonishing:  The child taking the private lessons moved into another level at a much more rapid pace.

Getting one-on-one attention will show your child the correct way to handle the foil or epee to give him or her the highest advantage.  During one-on-one lessons, coaches will also give your child individualised exercises and drills that will strengthen the muscles they need to excel in fencing.

In a private lesson, a fencer and coach can work on the tiny details of each technical element:   from the simple basics such as a straight touch to more advanced combinations of complex movements such as multiple parries and attacks.  All these elements are executed in private lessons over and over again and again until they are a natural part of the student’s repertoire.

Instructors will also show the student how to develop his or her own approach and style.  Coaches can help fencers discover what strengths they have and what techniques work best for them.  A coach can also help the student pinpoint their weaknesses on the strip and develop a strategy to counteract them.  Having his or her own style is the mark of a masterful fencer.

Additionally, private lessons allow coaches to customise the learning for the skill level and individuality of the fencer.  Working one-on-one will enable the coach to spot weaknesses in technique more quickly and help the fencer work through them faster than in a group setting.  One-on-one lessons give the coach the time they need to break down and critique each movement for the individual fencer so that he or she learns the precise way to fence.  It can make the difference between being a decent fencer and a fantastic one!

Can your child progress without the benefit of private lessons? 

Of course, they can!

It is pure human nature to mimic each other.  That’s how we learn!  When we fence with advanced fencers, we tend to repeat and copy their moves or elements to some degree – especially children, who do this on a more instinctive level rather than a cerebral one.

By attending a class with more advanced fencers, children new to the sport will experience a subtle and natural form of learning through imitation during the exercises and bouting.  The problem with this process of learning is that mimicking behavior can only go so far – the student may see the movements of the advanced fencer, but miss the subtleties of the technique.  Or they may learn an incorrect method or bad habit.  Unfortunately in group lessons, there are many fencers so the coach cannot fix every mistake that occurs.  These habits then become ingrained in the fencer and are difficult to unlearn later on.  After all, it’s easier to learn a new good habit than to unlearn a bad one!

This is why we stress that fencers who want to compete need the benefit of private lessons.  Nearly all competitive fencers around the world incorporate private lessons into their regular weekly training routine.  Often fencers will take additional private lessons before an important competition to prepare themselves.

Private lessons do require added time and expense, so we suggest that you don’t engage in them unless you or your child is serious about the sport and wants to make this obligation.  We recommend that you discuss how private lessons can be incorporated into your training with your club coach.

Bottom line:  Private lessons are well worth the time and commitment.  They will help the fencer improve at a much more rapid pace while developing their own style and technique.  Private lessons are the key to turning a satisfactory fencer into a dynamite one.

First of all, congratulations on your choice! The voucher will entitle your friend either to take part in one of our beginners’ classes or to have 2 hours of individual fencing lessons, or have 2 hours of individual lessons combined with 2 hours of practical fencing sessions when they’ll fence with the members of our Club. The voucher will be emailed to you as a PDF file, so you could print it out and present to your friend. Then they will contact us to finalise the details (the times of the lessons or the starting date of the class).

  • beginners’ classes, 8-week course – €160
  • 2 hours of individual fencing lessons – €120
  • 2 hours of individual lessons combined with 2 hours of practical fencing sessions – €200
  • 1 hour of individual fencing lesson – €60

Opening Hours

Monday 6 pm – 9 pm
Tuesday 6 pm  – 10 pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 5.30 pm – 9.30 pm
Friday Closed
Saturday Closed
Sunday 11.30 am – 1.30 pm