From Robert J. Weese, Head Coach
Build A Fencing Club and Watch Them Come...
For more than 22 years I coached fencing in Scarborough at Variety Village and then at the Toronto Fencing Club. During that time people kept asking; "why isn’t there a fencing club in the Durham Region. We don’t want to fight traffic driving into Toronto."
In 2006 shortly after moving to the area I approached the Town of Ajax department of recreation and pitched the idea of starting a fencing program. Carol and I bought 8 complete sets of beginner fencing equipment and the first program was launched.
The program director for the town cautioned us that it may take 2 or 3 sessions before we generate enough interested in fencing to make the program successful. So imagine our surprise that day in August 2006 when the first fencing class sold out in 10 minutes and we had over 30 more kids on a wait list wanting to sign on.
We immediately purchased 4 more sets of equipment and the Ajax Fencing Club was born. Once word got out that we had a fencing program, teenagers and adults started to ask for their own classes? By year 3 we had over 60 fencers crowded into a banquet hall every Wednesday evening learning how to advance, retreat, parry and lunge.
We quickly found more local coaches, a new venue and we now have training programs Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 from September to June. During the summer we offer a class on Thursday nights. Each year over 300 new fencers join our Learn To Fence programs.
Looking to the future...
Fencing in the Durham Region is growing and we will continue to offer more programs as the club expands and the level of training increases. We now have fencers representing the club at the provincial, national and international level. We also have lots of fencers who just come out for the recreational enjoyment of the sport. The club has a solid reputation and many of our students have gone on to win provincial and national championships.
Visitors are welcome...
If you are looking for a great place to fence and meet new people, or if you would like to come and see the club in action, then we look forward to meeting you soon. Please select "PROGRAMS" from the navigation bar to learn about classes for beginner fencers or experienced fencers looking for new opportunities to fence locally.
For more than 22 years I coached fencing in Scarborough at Variety Village and then at the Toronto Fencing Club. During that time people kept asking; "why isn’t there a fencing club in the Durham Region. We don’t want to fight traffic driving into Toronto."
In 2006 shortly after moving to the area I approached the Town of Ajax department of recreation and pitched the idea of starting a fencing program. Carol and I bought 8 complete sets of beginner fencing equipment and the first program was launched.
The program director for the town cautioned us that it may take 2 or 3 sessions before we generate enough interested in fencing to make the program successful. So imagine our surprise that day in August 2006 when the first fencing class sold out in 10 minutes and we had over 30 more kids on a wait list wanting to sign on.
We immediately purchased 4 more sets of equipment and the Ajax Fencing Club was born. Once word got out that we had a fencing program, teenagers and adults started to ask for their own classes? By year 3 we had over 60 fencers crowded into a banquet hall every Wednesday evening learning how to advance, retreat, parry and lunge.
We quickly found more local coaches, a new venue and we now have training programs Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 from September to June. During the summer we offer a class on Thursday nights. Each year over 300 new fencers join our Learn To Fence programs.
Looking to the future...
Fencing in the Durham Region is growing and we will continue to offer more programs as the club expands and the level of training increases. We now have fencers representing the club at the provincial, national and international level. We also have lots of fencers who just come out for the recreational enjoyment of the sport. The club has a solid reputation and many of our students have gone on to win provincial and national championships.
Visitors are welcome...
If you are looking for a great place to fence and meet new people, or if you would like to come and see the club in action, then we look forward to meeting you soon. Please select "PROGRAMS" from the navigation bar to learn about classes for beginner fencers or experienced fencers looking for new opportunities to fence locally.