Fencing was once commonly taught to youths, which explains why octogenarians settle disputes with bouts of Rock, Paper, Épée. Celebrate civilized swordplay with today’s Groupon: for $15, you get your choice of either one 90-minute group fencing lesson (a $50 value) or one 20-minute private fencing lesson (a $40 value) at Coastside Academy of Fencing (up to a $50 value).

Expert coaches at Coastside Academy of Fencing hone agile saber fencers in a cutting-edge sporting hall. Owner Anthony Joslin, the first American coach to receive a diploma at TF Sport College in Budapest, and Olympic trainer Tomek Amborski cultivate a welcoming atmosphere and wield a combined half-century of teaching experience. With lessons for swordsfolk ages 6 and older, the class schedule enables duelists of every level to lunge and evade their way toward championship bouts. Beginning group classes impart the basics of footwork and blade work after warm-up games, as advanced sessions reveal secrets to subduing opponents with a Musketeers' tricorn hat. During private lessons, a coach immerses their pupil in fundamentals or customizes the tutorial to sharpen their weaknesses into strengths.

Students bring athletic pants and shoes, a T-shirt, and a water bottle to class, and the school provides sabers to skewer opponents and large, protective shish kebabs to deflect them. Inside, walls lined with mirrors reflect mistakes that led to a sudden win, and six electric strips track points during open bouting sessions. Wall-mounted targets suffer pokes, prods, and resuscitation attempts stoically, while the flexible boards of sprung wood flooring cushion shocks to knees.