Birmingham Fencing Club

Welcome to Birmingham Fencing Club

We are a highly successful community fencing club, founded as the Birmingham Athletics Club in 1866. We fence at all weapons for both male and female, young and old alike.

This Club has a high standard of both fencing and coaching. Our first rate coaches teach all weapons at different levels for both senior and junior fencers. Our junior club (age 8 to 18) also has coaches that cater for the needs of our younger members.

We are also affiliated with the University of Birmingham Fencing Club and share facilities with them.

Adult fencing sessions are on on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (7PM to 9PM on Tuesday and 8PM to 10PM on Thursday, £10 per session) and our junior club is on Saturday morning from 9AM to 11AM).

Tuesday evenings we run smaller group session/sessions & work on a particular stroke/tactical/footwork topic to improve fencers knowledge and ability. This is followed by free-play and competitive sparring bouts, where they are able to put into practice what they have learnt. Members are also able to ask for individual lessons from our experienced coaches.

On Thursday evenings the warmup/footwork is followed by individual lessons and free-play, all 3 weapons have training opportunities. Many of our members fence on both Tuesday and Thursday sessions. Thursday evening sessions are not suited to complete beginners.

Club members can have one-to-one lessons with our coaches in all 3 weapons at each session.

We run regular beginners courses, and we welcome those returning to fencing after a break. If you would like more information please email Joan at mikejoanfencing@hotmail.com.

Club Announcements

Christmas shutdown

The last sessions before Christmas are:

Tuesday - Finish 19th December and restarting 9th January.

Thursday - Finish 14th December and restarting 4th January

Saturday morning (juniors) - Finish 16th December and restarting 6th January

We wish everyone a very happy Christmas!

Dr Austen Moore

Birmingham Fencing Club was sad to learn of the death of Dr Austen Moore on 10th November 2023.

Austen joined BFC initially in his late 60's, with a prehistory of having fenced during his National Service in the RAF as a Medical Officer. He joined the Club and then the emerging Veterans Association as he continued to hone his useful foil skills in the following years. With a lively sense of humour he fenced for fun, and as a social exercise meeting with and fencing with all ages, and at all 3 weapons. A light touch and skilful wrist action kept him stealing scores off those who underestimated his ability. Still competing in 2018 he died at his home in Walsall age 97. The funeral will take place at St Marys the Mount Walsall on 04 Dec. at 11.00 a.m.

About Us

New Members Welcome

Compete, Keep Fit or Just for Fun

First-Rate Course Offerings

Birmingham Fencing Club are always keen to recruit new members - Adults or Children, experienced or complete beginners, all are welcome!

First-Rate Course Offerings

Compete, Keep Fit or Just for Fun

First-Rate Course Offerings

Our beginner course are fully subscribe at the moment, as is our March Course.

THere will be beginner courses later on (possibly early summer).

For Forms, Documents & Policies - Click Here

Compete, Keep Fit or Just for Fun

Birmingham Fencing Club welcomes members of all different abilities and skills. Whether you are looking to improve your skills and compete locally, nationally or internationally, or simply want to learn something new, keep fit and have fun.

Governance and Welfare

Founded in 1866, Birmingham Fencing Club (BFC) is a unique community sports club with an amazing history and connectivity in the area and within fencing as a sport in this country. BFC is an affiliated member of British Fencing. The club requires all coaches, both professional and volunteer, to be fully accredited and vetted to national standards set by British Fencing which is the national governing body.

BFC works collaboratively with the University of Birmingham's own Student Fencing Club (UBFC). Whilst supporting it with volunteer coaching, mentoring and equipment loan, it is not part of the University or UBFC.

OPERATING STANDARDS

BFC is run in all aspects to meet the Sports England Initiative ClubMark standards.

WELFARE AND SAFEGUARDING

As an affiliated body to British Fencing the club (BFC) is compliant in upholding the duties and responsibilities under the Working Together to Safeguard Children Act 2018 (England only).

Whilst everyone within fencing has a responsibility to safeguard and protect young people the role of Welfare Officer is to promote good practice within the club. The Welfare Officer is the named point of contact for young people themselves, parents/carers, coaches and volunteers when they have concerns and to understand and use British Fencing's reporting procedures in case a concern is raised.

BFC has a number of Welfare Officers who have undertaken, as volunteers, the required training to national standards.

They are:

Welfare Officer; Claudia Fogl 07719 769052

Welfare Officer; Alison Kington 07958 084124

Welfare Officer; Joan Whitehouse 0121 443 3136

Files coming soon.