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Beginners

We are taking new students for beginner/introductory lessons by appointment – usually Saturday afternoons after the last class is over. We’ll spend about an hour running through the basics of footwork, movement, and bladework, getting suited up in the gear, and fencing a short match or “bout” with the coach. If you liked the intro lesson and want to keep fencing with us, we recommend signing up for a few 15-minute private lessons (we’ll email you the link to the online sign-up, but the general time blocks are on the schedule page) before joining in with the ongoing practice groups.

If you/your child started fencing with an after-school activity program, we recommend taking a few lessons before or concurrently with starting group practices so we as coaches can get a feel for where they’re at and what they’ve learned so far.

Membership

If you’ve never fenced before, are new to Des Moines, or are coming back to the sport after a hiatus, you are welcome to stop by during one of our regular practice times to see how things work at our club. 

If you decide you’d like to join, there are 2 options:
1) For $80 per month, an individual may attend as many age-appropriate practices as they wish and schedule up to four 15-minute private lessons. The lesson sign-up for the next month becomes available the last Monday evening of the month, and is first come, first serve.
2) Punch cards: $200 for 10 punches (as of Jan. 2026). Each practice or private lesson you attend is a punch. The punch cards were originally designed for summer, when people’s schedules tend to be more erratic, but we now use them year-round.

It works out that if you’re coming more than once a week, the membership is a better deal. Why more fencing for less money? Because you learn and gain experience faster, become a better fencer, and you’re a better training partner for the other fencers when you attend regularly!

We offer instruction in epee, one of the three Olympic fencing weapons (the others being foil and saber). We currently accept new students any time. We collect dues during the first week of practice each month, and we accept cash, check, or credit card.

Other Costs

Tournaments:

Tournament entry fees usually range from as little as $20 for smaller/local events, to upwards of $200 for national-level competitions.

Most people who want to fence in tournaments will need to join USA Fencing. USA Fencing membership is required for almost all the tournaments we attend outside the club, as well as some of the tournaments we host at the club. We encourage all of our fencers to compete at some level.

For new fencers, we recommend the Access level of membership, which is $34 for the ’24-’25 season and allows fencers to compete in local events (but not regional or national events – those listed as RYC, SYC, RJCC, ROC, or NAC). Regional or national-level competition requires a Competitive membership, which is $99 for the ’24-25 season. The Access membership can be upgraded during the season by paying the difference of the cost of the higher-level membership. The season runs Aug. 1-July 31. Additionally, membership purchased after April 1 of the season is also valid for the whole next season.

Equipment:

RDF provides some equipment for members’ use at no extra charge, but purchasing your own equipment is strongly recommended, once you decide what you like. We have more information available at the club, and coaches and more experienced fencers are always happy to help figure out what gear is right for you. It’s always much more comfortable to fence in your own personal gear rather than borrowing from the club.

Lessons

Day Camps, Clinics, and Special Events

Contact us or check the announcements on the home page.

Past Events:

January 14-15, 2021: Referee Seminar – $75 ($50 reimbursement for RDF members if you pass the exam!)

January 18-20, 2020: Coaching Workshop with Gary Copeland from NCF

July 29-30, 2017: Coaching Workshop with Gary Copeland from Northern Colorado Fencers

July 26-28, 2017: Youth Epee Day Camp with Gary Copeland from NCF

November 12, 2016: “Div 1.5” Training Event for D & Up Fencers – FREE!

May 2-3, 2015: Competitive Epee Camp with Gary Copeland from Northern Colorado Fencers

Sept. 13-14, 2014: Referee Clinic with Jon Moss – FREE for USA Fencing members (Iowa Division only), $75 for everyone else.

Floor fees (for non-members)

Cost: $20/day per person

Fencers visiting from out of town, please contact us. Floor fees are not charged for day camps, clinics, and special events.