Thank you for the opportunity to provide some information about fencing
as
a social and athletic activity for home schooled students.

In recreational fencing, children are separated by age (competitively
they
are separated by age and sex).  Fencing is a wonderful sport in that
boys
and girls in similar age categories can fence together.

Boys and girls aged 6 - 9 would be the appropriate age grouping for ABQ
Homeschool Co-op.  While some children under six are ready (and some at
six
are not), most fencing schools require youngsters to be at least six.  
One
way in which we determine if a child is ready is to check coordination
skills -- if a child can skip, this shows their coordination has
developed
to a point where they would be able to begin to fence.

Classes are offered  each Thursday at 2:00PM at the Highland Senior
Center
(131 Monroe NE) through the New Mexico Fencers Club.  I am the
instructor.  We supply all the equipment which includes a jacket, a
glove,
a mask, chest protectors (a plastic full chest cover for under the
jacket)
and the foil.  Children are required to wear sneakers and comfortable
clothes that allow movement.  Class size is limited to twelve.

The class emphasis is on physical fitness and fencing in a social
setting.  The class is one hour and fifteen minutes in length.  This
includes group time for sharing current events, warm up games,
footwork, a
short instruction period and free fencing time.  A goal sheet is
provided
with fencing specific skills but is not mandatory to complete.  This is
an
option for children who wish to follow a more serious path in fencing.

Cost for classes is payable either by session or by month.  The session
cost is twenty dollars; by the month is seventy dollars.  The first
session
for any new student is free.  Classes are on-going with an open
enrollment.  Each new student is welcomed and introduced and paired for
the
class with an existing student.

Fencing has many qualities to support it as a choice for physical
activity.  It is a lifetime sport suitable for people aged 6 to 70 and
beyond.  Its' history extends far back in time and reaches into the
future
as well. The sport is steeped in etiquette but still allows the freedom
of
the individual to shine through.  Scholarships for fencing exist at
many of
the most prestigious schools and is offered as a NCAA sport at many
more.  It is a non-contact sport that traditionally appeals even to
those
who to date have shown no interest in any other more traditional sport.

I have attached my fencing resume to this email for your
information.  Please let me know what further questions you have.

Respectfully,
Toby Tolley

from Amy....for more information contact Toby at barefleche@earthlink.net

FYI, if there is interest, Toby will teach a free "try it" group class for the co-op.  Post here if you are interested.