Learn to fence in six weeks. Ages 7 to adult.
This is where beginners start. Twelve coached sessions take you from a first grip on an epee, the fencing sword, to a real bout, which is one fencer against one with a real score.
All club equipment provided. No experience necessary.
What happens when you tap through
- A first lesson runs about one hour, one time, with no obligation afterward.
- The next page explains what the hour covers and sends you to our booking system to pick a time and leave your contact details.
- All club equipment is provided for the lesson, so bring sneakers, athletic clothes, and a water bottle and nothing else.
- The first lesson is complimentary, so nothing is due for it. Training after it does have a cost, and the club states that cost in full on the page for whichever program you choose, before anything is due.
This cohort has started.
Registration for the Tuesday, September 1, 2026 cohort is closed. Email info@ncfboulder.com about the next one.
The September 2026 cohort
Twelve coached sessions, Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting Tuesday, September 1 at 4:30 PM. The last session is Thursday, October 8.
All club equipment is included for the full six weeks. Ages 7 and up, and no experience is needed.
This cohort starts on one date, and registration closes when the first session begins.
What is the Six-Week Fencing Challenge at NCF Boulder?
The Six-Week Fencing Challenge is NCF Boulder's structured introduction program: 12 coached sessions over six weeks, with all club equipment included. The September 2026 cohort runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from September 1 to October 8, starting at 4:30 PM. Sessions cover epee fundamentals - footwork, blade work, bouting basics - and prepare new fencers to transition into the youth or adult tier ladder afterward. Ages 7 and up.
The six weeks build to three checkpoints. In Week 5 you fence a round-robin mini-tournament against the rest of the cohort. At Session 8 a coach gives you an honest assessment of where you stand. By Session 12 you fence a competitive bout. Complete the Challenge and your payment credits toward a tier membership, with 30 days after graduation to decide.
- A first lesson runs about one hour, one time, with no obligation afterward.
- The next page explains what the hour covers and sends you to our booking system to pick a time and leave your contact details.
- All club equipment is provided for the lesson, so bring sneakers, athletic clothes, and a water bottle and nothing else.
- The first lesson is complimentary, so nothing is due for it. Training after it does have a cost, and the club states that cost in full on the page for whichever program you choose, before anything is due.
Twelve Sessions, Not One Hour
The usual way into fencing is a trial lesson. A first lesson at NCF Boulder runs about one hour, one time. The Six-Week Challenge is 12 coached sessions of 75 minutes each over 6 weeks. Twelve sessions against one, and six weeks against an afternoon.
That count is the difference. Fencing is a strategic sport, and the reward is not in the first touch, it is in the moment you read your opponent's intention before they act. A first lesson covers epee footwork and bladework, a gear fitting, and often a first bout. The tactical work is what twelve sessions make room for: weeks 3 and 4 of this cohort are attack, defense, and the tactical conversation.
Both doors are open here, and a first lesson stays available all year. The Challenge is the one that ends with a competitive bout and a real decision rather than a first impression.
Everything You Need. Nothing You Do Not.
12 coached sessions over 6 weeks. A complete curriculum, and every piece of club equipment supplied.
12 Coached Sessions
Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sep 1 to Oct 8
All Equipment Provided
Mask, jacket, glove, weapon
Week-by-Week Curriculum
From first grip to competitive bout
Coach Assessment at Session 8
Honest evaluation of your progress
Mini-Tournament in Week 5
Real competition with your cohort
Challenge Fee Credits Toward Membership
Complete the Challenge, and it applies to future training
The Journey: Week by Week
A structured curriculum. Defined milestones. Real competitive experience by Week 5.
First Grip to First Footwork
- ✓ Proper grip, stance, and movement
- ✓ Equipment familiarization and safety
- ✓ Introduction to the strategic mindset
- ✓ First blade contact with a partner
Attack, Defense, and the Tactical Conversation
- ✓ Attack and defense fundamentals
- ✓ Your first competitive exchanges
- ✓ Developing your personal fencing style
- ✓ Session 8: Coach assessment checkpoint
Mini-Tournament and Your Decision
- ✓ Round-robin mini-tournament
- ✓ Real scores against real opponents
- ✓ Graduation and recognition
- ✓ Transition guidance and next steps
Who the Challenge Is For
No experience necessary. No special equipment to buy.
- Kids curious about an individual sport
- Children who think strategically and love puzzles
- Families who want a structured way to evaluate fit
- Professionals seeking a workout that challenges both body and mind
- Adults who always wanted to try fencing
- Anyone looking for stress relief beyond the gym
What camp families say
These quotes come from parents whose fencers started at an NCF Boulder summer camp, and none of them is about the Six-Week Challenge.
