Monash University
Fencing Club

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find the Monash Fencing Club?

Our training area is in the back of the Martial Arts Hall, in the Sports and Recreation buildings at the Monash Uni Clayton Campus. On Tuesdays during semester you can also find us in the Games Hall, which is where we run group classes.
Melways Ref 475, building 1. Map to the Fencing Club

How do I contact you?

You can just show up at our training sessions at any time, or alternatively:
E-mail someone on the club committee, their addresses are listed on the contacts page.
Drop a note into our mailbox, near the front desk in the Sports and Rec building.
Send mail by post to the snail-mail address on the contacts page.

When do you train?

We train Tuesday and Thursday Nights, 7pm-10pm.

What is you training format?

7-7:30 is group warm-up and stretching exercises. You don't have to warm-up with the group if you don't want to, but you do have to do some form of adequate warm-up.
7:30-8:30 is group drills. For the first 8 weeks of semester on Tuesdays this is when the Beginners Course is held. Senior fencers may participate in their own drills, or free bouting.
8:30-10:00 is free bouting, and individual lessons from the head coach on Tuesdays. Put your name down on the lesson list to get your turn.
Club competitions are also organised for some dates, usually Thursdays.

If you are using club equipment make sure you put it away before you go home. If you're feeling social, we often go out for a bite to eat after training.

How do I join?

Come along to one of our training sessions, pay your membership fee, and join in. It's that simple!
If you're a student at Monash you can also sign up at our table during O-week and club weeks.

How much does it cost?

Basic membership is $45 for students, $55 for staff, $125 for graduates, and $135 for general members of the public. A $5 discount applies if you pay your membership by the first week of semester.
This membership means you can train with us, be on the club mailing list, get coaching, use some of the club equipment, etc. for the rest of the year in which you join. Sorry, one membership rate only, we don't off the cheapest rates around because we cater to special circumstances. Consider it a reward for joining early and fencing often.

The Beginners Course costs $20. If you've never fenced before you'll want to take this.
A Fencing Glove costs $22, this is the one piece of equipment we really recommend you buy.

Our second coach, Lisa, is not paid by the club so if you want individual lessons from her you should pay her directly.

Will I get to compete?

Yes. Monash members are often found at state comps, we run our own club comps, and fence at the Australian University Fencing Championships each year. You can borrow club equipment, we subsidise your VAFA affiliation, and the Tournament Officer will make sure you know all about it.

Do I have to compete?

No. If you just want to fence for fun, fitness and the social life then that's fine. Just tell the Tournament Officer to go away and hang around with the Social Officer.

I'm a really good fencer, will you give me free membership?

Nope. We'd love to have you as a member, but we're an egalitarian bunch and everyone pays their own way.

I have my own equipment, do I get a discount?

Nope. You membership covers all club expenses, of which equipment is only a part. We don't give people back their share of the subsidy for every other benefit they don't use either.

I'd like to visit and train with you sometime, is that allowed?

Yup, visiting fencers are always welcome. We do ask that you be a member of some fencing club, and you must have at least completed a Beginner Course or equivilent. If you need to use club equipment be prepared to pay a rental fee.

I've never fenced before, and don't know much about it. Can I "try before I buy"?

You can come to our training sessions and watch, and at least one of our members will be happy to show you the basics. However we can't let you fence without proper training, so if you want to actually fence you'll have to join up and take some lessons.

Can you build my new fence for me?

Do you have any idea how often we have to listen to those jokes? *Everybody* has said that before you, it 'aint funny anymore.

So what is fencing then?

It's a sport based on European sword play from the dueling era. For more info look at some of the links on the main page.

Does it hurt?

No. Not normally anyway. The blades are quite flexible and blunt, you may get the occassional bruise when someone misjudges distance or doesn't hit correctly but mostly you'll be unscathed.

Is it hard?

Yes and no. You'll pick up all the basic moves pretty quickly, but learning to use them well in a real bout and getting the hang of the tactics involved is something you can spend the rest of your life working on. Fencing is quite unlike any other sport, so everyone starts out as complete hacks, but you're all quite capable of learning it. You do need to practice though.

Do I need to be fit?

It helps of course, but when you first start out fitness isn't something you have to worry about too much. Fencing can be quite physically demanding, but it is also has plenty of places where you can conveniently take a break and get your breath back. To start with you'll stop regularly to listen to the coach, and as you train you'll build up your level of fitness and be able to fence for longer.

Do I have to wear the silly clothes?

What silly clothes? Oh, you don't like the breeches? You can train in track-pants if you like, but you will have to wear a protective jacket and mask. Breeches are only required for higher-level competitions, and really, you do get used to them.

I've signed up for the Beginners Course, now what?

Show up on time, in comfortable clothes that are suitable for a sport that involves stabbing people. We recommend track pants and T-shirt, and flat soled shoes. Sneakers are fine, tennis and squash shoes work particularly well. The club provides the necessary safety equipment.
Keeping a water bottle handy is also a good idea, and people with long hair should tie it back out of the way.

Do I have to buy equipment?

No. You will probably want to buy a fencing glove, but apart from that it's up to you. We do encourage people to buy their own stuff, just to take some of the pressure off club equipment, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to do so. But equipment is expensive, and as students we don't expect anyone to have to invest that much in a sport.

I've missed out on the Beginners Course, but I really want to learn to fence!

Well, We do occassionally run introductory workshops, and if there's enough interest there'll be another course in 2nd semester.
However you might as well come to our training sessions, join up, and get some individual lessons to bring you up to speed.

Do I really need lessons?

Yes. You can't learn fencing by trial and error, you'll just irritate your fencing partners by hacking and covering them in bruises and then no one will want to fence with you any more. You also need lessons to help you improve, constant practice will get you there slowly but lessons will let you do it in leaps and bounds, which is better for everyone concerned.

I want to practice theatrical fencing.

Well, at the moment we're only practicing sport fencing, but if a member wants to practice theatrical, historical or any other fencing style they're quite welcome to just so long as they meet the usual safety requirements. All you need is a partner, and you're sure to find a few folk curious enough to give it a try.