Youth Competitive Fencing
For dedicated fencers ready to test their skills at regional and national competitions. Our competitive program provides intensive training, strategic coaching, and comprehensive tournament support. Fencers train three times weekly with included private lessons and compete regularly to develop their competitive edge and achieve their athletic goals.
- Coach Invitation Required | 3x Weekly Classes | 2-Hour Sessions
Program Overview
Cost
Competitive USFA membership and
full equipment is required. Contact for pricing.
Program Structure
This is our intensive youth competitive program where the kids will learn everything they need to know to become a successful competitive fencer. Every fencer receives a personalized competition schedule. The coaching staff is following a personalized program for each fencer in this class. The weekly schedule includes physical training, advanced footwork, specialty fencing drills, controlled bouting situations, competition fencing and mental training.
Schedule
This class is running on Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 4:45pm-6:45pm. Saturday open fencing and Fit to Fence program is recommended.
What you'll learn
Fencing Specific Strength
Develop the explosive power and functional strength required for high-level fencing. Focus on leg strength for powerful lunges, core stability for balance and control, and upper body endurance for sustained blade work.
Speed & Agility Development
Enhance quickness, reaction time, and multi-directional movement speed. Train the fast-twitch muscle fibers and neural pathways that enable lightning-fast attacks, rapid direction changes, and explosive acceleration on the strip.
Cardiovascular Endurance
Build the stamina to maintain peak performance through long bouts and full tournament days. Develop both aerobic capacity for sustained effort and anaerobic power for intense competitive exchanges.
Injury Prevention & Recovery
Learn proper warm-up protocols, stretching routines, and recovery techniques. Develop body awareness and movement patterns that reduce injury risk while building resilience for the demands of competitive fencing.
Healthy Lifestyle Habits
Establish positive exercise routines and fitness habits early in athletic development. Gain confidence on and off the strip as physical capabilities improve, building a foundation for lifelong health and fitness.
Performance Optimization
Understand how physical preparation directly impacts fencing performance. Learn to track progress, set realistic goals, and make continuous improvements in strength, speed, and endurance that translate directly to competitive success.
Meet our coaches
Our coaching staff brings world-class experience to the strip. Their combined experience ensures that every student — whether just starting or training to compete — benefits from exceptional instruction and mentorship.
What parents and students say
FAQs
In order to take private lessons, your child must be enrolled in monthly classes at Vivo. Vivo Annual Club membership is also required.
Private lessons are included as part of the monthly package fee for competitive fencers. Intermediate fencers can sign up for optional lessons at $50/20 minutes. We do not offer private lessons to any fencer not enrolled in a fencing class.
YES. We will do this for NEW BEGINNERS. Intermediates must join the USFA at the $29 access membership rate. Competitive class fencers must have a competitive membership — the fee is $99 per year. As a USFA competitive member you are eligible to compete in USFA-sanctioned competitions.
Participants in the beginner classes do not have to be club members.
All fencers in Intermediate and above must become members of the club. Intermediates and Recreational Foil/Epee fencers take a Vivo Ltd. Annual membership of $175. Competitive members take a full Vivo club membership of $300. This is payable at the beginning of each season, at the time of registration.
We have excellent inventory of equipment at the club. Please purchase all equipment through the club as we can ensure the right sizing and product that way.
No, we are right off Exit 106 of Rte 495. We are located up on Ward Hill in the Bradford section of Haverhill.
Plenty of parking is available right in front of the building. Please do not park in front of our neighbors' loading docks.
Plan to arrive 10 minutes before the class start time so that you can sign in, get your shoes on and be ready to start on time.
Vivo provides all the equipment necessary for beginner classes. Fencers in the Intermediate Classes are asked to buy one of two equipment packages: $185 without a weapon/bag OR $325 with a weapon and bag. All equipment is available through the club. Competitive classes need to purchase a full equipment kit for their personal use through the club. Equipment needs fixing sometimes - and we have an armory and a price list for equipment repair.
Class members should bring a pair of "indoor" sneakers to change into at the club. These should tie securely. No open-toed shoes are allowed. Please don't wear your fencing shoes outside as we aim to keep the strips clean. You should wear LONG PANTS: warm-up pants are best, and a tee-shirt. We do NOT allow shorts.
We prefer to have kids be 7 years old before they start classes with us. That way, it's easier for them to follow the class directions and be an important part of the class group.
If you are just starting, sign up for one of our Beginner terms. If you have fenced before, one of the Vivo coaches will let you know which class is right for you. If your child has had fencing classes through a rec program or other club, we'll evaluate your child and then place him or her accordingly.
Classes are Group Classes. Lessons are private 1-1 lessons between a coach and a single student. All fencers need to participate in group classes in order to sign up for private lessons.
Ready to begin your fencing adventure?
Book a free first class and discover the exciting world of fencing with expert coaches