After trying a lot of different activities, my son has finally found his sport. NCF is welcoming, fun, and challenging, which keeps him coming back. The coaches are fantastic, and he has made some great friends along the way. We are so happy to have found such a great fit for him.
We came in as a family completely new to fencing and had no idea what to expect. NCF welcomed us from day one. The coaching, the kindness from the other kids, and the spirit of the whole place made this a wonderful experience for our entire family. We are grateful to have found it.
Gary Copeland founded NCF Boulder in Boulder in 1979. He is a USA Fencing Hall of Fame Coach, and the program he built has produced 46 individual national champions.
Come to the first session before you commit
The Six-Week Challenge is $368, paid once, for 12 coached sessions over 6 weeks with all club equipment included.
Bring your fencer on Tuesday, September 1. If you decide the program is not right for your family, email challenge@ncfboulder.com before the second session starts and we refund the full $368.
No forms and no conditions on the refund itself. You attend session one, you email us, and we return the payment to the card that made it. Putting it in writing gives both of us the same record of when you asked. Send it to challenge@ncfboulder.com.
Terms: the cohort needs a minimum of four registered fencers to run. If fewer than four register by September 1, 2026, the cohort does not run and we refund every payment in full. The first-session refund applies when you email challenge@ncfboulder.com before the second session starts at 4:30 PM on Thursday, September 3, 2026. Refunds return to the original payment method within 10 business days.
What happens after you book
- 1 You pick a time that works for your family in our booking system, which opens in a new tab.
- 2 You arrive in athletic clothes and sneakers, and we provide everything else.
- 3 A coach fits your mask, jacket, glove, and weapon, and explains how epee fencing works.
- 4 You learn footwork and blade work and, if you are ready, fence a first bout. The whole thing runs about one hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fencing safe for a child?
Fencing is a non-contact sport: no tackling, no checking, and no body-to-body impact. A fencer scores by landing the tip of a flexible blade on the opponent, every bout is supervised, and the rules penalize dangerous play. Everyone on the floor wears a steel mesh mask, a jacket, and a glove for every minute of every session. NCF Boulder supplies the mask, jacket, glove, weapon, and body cord, and we inspect that gear and replace it as it wears. The coaching staff is SafeSport certified and background checked.
What if we miss a session?
You register once for the whole cohort, so missing a session does not cost you the place. The curriculum builds session on session, so tell a coach in advance when you can. Email info@ncfboulder.com or call 303.641.6557 and we will tell you what the missed session covered so your fencer can pick it back up.
What do I need to bring?
Sneakers and comfortable clothes. We provide everything else - mask, jacket, glove, weapon.
When does the September cohort start?
The first session is Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at 4:30 PM. The cohort meets Tuesdays and Thursdays for twelve sessions, and the last session is Thursday, October 8, 2026. Registration closes when the first session begins, at 4:30 PM on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, because the curriculum builds from session one.
Is this for kids or adults?
Both. The Six-Week Challenge is designed for ages 7 and up, including adults. The September 2026 cohort is a single group training together on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:30 PM, with the curriculum scaled to each fencer by the coach.
What happens after the 6 weeks?
Your coach helps you decide what comes next. If you continue, the $368 you paid for the Challenge credits toward a tier membership, and you have 30 days after graduation on Thursday, October 8, 2026 to decide. There is no obligation to continue.
Why does the Challenge cost $368?
That covers 12 coached sessions, all club equipment, and a curriculum built to take a beginner to a competitive bout. Six weeks is enough time to learn the sport well enough to judge it for yourself. Complete the Challenge and the full fee credits toward a tier membership.
Do I need to be athletic, or to have done a one-on-one sport before?
No to both. Fencing rewards strategy over strength, and the physical side develops as you train. The cohort assumes no combat sport and no one-on-one sport behind you: weeks 1 and 2 cover the grip, the stance, and how to move before anyone fences anyone. Everyone in the cohort starts on the same session one.
What if my child does not like it?
Come to the first session on September 1 and see. If you decide it is the wrong fit, email challenge@ncfboulder.com before the second session starts and we refund the full $368. After that point the six weeks give you a real answer either way, and there is no pressure to continue after graduation.
This Cohort Is Closed
The Tuesday, September 1, 2026 cohort is no longer taking registrations. Email info@ncfboulder.com to hear first when the next one is scheduled.