This year is my second year learning Kendo from Ichimura Sensei. I never expected that I'd be…read moreenjoying this for so long. I learned that there is a Kendo class running through City. I hesitated to register due to my overwhelming work schedule. My wife saw me being too stressed out with workload and burnout and then kept encouraging me to join the class. I gave it a try expecting to learn for two months. That decision totally changed my life. Without Ichimura Sensei, I wouldn't have continued Kendo until now. He is such a man of immense integrity. He is not only an exceptional teacher but an amazing mentor to me. His teaching principles are unique and he always directs and encourages us to improve and train harder. As a result of my hard work out, my health is much better and I am able to control the stress at work as well. The best part of the class is that I never realized how much I can really do. I'm not exactly physically fit but this class motivates me to be better. I never thought that I was strong enough or fast enough and the class motivates me to always do better. It affects my work, further, my whole daily life. A year later, I enrolled my little son since he had shown interests on Kendo and jealous of me wearing uniform and mask. I used to spend little time with him due to my work, so I just took him to my class to spend time together. At his very first day, he LOVED Ichimura Sensei's class more than I did. He's learned etiquette and proper posture. He's gained a lot of confidence since he started Kendo. My son and I try to practice together whenever we meet at night or weekend. He is happy to be with me and it motivates me to practice harder to teach him. Kendo has truly helped develop strong father-son relationship. There are a few guys who always bring their sons to the class like me. My son became friends with those kids. Our little kids are always happy to get together at practice. It can really help strengthen a father and son bond. I can't imagine my life without Kendo. I highly recommend Ichimura sensei's class to anyone.

Ichimura Sensei has been my sensei for nearly 8 years, and he had made it possible for me to…read moreachieve my 3 Dan (3rd degree black belt). But don't be intimidated by that. Kendo is accessible to anyone that wants to get into a martial art that's different than what's out there. It's not very mainstream because it's a sword art and thus it is still very traditional in how it's taught. Discipline and respect are still emphasized, and the skills you learn are translatable to any Kendo or Kumdo dojo around the world. That being said, Kendo is a great workout. Many of the drills are good cardio, and swinging a bamboo sword will strengthen your arms. Many beginners will be intimidated by the high initial learning curve, but we all have been through that and we do our best to help you improve your skills. You start in the beginner's class where you learn ettiquite (important in traditional Japanese martial arts), and basic swings and stances. It may seem boring initially, but this ensures you learn enough not to hurt yourself and others. Once you move on to the intermediate class, you'll join other students that are also starting out, up to very advanced students, and you'll start to hit those that have a bogu (armor), which I think is when it starts getting fun. If you keep at it you'll eventually buy your own bogu and are able to test for rank as well as participate in tournaments around northern California (and the rest of the world if you get that good). I do it because I need to work out regularly, but the gym bores me. Kendo lets me work out as well as learn how to use a sword, which is always cool!

If I could put ZERO stars I would. We drove far & spent a lot of money here bcuz our boy loves to…read morefence, but in the end it wasn't worth it. Every week we were supposed to confirm each meetup which we did. The issue is that Coach Z tells us he's going out of town for 3 weeks & NEVER sent us the link to confirm our next practice. Then after, he sends a message asking where were we? I was waiting for you? THEN has the audacity to send an invoice for a missed practice? Trust that he never communicated to us about this practice. Complete ripoff. He burned the bridge with us. We were gonna return but now no more.

Extremely professional and knowledgeable trainers. I would recommend any parents to start their…read morechildren in fencing at a young age. They will love it. My daughter was in the teen class for several months before she started slacking off. She met another girl in her class and started mimicking her obnoxious behavior. Her father and I were so disappointed that she ruined the only opportunity she had to fence with such great trainers in the Central Valley.

We are so grateful to the AFM community and coaches for nurturing my children's love for fencing…read morebut more importantly, the confidence in themselves, work ethic and practicing good sportsmanship. Julia always encouraged my daughter to compete for the experience of it (and took the time to explain how competition works - life changing guidance). Coach Natasha, Coach Gregory and Coach Adam always provided positive and instructive coaching in a fun learning environment. The kids are always laughing after class. The use of "always" is no exaggeration. Win or lose, ranking or not, the consistency in which the coaches and staff "showed up" for our children over the past 2 years is heart felt. The quality of Olympic and World Champion level coaching is unparalleled. Along with Irina and Igor, they were instrumental in developing our children and teaching old parents a new love. For reference, my daughter started beginner fencing at 7 (casual, once a week) and my son just started out of enthusiasm from watching his older sister. My daughter started intermediate class (2x per week) at 8. They're young and may not stay with the sport forever but the life lessons are priceless and transfer to school, work, sports, everything. We're sorry to leave the club as we're moving out of the area and will join another club at Igor's recommendation:)

