Through the years, my boys have attended dozens of different summer camps in the Portland metro area. Sports camps, arts camps, city camps and YMCA camps. This summer we gave Northwest Fencing Center a try and for one son it was the highlight of his summer. He is my renaissance kid and wanted to spend his entire summer riding horses, acting, learning archery, fencing and attending Renaissance Faires. If there were a camp where you could build your own set of armor, he would have been first in line. The staff were nice and the camp was for a variety of ages. When I would arrive a few minutes early for the pick-up, all the kids would be playing a form of team tag, but following the fencing rules they learned earlier in the day. Even though they all wore fencing gear and masks, I could always pick out my son because of his enthusiasm and he would yell, "Huzzah" every time he bested an opponent. The only negatives are that this was a half day camp. As a working parent, I would have preferred longer hours. Also, their facility is geographically undesirable for our family. Convenient for many since it is just a few minutes off 217, but doing two round trips a day (especially during the morning commute hours) from my area were a drag. This is also the only reason why he isn't taking classes this fall. Fencing is a bit of a hot sport in our area, especially during the summer Olympic years since we have several competitors that train and teach in our area. Definitely more interesting and more active than making a clay ashtray. read more

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I was looking for an individual sport that would appeal to my tween daughter, who never took to team sports, soccer/tennis balls, and who despises leotards, ballet slippers and sequins. (We have tried them all.) She has finally found her tribe, and I cannot recommend this center and the coaches highly enough. NW Fencing Center has been home to world class fencers for decades, and the coaches are some of the best in the country. More importantly, they also happen to be decent, caring, principled humans, who have experience in working with kids and adults of all ages. They have gone out of their way to help my awkward, left-handed tween gain self-esteem; learn to maintain composure, and persevere with courage under pressure. It has truly been a life changing sport for her. On a whim, I signed up for the adult epee classes as a way to decompress during the pandemic and I have come to love it so much! I've met interesting, fun people from all ages and backgrounds during my classes. It has been a great experience for our family! The center supplies all the gear for beginner fencers, so you can try it out before committing. Come and check it out; it may just be the best thing you do all year! read more

Signing our kiddo up for summer camp here was one of the best decisions we ever made. Not only did she get a fun week in summer of games and learning a new sport, but months later we discovered it ignited a passion. She's now been fencing here for eight years and loves it. The coaches are warm and supportive, reinforcing the kids making of goals, emphasizing the importance of schoolwork and balance, and providing some amazing fencing training and sportsmanship. Fencing is a sport that teaches you that you cannot solve a problem by retreating from it - you have to advance to score and overcome (at least for the most part). It's often referred to as the physical manifestation of chess. At NWFC what it really is, is an awesome, athletic sport with the chance of enhanced college opportunities if you want, and fun teamwork every day in the mean time. Our daughter has made friends all across the country through fencing, and we often get to sponsor international fencers who come to NWFC for our globally known quality camps. There is a sense of family at NWFC: the kids take care of one another, high school students are doing homework together before class begins and helping each other through informal tutoring. Older kids are mentoring newer kids while parents chat in the lobby. From first time students through our experienced competitive fencers and adults learning a new sport at any age, NWFC has the coaches and the facility to support your dreams. read more

This is an amazing place. One of the best things I ever did for my kids. The friendships and the high level of sportsmanship is amazing. Coaches are the best! read more

Northwest Fencing Center is an amazing facility! We always find the tournaments well run and the staff is so friendly. As distance members, we have found the camps invaluable. My daughter has really advanced in her fencing over the years with the help of Northwest Fencing Center! read more

This club is truly one of the best in the country! The facilities are gorgeous and the coaches/staff are outstanding. Without a doubt, my daughter has taken a set of skills to college that serve her well on her NCAA fencing team AND in the classroom (focus, organization, respect, confidence). Skills that will benefit her forever. NWFC is the best! read more

