Private Lessons

Policy, good habits, etiquette and process.

I’m glad to see some of you are interested in private lessons.

Click Here to fill out the Sign Up Form.

Please read the below, but If you have any questions, feel free to call 240 462 2161.

Use this area to ask any theoretical and/or tactical questions you may develop during a lesson.

Plan to be at the club after 7pm, and at least for two hours around your preferred lesson slot. Unfortunately, I have to reserve the right to be reasonably late due to DC traffic and the day job. If that is the case, just start your work-out as described below. I’ll do my best to accomodate re-arranging lesson times if asked to, people attending school will have priority.

Fees as listed here are due on the first of the month, or the day of the lesson if you have not signed up for an on-going plan.

If you want a good return on your investment and make your fencing more fun in general, develop these work-out habits:

Warm up.

• Heart-rate should be between 105% to 120% of normal, and you should have broken a sweat. Jogging, grapevines, the coordination exercises, etc…
• Stretch. Most important are hamstrings, the yawning dog and lunge. Shoulder stretches are useful too.
• Hit the wall target a few times: straight extension, with a step+control touch and with lunge+control touch from within the lunge. All at their appropriate distances. The sooner you know where you can hit from, the sooner you can get into fun stuff like beat attacks and counter-time interception. This should just be part of your warm-up.

If I am not present yet, or working with another student, warm-up and fence! Feel free to ask anyone around if they would like a bout, find a free strip a go at it! Once I am available, I will wave you down ASAP. Normally, it is quite rude to stop a bout you agreed to fence to a number before it’s over. The only exceptions are if you’re injured, your equipment fails or the coach invites you for a lesson.

Get ready.

• Wear a jacket and glove. You can take a lesson wearing shorts or athletic pants, but you cannot fence in anything other than full gear! This is DCFC safety policy and it is a good one.
• Have your weapon and mask in hand. Plug your body cord into the weapon and put the other end into a pocket, or remove it. You can take the lesson without a body cord. We do not want it dangling around your hand and getting in the way.

Begin the lesson.

• Find an open strip, face each other
• Put mask into your unarmed hand and salute with the weapon.
• Put mask on, this is the point where the lesson begins.

In general, we will start with fundamental basics, and build on them. They will be based on a set of touches and/or preparatory actions. That is called a “phrase”. After one phrase, you should end up in on-guard position without fidgeting and be ready. A kitten dies every time I have to remind you to get on-guard! I will monitor your fatigue and we will rest for a few seconds to catch a breath. Usually this happens when a set of phrases changes.

Once I take my mask off and salute, you should also take the mask off, salute and shake hands with the unarmed hand. The lesson is completed.