Community Corner
Olde Town Fencing Club Announces January Lessons
Looking for a way to get (or stay) in shape? Maybe one of your New Years’ resolutions is to get more exercise. Well, why fight the crowds of all those other New Years’ resolvers at the gym – just to do the same old boring exercises?
Instead, try Fencing.
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Alexandria’s Olde Town Fencing Club will open its Winter season of Fencing classes on Monday, Jan. 13 and Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Olde Town’s beginner fencing classes are offered through the Alexandria Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Activities, at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. Youth classes (ages 10-15) are on Mondays, beginning Jan. 13. Adult classes (age 16 and up) take place on Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 15. Classes run from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.
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The cost of the 8-week session is $64. Masks, foils and jackets are provided at no additional charge. Students should wear comfortable clothing and athletic shoes with non-marking soles (court shoes or cross-trainers recommended). Pre-register on-line at www.alexandriava.gov/recreation, or sign up on the first night of class.
Sometimes called “the oldest modern sport,” Fencing has been featured in every Olympics since the first Modern Games in 1896. Referred to also as “physical chess,” it is a blend of athletic technique and reaction speed with tactics and strategy.
The Olde Town Fencing Club (www.oldetownfencing.org) has been representing Alexandria in U.S. Fencing Association competition for more than three decades. Olde Town’s women’s foil team won the U.S. National Championship in 2004 and the Division I National Championship in April of this year. Members of the club have won numerous other USFA national medals and club members routinely make a strong showing at local, regional and national tournaments.
In addition to the Beginner classes, Olde Town also offers private lessons for intermediate and advanced fencers, taught by Jun Liang-Smith, a former Penn State assistant coach and two-time member of the Chinese Olympic Fencing Team.
For questions, call club president Wayne Bowman at (571) 236-5036 or instructor Joe Hoffman at (703) 983-7687.
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Media contact info:
Wayne Bowman (wbowman@bbg.gov)
Home - (703) 549-7451
Work – (202) 203-4813
Cell – (571) 236-5036