I have been fencing at the Northwest Fencing Center for thirteen years. Prior, I hated exercising. After I discovered fencing, I fell in love with the mental game and the challenge of a beautiful, timeless sport - I forgot I was exercising! The people are so friendly and soon became my friends while the coaches (some of them former U.S. Olympians) helped me get better and even compete on a national level. Want friends? Want to get into shape - without realizing it? Want to play with swords? Seriously, you need to come here. read more

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My daughter started lesson this spring. Being new wasn't a problem melding in, the teachers are fantastic, the lessons are clear and concise and the first one is free! Thank you for the new hobby, this is just what we were looking for. read more

As an educator, and parent of a fencer, I can say that the value of fencing transcends the sport. The Northwest Fencing Center and its coaches understand that building qualities that are important to success in fencing, whether as a competitive or recreational fencer, are life skills that carry over into school, work, and relationships. Working hard, working toward a goal, the value of teamwork, learning from the wins, but more importantly learning about oneself from the losses, all of these are integral to the lessons learned at NWFC. In education, we call it grit, and strive to help students find it in the classroom. In sport, in particular fencing at NWFC, the grit they learn training and competing, as well as the mental and physical fitness that comes from training, can be seen in how well they do in other parts of their lives. read more

Excellent accessible youth fencing that blends technique, fitness, and play for all ages. The coaches have superior credentials as athletes, but are also patient and grounded with an eye for detail and an efficient manner of instruction. read more

we travel from Seattle in order for my son to learn from the coaches here. They are wonderful. Great place. Fencing is a great sport for kids. teaches strategy, concentration, self control and it is a great workout. A Boy + a weapon? What could be better? read more

I recently tried fencing at the NorthWest Fencing Center in Beaverton and did not have a good experience. I came in to try one free class in the adult fencing program and was pretty much ignored by the coaches and staff. The instructor warmed up with a footwork game but I was new and clearly didn't understand what I needed to do, but no one bothered to help correct me so I was confused during the entire warm up, just following what other people did. The gear available for me to use was gross with other people's sweat and it seemed like it hadn't been washed in ages. Another kid in the class was pulled aside to show me basic footwork, but that was about all that I learned. After the warm up we went straight into fencing each other and while it was fun to play with a sword, I was frustrated because I was clearly worse than everyone else and didn't know at all what I was doing. Maybe jumping right in works for some people, but I walked away with 7 large bruises and not wanting to return. I would not recommend this fencing club unless you already know how to fence. read more

Outstanding community for anyone interested in fencing--from the novice to Olympic calibre. The coaching staff is amazining, able to tailor their instruction to each individual fencer. Coaches work hard to simultaneously build a phenomenal sense of comradry between athletes while encouraging them to constantly strive for their best. Students work hard and play hard in an atmosphere that is amazingly supportive, particularly in light of the fact that fencing is seen by most as a highly individual sport. read more

We've been here for just over a year, and I can't say enough about how wonderful the community here is. Great activity for kids less inclined to team sports. read more

An amazing facility with friendly staff. Coaches are great with beginners and world class fencers alike. Fun for all ages, highly recommended. read more

Awesome place! I have a kid on the autism spectrum and these coaches have worked with him and demonstrated enormous patience with him. As a result, he feels better about himself, is more functional, and he is now a respectable fencer. The coaches are great, always willing to talk or work with parents as well as the kids, and are extremely supportive. They work with everything from the really little guys who are just beginners all the way up to olympians, and in fact, the head coach is an Olympic coach~but ALL the coaches are amazing. Highly recommend without reservation! read more

NWFC is the most wonderful community of individuals with the best coaching and mentoring I have ever received!!

My daughter found NW Fencing Center through an after-school program at her school. The coaches came up for 5 classes and introduced kids to the sport. After the first lesson she was hooked. The games are fun and work on their endurance and lessons teach patience, agility and skill. She is now in one of the more advanced classes and competes regularly. The atmosphere is friendly and caring and she has had the opportunity to fence Olympians and National Champions - and she's only 12! The older kids in the club reach down and help the younger ones learn and grow in the sport. She is surrounded by excellent role models and aspires to fence at college. I would highly recommend the Center and the Sport of Fencing. read more