Fencing can help participants hone a large array of useful life skills, from coordination on the dance floor to concentration while trying to skewer a marshmallow man. Prepare for unexpected duels with this Groupon.
$49 for Six-Week Beginner Fencing Class ($125 Value)
Students choose between youth classes, for kids aged 8–13, and adult classes, for those aged 14 and up. Both classes meet for one hour each week, first acquainting the 8–10 participants with the sport's history and etiquette and establishing a base of fundamental skills. Fencers then learn proper technique with the foil—including basic footwork and both offensive and defensive strategy—as well as the basics of officiating and electric fencing equipment. Though all gear is provided, students should bring plenty of water and wear comfortable athletic clothing. The class schedule for both youth and adults can be found here.
Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club
The professionally trained fencing instructors at Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club seek to develop their students' mind, body, and character through participation in the centuries-old sport. During the academy's classes, students of any skill level may choose to learn on all three Olympic weapons: foil, sabre, and épée. The one-hour sessions generally last for six weeks and each builds on prior material to help students improve their skills on the strip. Two meetings are composed entirely of competition with fellow classmates, allowing students to show off their newfound skills, and the last session is a class tournament.
Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club, which originally operated as a two-location enterprise, consolidated into one 12,000-square-foot full-time professional fencing studio in March of 2012. The air-conditioned facility features 15 electric strips and zero chandeliers from which swashbuckling fencers may swing. Though the sport finds its roots in the practice of sword fighting, modern fencing is much safer, and the academy has advanced equipment and instructors that hold CPR certification just in case.