Cross Roads Fencing Center

Olympic Style Fencing in your Home Town!

A place for the Marlborough community and its neighbors to learn and practice the Olympic sport of Fencing.

The Cross Roads Fencing Center is offering Olympic Style Epee Fencing Lessons in Marlborough, MA. Click here for registration forms.

Class dates and times for 2008-09 are posted; Once & twice-weekly class Tuesdays & Thursdays meeting at Jericho Hill Lodge.

Sign up now at the Recreation Department office or come to the first night of a session. See you there! Marlborough too far to go? Ask us about programs for your towns recreation department.

News! Students Bianca Homberg and Brenton Burgess fence in the 2009 Pomme De Terre. Bianca has a fantastic series of bouts in the Womens Unclassified, winning 2 DE bouts before getting knocked out in the round of 8 by the eventual Gold Medalist, and earns an 8th place medal! Brenton has a great learning experience as well in the Mens Unclassified, taking on more experienced older youths and adults. Robert II also fenced will in Mens Unclassified Sabre, winning his first sabre DE against a higher seeded opponent before getting knocked out. Full results here.

News! Coach Robert takes Bronze at NEUSFA Epee D-Under at Prise De Fer Fencing Club. Click here for full results.

News! Stephen, Nick, and Justin take 3rd, 6th and 8th place medals at NEUSFA Division Y12 Epee Championships at Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club.. Click here for full results.

News! Julianna, Sam, and Justin take Silver & Bronze medals at NEUSFA Division Y10 Epee Championships at Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club. Click here for full results.

News! Nick Kinslow takes Gold at NEUSFA Y12 Mixed Epee at Prise De Fer Fencing Club. Click here for full results.

News! Coach Robert takes Gold at NEUSFA Epee D-Under at Prise De Fer Fencing Club. Click here for full results.

News! Cross Roads Fencing earns a medal at the Prise De Fer Girls Y10 Epee, Super Youth Circuit, Dana Hall, Wellesley. Click here for full results.

News! Cross Roads Fencing earns Gold at Prise De Fer Mixed Y10 Epee! Click here for full results.

News! Cross Roads Fencing earns 3 medals at the Prise De Fer Boys Y10 and Y12 Epee, Super Youth Circuit, Dana Hall, Wellesley. Click here for full results.

News! Cross Roads Fencing earns 3 medals at the Sword in the Snow Boys and Girls Y10 and Y12 Epee, Super Youth Circuit, UNH Durham. Click here for full results.

Click here for online purchase of Cross Roads Fencing Center gifts. More items added on occasion, or ask Coach Robert if there's something you'd like. Show off your fencing spirit! Amuse your friends!

Why Should I Fence?

It's a load of fun! Does fencing in the movies look cool? Fencing for real is even better. Imagine you're on the strip, a 3 foot sword in your hand, sizing up your opponent for a weak spot, pushing him back, and drawing him close. An extension of the arm, a quick advance forward, and the tip of your blade is pressed against your opponent while the scoring machine buzzes for your touch! Your fans go wild!

Having all this fun you may not notice fencing is great exercise too. Fencing improves coordination, balance, strength, flexibility, and conditioning. And you could be burning 400 calories an hour. (Your mileage may vary.)

Who can Fence? Everyone!

Fencers can start training as young as 8 years old (3rd grade). Boys and Girls, Men and Women, Young and Old, all are welcome. Classes are separated by age, which also serves to separate by size for training; ages 8-12, ages 13-16, and ages 17-adult. As skills improve, size becomes less important. A 5'4” person can overcome a 6'8” person with form and technique!

Classes will introduce students to the footwork, weapon, rules and traditions of Olympic style electric Epee fencing:

Warm ups/Stretching

Footwork/Conditioning

The Uniform

The Epee

Fencing Equipment

Safety!

Scoring

Attacking/Defending

Rules of the Strip

Tournaments

All equipment is provided in the beginner classes

Fencing is a life-long sport. At the 2007 USFA Summer National tournament, the youngest fencer was 6 and the oldest was 88. Any age is a good time to start. Competitions during the season let you fence against similar age & skill levels - Open events bring all experience levels together.

A special note for parents, once you see how much fun your kids are having, you may feel compelled to try the sport yourself!