What To Expect In The Youth Beginner Classes
At Annapolis Valley Historical Fencing, we're proud to be the first and only sword school in the Maritimes offering a youth/kids program. We have Youth (ages 8-15) Beginner Classes at both the Berwick and the Port Williams locations.
It can be daunting trying something new, especially as a kid or teenager. We worry we won't be any good. We worry we'll look foolish.
Guess what? You're right! But don't let that stop you from trying.
Our Beginner Classes start approximately every three months, so everyone starts at the same skill level. Some people have had a chance to come check it out before signing up, others show up on their first day having never held a sword. Either way, they're all there to learn!
It's best to wear clothes you're comfortable moving in, like gym clothes. T-shirts are perfect. Jeans aren't a good idea. You also need to wear rigid groin protection - athletic cup or pelvic protector is required for ALL students regardless of gender. Bring a water bottle too because you will be working up a sweat. Everything else is provided.
Youth Beginner classes last 45 minutes and are broken into a few distinct parts:
The Warmup - Warm up is about getting the blood flowing and loosening up our joints to get ready for class. We also add in some stretching, yoga, physical fitness, and breathing practice.
The Lesson - Each class we work on a short lesson of the day. It builds on everything you have learned up to this point, so it's important to come to every class. There's time to work this new skill through individual and partner drills, as the instructors come around and provide pointers and corrections.
The Practice - What would a sword class be without a chance to sword fight? Students have the opportunity to put their new skills to the test in one on one sparring matches. Each class you'll have the opportunity to fence a number of your peers to see how different people of different sizes and skill levels react.
The Cooldown - To wrap up class we gather again as a group for stretching, breathing, and a discussion. Everyone is given the opportunity to talk about what they learned and enjoyed from the class, and what they noticed they need to work on for next time. This kind of self assessment is an important part of being a self-aware martial artist.
So what are you waiting for? Sign up for a (no obligation) class and come check it out!