When can I start competing?

Our training program is set up so that when students are at the level that they are ready to start competing, they are promoted to the intermediate level classes. At this point, we have determined that the student has sufficient basic technical skills to compete in a manner that is safe for them and for their fellow students. We will occasionally host tournaments specifically for beginning level students. However at the beginner level, students rarely have the gear that is needed for competition and haven’t learned sufficient fencing basics in order to compete successfully.

How are fencing competitions set up?

Events are held by age, based on the year of the competitor’s birth. This way, a 10 year old fencer does not have to face a 16 year old fencer. You will need to check the current Age Class Eligibility chart at USA Fencing to see what events your student is eligible to compete in (or check our section in the Competition Info Section).

Proficiency Levels?

Events are held by age, not by proficiency level. In other words, there is no beginner level event versus an advanced level event for a 12 year old. Instead, the proficiency level of the competition depends more on the TYPE of competition that is being held.

At the most basic level are our in-class tournaments, which begin at intermediate level classes. These tournaments are held in class, have no requirements (other than that you are a member of that class.) There is no distinction by age or gender in these tournaments. A competitive USA Fencing membership is NOT required. These tournaments are where we start teaching the protocols and rules of competition. The results help the instructors (and students) understand how they are progressing.

The next level are in-house tournaments. These tournaments are for WFA students only, but each event is based on the age of the student the way all higher level tournaments are. This means that a 14 year old student who has just entered the intermediate class could face a 14 year old student that has been at the at level for 2-4 years already. Our monthly practice tournaments (beginning in September, 2022) fall under this category. A competitive USA Fencing membership is NOT required, but we do suggest that students are at the intermediate level or just about to transition into the intermediate level classes. Advanced beginners should ask their instructor if they are ready to compete. These tournaments are designed to get students comfortable with competition, so that when they move onto higher levels of competition they feel ready and know what to expect.

Local level tournaments are held at WFA or other fencing schools in the area. A Competitive USA Fencing Membership IS required for these tournaments, and you need to have your own equipment. Events are based on birth year, and sometimes by gender. These are great “entry level” tournaments that let students compete against people they don’t regularly fence with. These tournaments may have restrictions based on the rank that the fencer has achieved.

Regional level tournaments include the RYC (regional youth circuit), RJCC (regional junior and cadet circuit), and ROC (regional open circuit). A Competitive USA Fencing Membership (or international equivalent) is required to compete at this level, as is owning and maintaining your own competitive equipment. At this level, competitors are receiving points to establish their ranking within the region for the different event categories. Events at this level and above are separated by age and by gender, and sometimes the rank that has been achieved by the fencer. We are in Region 1, which includes the states of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Most tournaments at this level are held in Seattle, Bellevue, or the Portland, OR area.

National level tournaments include the SYC (super youth circuit), SJCC (super junior & cadet circuit), and NACs (North America Cup). A Competitive USA Fencing Membership (or international equivalent) is required to compete at this level, as is owning and maintaining your own competitive equipment. Travel to other places within the US is nearly always required. At this level, competitors are obtaining National level points to establish their ranking within the entirety of the US for a given event.

National Championships. These are just what they sound like…the culmination of competition within the US for a given event. They include the Summer Nationals and July Challenge (for youth, senior, and veteran competitors) and the Junior Olympics (for Cadet and Junior competitors). Competitors must qualify in order to compete, and may do so by acquiring a certain number of regional or national points, or by qualifying at specific events. At this level, there are strict regulations on the quality of protective gear required for competition.

International Tournaments. These include a wide range of tournaments throughout the globe, including the World Championships and the Olympics. The highest quality of protective gear (N1800) is required, and participants must qualify in order to compete.

My kid really wants to compete. Can I jump ahead and just sign up?

There is nothing to stop you from doing this. However, we strongly discourage this for a few reasons. If your student is still at the beginner level, they haven’t learned the competition basics at all yet. They do not know how to hook up to the electrical system. They do not know what the protocols are, such as when to salute, who to salute to. They haven’t been introduced to the rules yet and can get yellow and red cards and have no idea why they are being penalized. And most importantly, if they are still at the beginner level, they likely do not have the basic techniques ingrained enough to make them successful at competing. Instead, their natural reflexes and tendencies are likely to teach them the WRONG way to fence.

What do you mean by “successfully compete?”

