Our Heritage
Club founder and Fencing Master Tom Jobson has over half a century of fencing experience. For more than ten years he trained under French maître d'armes Stanley St. Pellicer, who received his Master of Arms from Giorgio Santelli. Mæstro Santelli was a fencer and fencing master who was the largest mid-20th century influence in raising the quality and popularity of fencing in the United States.
Tom gave private lessons at the Circle D'Escrime Fencing Club and taught accredited Fencing Classes for the Junior College District of St. Louis. He has also taught fencing at Oklahoma University, Trenton State College in New Jersey, Doylestown YMCA in Pennsylvania, and in Fairfax, Virginia for twenty-five years.
Assistant Coach Adam Jobson brings twenty years of fencing experience to the academy, continuing the tradition of excellence in instruction.
Our Approach
We take the Montessori approach to teaching. Classes are small, mixing new students with experienced fencers. New students learn from both the coach and their more experienced peers. We believe anyone can learn to fence—it is one of the few sports in which people of different ages, builds, and genders can compete on equal terms.
There are international competitions for fencers as young as eight as well as those over sixty-five. Our students can begin fencing at eight years old, and no one is ever too old to start. Students learn to attack with the intent to hit, and to defend with the intent not to be hit. This integrates the mind fully with the actions of the body.
We sometimes refer to fencing as a Western form of martial arts. The blade is an extension of the forearm and the point the fist, but you need only 500 grams of pressure to score. Fencing is considered one of the safest sports in the Olympics.
Tom received a commendation from the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital after putting more than 600 Girl Scouts through the Interest Project Program.
In Action
Gallery
Lessons
Frederick County Parks & Recreation
1st Sword is currently offering courses through Frederick County Parks and Recreation.
Gainesboro Elementary School4651 N Frederick Pike
Winchester, Virginia 22603 Register Online
Eight-Week Sessions Year Round
| Class | Days & Times |
|---|---|
| Ages 8–13 | Saturday 10:00am to 11:30 Tuesday 6:30 - 8:00pm |
| Ages 14+ | Saturday 10:30am to 12:00 Tuesday 7:00pm to 8:00 |
| Women's over 21 | Thursday 6:30pm to 8:00 |
Classes overlap so students can fence with the other group during open fencing.
Donations of used equipment for trading and given to students greatly appreciated.
Fencing Club
If you would like to help start a new fencing club in the Winchester area, please contact us. The club space is also available for open fencing and practice sessions.
Fees
Group of 3 or 4 people for six one-hour lessons.
Friends & Family: 3 for the price of 2Additional fee for group and private lessons. Students are expected to have their own equipment after the first set of lessons.
Used equipment may be available for sale. New equipment can be ordered from Absolute Fencing Gear.