Children's Fencing at La Spada Nimica

How Old Should A Child Be Before Learning To Fence?

For children, fencing demands a lot, presenting many of the same challenges as those posed by piano lessons. Students must be able to concentrate for a protracted period, tolerate repeated frustration and be willing to indulge in seemingly endless repetition. Added to this, they must be physically coordinated, have good balance and possess an uncommon sense of timing and depth perception. It is important to appreciate that while fencing may cultivate these attributes, it doesn't create them. On average, children are ready to benefit from fencing lessons by the age of twelve years.

In deciding whether their children are physically and mentally ready to deal with the challenges of learning to fence, parents should know that there are some fencing teachers who will take pupils at any age, put weapons in their hands and turn them loose to flail aimlessly about without rhyme or reason. What they present as a fencing "program" is little more than children's day care with a fencing theme. Teachers like these are the modern-day counterparts to fencing masters of dubious repute who, long ago were willing, for a sufficiently large sum of money, to reveal to trusting, gullible students their "secret thrusts."

If your child is under twelve years of age, but you nevertheless believe he or she is ready to meet the challenges posed by learning to fence, you may make an appointment for an introductory lesson. Come prepared to remain present and observe the lesson in its entirety so that you may better appreciate the level of difficulty your son or daughter will be facing, and whether they are up to the challenge.

Thirteen year-olds Aaron Todd and Claire Martin cross blades at
La Spada Nemica's annual barbeque in Mill Valley.

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	Fencing for Young People
		How Old Should A Child Be Before Learning To Fence? For children, fencing demands a lot, presenting many of the same challenges as those posed by piano lessons. Students must be able to concentrate for a protracted period, tolerate repeated frustration and be willing to indulge in seemingly endless repetition. Added to this, they must be physically coordinated, have good balance and possess an uncommon sense of timing and depth perception. It is important to appreciate that while fencing may cultivate these attributes, it doesn't create them. On average, children are ready to benefit from fencing lessons by the age of twelve years. In deciding whether their children are physically and mentally ready to deal with the challenges of learning to fence, parents should know that there are some fencing teachers who will take pupils at any age, put weapons in their hands and turn them loose to flail aimlessly about without rhyme or reason. What they present as a fencing "program" is little more than children's day care with a fencing theme. Teachers like these are the modern-day counterparts to fencing masters of dubious repute who, long ago were willing, for a sufficiently large sum of money, to reveal to trusting, gullible students their "secret thrusts." If your child is under twelve years of age, but you nevertheless believe he or she is ready to meet the challenges posed by learning to fence, you may make an appointment for an introductory lesson. Come prepared to remain present and observe the lesson in its entirety so that you may better appreciate the level of difficulty your son or daughter will be facing, and whether they are up to the challenge. Thirteen year-olds Aaron Todd and Claire Martin cross blades at La Spada Nemica's annual barbeque in Mill Valley. Return to Information Directory