Competition is not necessarily about winning. It is about learning your strengths and weaknesses so that you can progress in training. A student competes successfully when they know what to expect at a tournament. When they can effectively show the proper technique for attacks and defenses. When they can find what they are doing well and what they need to work on. When they understand the rules and can test their training. If a student is not ready to compete, the entire experience will be overwhelming and frustrating. It does not make them want to continue fencing. A successful competition will be one at which their proficiency is tested appropriately and they are able to use the competition to further their fencing journey. It is important that students compete at the appropriate level and with the appropriate support.

We are ready to compete, what all do we need?

If you or your student are ready to take the plunge into competing outside of the WFA, then you will need to do the following:

First, talk to Coach Mark or Coach Angie and let them know. They will help you to understand what you should do to prepare yourself for the tournament and help identify the best tournaments for you. They will also know if a coach will be on hand at the tournament to help coach the student through their event.

Second, they will need a full set of competition gear, including the lame, multiple swords and cords, and an FIE approved electric glove (see our Gear section for more information; an electric cuff is not allowed).

Finally, they will need a Competitive Membership with USA Fencing. Go to the USA Fencing web page and purchase or upgrade your membership if you have not already done so. The membership is good for the season, and will expire on July 31 of each year.

I pay for monthly membership at WFA, isn’t that enough?

Unfortunately, no. Your monthly dues make you a member of WFA. USA Fencing is the national organization for fencers in the USA, and as such, you must be a competitive member of USA Fencing to compete in any events that are sanctioned by USA Fencing (even if it is being held at WFA). Your USA Fencing membership number will stay with you whether you are a member of WFA, or if you move across the country. It is independent of your membership with the WFA! You must sign up through USA Fencing.

What can we do to prepare?

First and foremost, TRAIN! Come to class. Schedule some private lesson so that you can work on specifically what you need or on things that are specific to competition. Attend open fencing sessions where you practice competing. Read the info in our Regional Team section so that you understand points and ranking and the best way to prepare for a tournament. Talk to your instructor.

How do we find tournaments?

We have a schedule of local, regional, and national events at the base of the stairs to the gym.

In class tournaments are held on the last Friday class of the month. You do not need to sign up for these, you just need to show up (on time) for class.

Beginning in September of 2022, we are holding In-House tournaments on the first Saturday of the month, and we will cycle through the various events. You can find these events on your event calendar when you log into your account or on the Tournament Schedule page. Sign up online using the calendar, the same way you reserve a spot in class. Registration closes at the start of the tournament, so you can register at the door. The mobile app does not currently support registering for events, so you will need to log into your account online.

For local level tournaments, sign up on AskFred.net. This is the Fencing Results and Events Database. Registration is free. When you initially register, you ca provide the following information: we are in Region 1, Western Washington Division, and your school is Washington Fencing Academy. To search for tournaments, we suggest narrowing your search to be within a certain distance of Seattle, and the weapon is saber.

For regional and national level tournaments, go to www.usafencing.org. Regional and National schedules are available at their site under the events tab. To register or search for tournaments, go to the “register online” link under the events tab.

If you do register for a tournament, please let us know!

Can I borrow gear from the WFA to compete?

For in-class and in-house tournaments, we are happy to help you with equipment you may not have acquired yet. We have lame, cords, and electric masks on hand, as well as a bunch of electric cuffs to mimic electric gloves (though we strongly urge you to purchase your own set of cords, which are available at the WFA!). This gear is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For tournaments at the local level and beyond, you are required to have your own gear. The gear that we keep at the WFA is primarily for training, and it goes through a lot of abuse—multiple students and multiple classes weekly. We can not guarantee that any of it will pass inspection at the tournament due to the heavy use that it goes through. If you are missing a single item, talk to us, and we will see what we can do, but plan on having a full complement of competition gear in order to compete outside of the school.

Where can I get more information?

We hold informational sessions either by zoom or in person each year. These will give you the opportunity to ask questions.

Head to the Competition Info section of our web page and read the information there.

Access the Athlete Handbook at USA Fencing. It’s long, but it has all of the rules for competition—from required gear to what techniques are allowed to how to get points and how to qualify for higher level competitions.

Talk to your instructor. You might need to set up an appointment if you have a lot of questions. We want to make sure that you are well informed, but if you are asking us between classes we might have a limited amount of time to answer all of your questions.

Talk to other parents who have students that compete. They will have a wealth of information from the parent perspective that we might not think to pass along as coaches. See if their students are attending the tournament that you are looking at. Tournaments are more fun if there are people there you know!