My nine year old daughter has enjoyed other sports, however, fencing at AFM has been a game changer…read morefor her. The coaches are fantastic and the programs at Campbell and Sunnyvale are amazing. We have gone to both locations and she has made friends at both locations. I would run not walk your kids down there to take at least the introductory class. They let you borrow their spare equipment for two 20 minutes tune up private lessons and one normal class for only $95 dollars. Join this small community and super unique opportunity. This is 10000/10 review. Note-I stold this from their website for your review!!!! "Did you know that fencers have a distinct advantage when it comes to college applications? 1 in 3 high school fencers go on to compete on college fencing 32% of male fencers and 38% of female fencers go on to fence in college. Compare that to football (7.8%) or basketball (5.9% male, 6.3% female). More than 30 top-tier colleges in the U.S. have an NCAA fencing team, and 100 other colleges have teams as well."

We have had an absolutely incredible experience at the Academy of Fencing Masters…read more The coaching staff here is simply amazing. During busy tournament weekends, they do a phenomenal job coordinating strip coaching. Even while juggling multiple events at the same time, they never miss a beat. What I appreciate most is that they take the time to actively mentor the kids both on and off the strip. They are always right there to keep the kids' spirits up whenever they are feeling down after a tough bout. Another huge advantage of AFM is the size and depth of their classes. They have enough fencers in each age group to ensure the kids get to practice against a wide variety of fencing styles. Because of this, every group class feels like a mini competition, which is fantastic for their development, all while the coaches ensure they are still focused on learning and applying targeted techniques. Beyond the exceptional coaching and training environment, the club itself is highly organized and incredibly responsive. Communication is clear, and you never feel left in the dark as a parent. What truly makes AFM special, however, is the welcoming atmosphere. It feels less like just a training facility and more like a tight-knit community. Everyone is incredibly friendly, and both the kids and the parents are building lifelong friendships here. Above all, it is so apparent that the staff genuinely wants their students to succeed and grow as athletes and individuals. You can tell they care deeply about the kids' personal development, rather than just focusing on medal counts. If you are looking for a supportive, organized, and truly dedicated fencing club for your child, I cannot recommend them highly enough!

This review is long overdue. My daughter started fencing at AFM five years ago, and this is now her…read moresixth year here. AFM is a fantastic place for kids (and adults) to start learning, develop skills, and become strong athletes.The club features a group of world-class coaches. They bring years of experience and expertise, but more importantly, they truly devote their love for the sport to these young athletes. I have personally observed them meticulously explaining the smallest details to the children, tirelessly guiding them to improve both mentally and physically. To my daughter, the coaches are not just mentors; they are friends and family.AFM also boasts a strong roster of athletes, each with unique fencing styles. Having the opportunity to bout with such diverse, high-level fencing partners helps kids mature into much better athletes. This group of kids has grown up together, pushing each other to get better and better. Some of the best fencers in the nation came from this club, and they continue to inspire the younger generation, including my daughter.AFM is a tightly-knit community. Over the years, my child has developed deep bonds with her coaches and fellow fencers, meeting some of her best friends here. In a high-pressure environment like the Bay Area, this club brings calm and comfort to the kids. The fencing journey always has its ups and downs. Her coaches, friends, and the staff have always been incredibly supportive, especially when she felt stuck, down, or lost. Fencing is an individual sport, but during every match, the kids never feel like they are fighting alone.Last but not least, the club offers top-notch facilities and organizes the best summer camps, which frequently offer opportunities to train with elite athletes from around the world. The club also maintains an incredible fencing blog, where the author shares invaluable insights and wisdom as a long-time fencing parent.

My extremely shy 10-year-old has found her confidence with the help of Bao and his team At Journeys…read moreFencing Club. This is the first sport she has ever really loved. The new location is beautiful, clean, well equipped and with a comfortable waiting area for the parents to watch the lessons.

Positive learning experience with Coach Bao. Learning to be fundamentally sound with Coach Bao was…read moregreat. He's patient and calm. Highly recommend this place for your best fencing experience.

Joining this fencing club has been one of the best decisions we've made! The beginner class is…read moreincredibly fun and engaging--perfect for kids just starting out. Right from the start, even the newest fencers suit up in full club-provided gear, which really helps them feel the excitement and focus of real fencing. It's amazing to see how quickly they get into the spirit of the sport. Coach Andre and Coach David are absolutely wonderful. They're not only skilled and passionate about fencing, but they're also genuinely kind and encouraging with the kids. It's clear they love what they do, and that energy is contagious. Since moving up to the intermediate class, I've been so impressed by how much thoughtful feedback my son receives. What stands out the most to me is how he's absorbing and responding to that feedback--it's a level of maturity and openness I've never seen in him before (especially not when it comes from me!). Watching his growth--both in skill and mindset--has been such a joy. We're now looking forward to local competitions together, and I couldn't be prouder to be part of this journey with him. If you're looking for a supportive, energetic, and skill-building environment for your child, I can't recommend this fencing club highly enough!

