September 28, 2013July 22, 2018 reddoorfencing About Red Door Fencing

Come Fence With Us!

Red Door Fencing, located in Des Moines’ historic East Village, is an epee club that promotes competitive and recreational fencing by providing quality instruction, a safe and supportive training environment, and fostering personal growth and community engagement.

We offer beginner classes, lessons, and training for children, teens, and adults. Our fencers compete in local, regional, and national tournaments, and we host additional educational opportunities (referee seminars, coaching workshops, fencing/training camps, etc.) and tournaments.

We are an affiliate member of USA Fencing, the national governing body for the sport in the U.S., and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Latest News:

January 21, 2020January 21, 2020 reddoorfencing Events

Lots of Improvement at Coaching Clinic with Gary Copeland Last Weekend

Last weekend, RDF hosted a coaching clinic led by Gary Copeland of Northern Colorado Fencers. We had 8 coaches from RDF, the Des Moines Fencing Club, the Lincoln Fencing Club, and the Omaha Fencing Club brave the blizzard and single-digit temperatures to attend, as well as quite a few student volunteers who gamely took lesson after lesson during the two-and-a-half day workshop.

Thank you to everyone who participated. We saw lots of learning and improvement, which will translate to raising the level of the sport in the Midwest. As always, we’re grateful to Gary for sharing his feedback and expertise!

January 11, 2020January 11, 2020 reddoorfencing Tournament Results

RDF E & Under Results

Today, we held an E & Under tournament at the club. (“E” is the first level of classification or rating a fencer can earn in USA Fencing’s system [the highest being “A”], and is a rough approximation of skill/experience.) This means entries are limited to fencers who have an E rating or are unrated (U).

Five of our fencers competed; Daniel A. earned the silver medal, Lance tied for 3rd, Alex was 5th, Selathiel came in 13th in his first real (sanctioned) tournament, and Weston finished 14th. We saw a lot of close bouts, good sportsmanship, and nice fencing.

Thank you to all of the fencers, families, referees, and coaches from around Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota who came out and made it a great event! Special congratulations to Srikanth, from the Omaha Fencing Club, who earned his E20 rating!

Full results: https://askfred.net/Results/results.php?tournament_id=45786

If you’re curious about how ratings/classifications work, here’s a chart: https://askfred.net/Info/eventClass.php

January 5, 2020January 5, 2020 reddoorfencing Tournament Results

January NAC Results

To kick off a new year of tournaments, Sarah fenced at the January North American Cup in Charlotte, NC yesterday. She was 3-3 in round 1 pools, which was good enough to make the cut into the first round of direct eliminations. However, she lost her direct elimination match 15-14 and finished 134th of 199. Full results: https://www.usafencing.org/2020-jan-nac-results

December 22, 2019 reddoorfencing Tournament Results

Yu Challenge Results

Yesterday, Kalina competed in the Yu Challenge at the Peoria Fencing Academy in Illinois. She won the gold medal in Y8 mixed epee and tied for bronze in Y10. This was also her first time traveling for a tournament.

Results: https://askfred.net/Results/results.php?tournament_id=44797

December 14, 2019December 15, 2019 reddoorfencing Tournament Results

December Youth Tournament Results

We held our December youth tournament today at the club, and 13 of our fencers competed in the epee events. In the 12 & Under group, Jack and Graham tied for 3rd, Ben R. was 5th, Atticus came in 6th (in his first tournament), Chantal finished 7th, Kalina was 9th, and Ben S. came in 10th (also his first tournament). In 19 & Under, Evan won the gold medal, Alex took silver, Weston tied for 3rd, Selathiel was 6th (in his first tournament), Jazz came in 8th, and Campbell finished 9th (also his first tournament). We were joined by several fencers from area clubs, and we also ran a foil and saber event.

Thanks to all who came! We especially appreciate our those who helped out with refereeing and photography duties! Our next tournament with youth events is the Equinox Epee the last weekend in March.

Full results: https://askfred.net/Results/results.php?tournament_id=45262

December 9, 2019December 10, 2019 reddoorfencing Tournament Results

ISU Cantaloupe Results

Yesterday, four of our fencers competed at Iowa State University Fencing Club’s Cantaloupe Open. In Mixed Epee, Daniel took 8th place, Sarah was 9th, Weston came in 23rd, and Jazz finished 25th at his first senior age category event. Sarah also won Women’s Epee and a cantaloupe!

Full results: https://askfred.net/Results/results.php?tournament_id=45231

November 30, 2019December 10, 2019 reddoorfencing Events

RDF to Host Coaching Clinic with Gary Copeland

RDF is pleased to announce we’re hosting a coaching clinic led by Gary Copeland!

Gary is founder and head coach of Northern Colorado Fencers since 1979. He has coached more than 800 U.S. national competition finalists (1st-8th place) since 1988, including 46 individual U.S. national champions, 14 U.S. national team champions, and 64 junior and cadet World champions and Pan-American team positions. Gary was named 1999 U.S. Olympic Committee Fencing Coach of the Year and has served as U.S. National Team coach on more than 20 U.S. national teams.

Here’s the details:

Saturday, January 18th – Monday, January 20th, 2020
Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 5pm with a break for lunch
Monday: 10am – 1pm

Cost: $100

Camp is open to coaches looking to improve their epee coaching skills. Bring a student with you (no charge for students)!

November 25, 2019November 25, 2019 reddoorfencing Uncategorized

RDF Holiday Shop

We’re please to announce that we’ve opened an online store where you can buy RDF-branded t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies just in time for the holidays! The order deadline is Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, and items will be available for pickup at the club during our regular hours starting on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

November 9, 2019November 10, 2019 reddoorfencing Tournament Results

Jack-O-Lantern Tournament Results

Today, 8 RDF fencers competed at the Jack-O-Lantern Tournament hosted by the Des Moines Fencing Club.

In unsanctioned Y12 Mixed Epee, Jack narrowly defeated Graham to win the gold medal, Graham – who won all of his 5-point bouts – took the silver, Chantal and Ben tied for 3rd, and Kalina was 5th of 6. It was the first tournament for Chantal and Kalina (the youngest fencer), who both overcame some nerves, fenced well, and learned a lot. Ben stayed focused and didn’t give up and won his first 15-point bout 15-14.

Later, in Open Mixed Epee, Daniel fenced clubmate Weston in the first round, then went on to upset clubmate Carl and an opponent from DMFC before his 15-14 loss to an Iowa State fencer in the final. He finished with a silver medal, Carl was 5th, and Weston was 10th of 16.

Thanks to DMFC for providing this good opportunity to compete locally!

Full results: https://askfred.net/Results/results.php?tournament_id=44968

Carl and Daniel fence at the Jack-o-lantern Tournament in West Des Moines

November 6, 2019December 22, 2019 reddoorfencing Tournament Results

Glitter Open Results

Last Sunday, Rilee, Cheryl, and Sarah fenced in the Glitter Open tournament at the Iowa City Fencing Center. In Women’s Epee, Sarah earned the silver medal, Cheryl tied for 3rd, and Rilee was 9th. It was Rilee’s first real, sanctioned tournament outside the club and she gained some valuable experience learning to adapt to fencers she’s never seen before.

Full results: https://askfred.net/Results/results.php?tournament_id=44383

red door fencing

February 2020 Youth Beginner Fencing Registration