TFC 50th Anniversary

About Tidewater Fencing Club

Tidewater Fencing Club was founded in 1972 and continues to be a non-profit, community fencing club today. TFC is open to anyone eight years of age or older, and no fencing experience is necessary. As a member club of USA Fencing, TFC members engage in the sport of Olympic-style fencing with two weapons to choose from: foil or epee. The club offers beginner classes starting at the beginning of each month, holidays permitting. A more detailed calendar is available on our Schedule page, and the details of our classes and member activities are available on our Class Info page.

Our Mission

Tidewater Fencing Club was founded in 1972 and continues to be a non-profit, community fencing club today. Our mission is to introduce people to the Olympic sport of fencing in a fun and safe manner while maintaining a positive and congenial social atmosphere. We strive to provide accessible fencing programs for athletes of all ages and skill levels, and believe in the power of fencing to foster discipline, teamwork, and personal growth,

Activities

Tidewater Fencing Club offers regular open-fencing nights, provides beginner and intermediate classes, and one on one private instruction.  Our members compete locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Non Profit

Tidewater Fencing Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax deductible, organization run by a number of dedicated officers and class instructors with assistance from a five-person board of trustees. All of these people are volunteers.

All class fees and membership dues are used to operate and improve the club and its programs for the benefit of the participants.

Tidewater Fencing Club is a member club of USA Fencing, which is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Payment Policies

Accepted forms of payment: cash, check, or credit card.

Discounts are available for membership dues and class fees; refer to the relevant pages for more information.

Refund Policy

All payments for club membership dues or class/camp fees are final – NO REFUNDS!

In the case of unforeseen circumstances beyond the customer’s control, such as sudden schedule conflicts or health problems after starting a class or attending open fencing in a given month, the club may offer a credit towards a future class or month of club dues at the discretion of the officers of the club.

NO credit shall be extended to anyone that starts a class, camp, or open fencing and then chooses to stop because he/she does not wish to continue!

CLUB RULES

Requirements

  1. Only members of the club in good standing are allowed to use club equipment and participate in fencing at club events (i.e. pay your dues or class fees, and keep your USA Fencing membership up to date!).
  2. Each member must wear appropriate clothing. Please see our Equipment page for details.
  3. Any fencers with long hair must have it tied back.
  4. Each member should bring a bottle of water or sports drink.
  5. Each member should also bring a fun, positive attitude!

Safety Rules

  1. Halt means stop! When an instructor says halt or stop everyone must stop what they are doing.
  2. Masks ON: when using blades for anything everyone must wear their masks.
  3. Tips down: when holding a blade keep the tip pointed at the floor until told to use it.
  4. No running, jumping, or falling down while holding a blade.
  5. Blades shall only be used to hit allowed practice targets or people wearing the proper protective clothing and mask.
  6. Do not hit opponents with anything other than the blade, and only with the proper part of the blade (the tip of the blade for foil and epee, or the blade itself for sabre).
  7. Do not throw the blades or any other equipment unless instructed to do so (for example, drills that require the students to throw their fencing gloves).
  8. No wild or malicious actions, with or without the blade.
  9. Do not lean on the blades or try to bend them by hand.

Conduct Rules

  1. No talking or horseplay during instruction or fencing.
  2. No bad sportsmanship.
  3. Always put fencing equipment away in its proper place.
  4. No yelling or screaming, except in the case of an emergency.

Failure to follow these rules will result in temporary or even permanent dismissal from Tidewater Fencing Club!