Parking is tricky but that is to be expected. You may have to ask to find your way to the center if…read moreyou are not familiar with the campus but the folks seem friendly. The facility is quite large with (if memory serves) over 10 full length strips, and you can use the uniforms there. There is more to fencing than meets the eye so it's advisable to go with someone experienced to properly understand everything from from your surroundings, to suiting up, to the equipment. My mentor was very patient, shared the knowledge well so it was a good first experience for me.

I'm extremely frustrated with how this tournament was run. Children were allowed to act as…read morereferees, and it was clear they were helping their friends or their own teammates in some cases even their own kids gain an advantage. This created an obvious conflict of interest and undermined the fairness of the competition. Athletes put in months of hard work to compete, and they deserve experienced, impartial officials who ensure that everyone is judged equally. What happened here was unacceptable. Please stop assigning referees or directors who are the same kids from the same club as the competitors.

We're hoping to update this review with higher stars but, for now, this is based off of our…read moreexperience to date. The first issue is that there is no easy manner to contact the club, whether it be the Pleasanton or Los Gatos location. Nobody answers the phone, nobody returns messages. The obfuscation feels a bit odd for a business. Fine - hopefully they will fix this sooner than later since being able to contact a business feels like, well, good business. The bigger issue though is Coach Sandro. While we have not personally experienced this (although we imagine it's a matter of a time based off of the roll of the die) but have personally witnessed kids in the class being berated and generally browbeat by him. The other day, as we were sitting in our car outside, we saw a young girl being yelled at inside by Coach Sandro, apparently her position wasn't correct. She started crying and probably dug in, as little kids might do in a moment of stress, whereupon he proceeded to gesticulate (and presumably yell) angrily for her to get off the piste/lane and sit down. I heard later that she was telling him she "wanted to continue fencing". This isn't an isolated event - a few of us talked with him a few times and collectively surmised that he seems to be an angry person. There may be a language barrier but feels like a pretty accurate read - please feel free to make your own assessment. For the most part, we have seen Sandro leaning against a pole in the middle of the fencing area, not teaching as much as just watching. The other coaches do the work and very well. Please consider a new coach who works well with young kids or make the other coaches primary. This isn't M Club, most of the kids aren't headed for the Olympics, they simply enjoy fencing...otherwise, we'd be making that drive for that kind of abuse. Don't kill their enthusiasm for fencing off. If Coach Sandro feels the need for that intensity and you want that Olympic stamp for your club, limit his classes to the circuit and let the parents know what they're in for. (BTW, there usually aren't other parents around when he's yelling - so if you're the parent of that young girl, we're so sorry, she was pretty distraught. You probably heard about it later when you picked her up.) Looking forward to action from the club managers and to updating this with better stars.

My daughter LOVES this club and so do I! All of the coaches are so nurturing and caring. They made…read moreus feel so welcome when we joined. The coaches not only teach technical skills but confidence and mental resilience. My daughter almost quit fencing entirely but we moved to this club and she has found her love for fencing again. Will always be grateful to the coaches and the entire Premier community. Thank you for all that you do for the kids!

Great support both customer and coaching. Extremely professional and great learning experienceread more

TFC has always had good sabre coaches. But the two new coaches are the upgrade TFC has been needing…read morebadly to take things up to the next level. I'm noticing the students are exponentially happier. The parents are happier. The entire club is happier. It's a fun bunch. I highly recommend parents to send their kids here for lessons. The coaches are just happier and pleasant people. The thing I notice that separates this club from the rest is that everyone here are pleasant people. There's no socially awkward people, or emotional vampires here. Everyone is pleasant, and respectful here. I'm an adult fencer, and let's face it, adult life and adult responsibilities are just awful. I work 40+ hours a week and I need a place of pleasantness, and peace. I really don't want conflict, or drama. The Fencing Center really is now my place of peace. I'm glad to be part of this community.

Took classes for adults for a couple months until I moved too far away. Really enjoyed learning…read moreabout fencing and getting a good workout along the way. Betsy is a very capable instructor and kept us motivated and having fun, while she advised us on our initial individual tendencies in fencing.

Nice place, cool staff. Fun to learn. Would come again if not busy. Great for tram buildingread more

The instructors had been amazing here - for the first timers like me, you get to be taught and…read moreshare some basic tricks to score more points. went with my fam and they all had a great time. Was addressed timely and staff were great. I went on a weekend and with reservation - highly recommend to reserve before you go. Limited spots. It's also very easy for first timers.