What to do before your first class
Updated August 2021
We are open for classes and services! Here's what you'll need to know before your first class.
Class Registration
Self-serve registration has been disabled for the time being. We are doing all registrations through the front desk via online forms, email and/or in-person. Please review the following options to join:
1. Returning CBA students may rejoin at any time without waiting. Contact the front desk to re-enroll. You may need to confirm your payment information before resuming classes.
2. Students with prior experience can join anytime after an onboarding session with one of the coaches. Email us at contact@centerforbladearts.com to get your session scheduled.
3. New students with no experience may need to join a waitlist. Newcomer experience is very important to us and we can only offer a quality experience to a limited number of students each month. Thank you for being patient while we place you in one of our programs.
Class & Lesson Fees
All beginner classes require at least a Silver Level Class Package—priced at $89 per month with Auto-pay enabled.
Some higher experience level classes may require a Gold Level Class Package—priced at $99 per month with Auto-pay.
Private and Semi-private coaching is available based on instructor availability—Pricing is $49.50 and $99 an hour respectively.
Private lessons are 1 on 1 with a coach, while semi private lessons are in groups of 2 to 6 students.
Please email us if you have any questions about a particular class: contact@centerforbladearts.com
Equipment
We have an extremely limited amount of loaner equipment available for beginners. We can lend out some beginner equipment for your first few sessions. However, we do ask that students get a few items as soon as possible. We are happy to help students get measured and assist you with placing your order at your earliest convenience.
We are open for classes and services! Here's what you'll need to know before your first class.
Class Registration
Self-serve registration has been disabled for the time being. We are doing all registrations through the front desk via online forms, email and/or in-person. Please review the following options to join:
1. Returning CBA students may rejoin at any time without waiting. Contact the front desk to re-enroll. You may need to confirm your payment information before resuming classes.
2. Students with prior experience can join anytime after an onboarding session with one of the coaches. Email us at contact@centerforbladearts.com to get your session scheduled.
3. New students with no experience may need to join a waitlist. Newcomer experience is very important to us and we can only offer a quality experience to a limited number of students each month. Thank you for being patient while we place you in one of our programs.
- Kendo and Tameshigiri beginner classes are taking new students every week. Email us to get started.
- All Fencing and HEMA beginner classes currently have a waitlist. Sign up for the waitlist here.
Class & Lesson Fees
All beginner classes require at least a Silver Level Class Package—priced at $89 per month with Auto-pay enabled.
Some higher experience level classes may require a Gold Level Class Package—priced at $99 per month with Auto-pay.
Private and Semi-private coaching is available based on instructor availability—Pricing is $49.50 and $99 an hour respectively.
Private lessons are 1 on 1 with a coach, while semi private lessons are in groups of 2 to 6 students.
Please email us if you have any questions about a particular class: contact@centerforbladearts.com
Equipment
We have an extremely limited amount of loaner equipment available for beginners. We can lend out some beginner equipment for your first few sessions. However, we do ask that students get a few items as soon as possible. We are happy to help students get measured and assist you with placing your order at your earliest convenience.
- Fencing/HEMA Mask - Headgear is the most in-demand loaner item at CBA and is what we recommend everyone buy right away. The recommended budget options start at $77 and can climb over $300 for the most premium options. This is the one piece of safety equipment we never recommend buying second-hand. A brand new budget-level mask is what we recommend for most beginners.
- Fencing Jacket & Glove - Jackets and gloves are one of the most individualized pieces of equipment a fencer will own, and is the hardest for us to lend out in a correct size. Recommended budget jackets start at $79 and go up to $380 for the most premium offerings. Gloves start from $12 and run up to $89. We recommend that most beginners buy a budget-level glove and jacket with their fencing mask purchase to save on shipping costs. Please note that fencers only wear one glove.
- HEMA Gloves - Hand protection is important for Longsword students while in class and doing light sparring. We recommend a pair of lacrosse gloves from either a second hand shop or on sale at an online retailer, which can be found under $50 in many cases. Avoid buying expensive lacrosse gloves. HEMA-specific gloves start around $140 and can be found on sale for even less.
- HEMA Training Sword - The Knightshop Synthetic Training Sword is $89 with the extended pommel option. Practically every HEMA student owns one of these at some point. While students are very enthusiastic about buying a sword right away, we have a fair number of these to lend out and the aforementioned safety gear is in much shorter supply.
- Used Equipment - Generally we do not recommend beginners buy used equipment. However, buying used can offer a great value if you know what to look for and what to avoid. Staff can help assess whether a used piece of equipment would be worth purchasing, but it can be difficult to determine without the item in hand. Let us know if equipment cost is of critical importance and we will help.
Your first week back to class
New Schedule (Updated August 2021)
Monday
6:30 - 8:00 pm - Competition Foil, Epee and Saber
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced HEMA
Tuesday
6:30 - 7:30 pm - Youth Fencing & Open Bouting
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Kendo
Wednesday
6:30 - 8:00 pm - Competition Foil, Epee and Saber
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced HEMA
Thursday
5:00 - 6:00 pm - Beginner Kendo
6:30 - 7:30 pm - Youth Fencing & Open Bouting
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Them Fatale HEMA (Beginner Friendly)
Saturday
8:00 - 9:00 am - Intermediate, and Advanced HEMA
9:00 - 10:00 am - Rapier
10:00 - 11:00 am - Youth fencing class & Beginner HEMA
11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Competition Foil, Epee and Saber
4:00 - 5:00 pm - Beginner & Experienced Kendo
Sunday
11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Rapier
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - Military Saber
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Tameshigiri (Beginner Friendly)
New Procedures
Checking in Before Class
1. When students and parents first enter the building, a staff member will take their temperature using a touch-free infrared thermometer. Vaccinated individuals do not need to take a health screening. Individuals who have a measured temperature exceeding 101°F will be given 5 minutes and have their temperature read again. After a second reading, if an individual’s temperature still exceeds 101°F they will be sent home.
2. Unvaccinated individuals must wear a face covering inside whenever possible. Students that do not have a face covering may be sent home. We will provide a disposable mask whenever possible.
3. We are still doing our regular cleaning and sanitizing at intervals throughout the day.
During Class
Students are asked to bring their regular equipment to class. Make sure to bring your bag all the way down to the main floor where your class meets. If you are borrowing equipment from CBA, make sure to give it to your instructor at the end of class for cleaning. Each class has its own specific procedures. Please check in with your instructor for the most detailed information
Monday
6:30 - 8:00 pm - Competition Foil, Epee and Saber
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced HEMA
Tuesday
6:30 - 7:30 pm - Youth Fencing & Open Bouting
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Kendo
Wednesday
6:30 - 8:00 pm - Competition Foil, Epee and Saber
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced HEMA
Thursday
5:00 - 6:00 pm - Beginner Kendo
6:30 - 7:30 pm - Youth Fencing & Open Bouting
8:00 - 9:00 pm - Them Fatale HEMA (Beginner Friendly)
Saturday
8:00 - 9:00 am - Intermediate, and Advanced HEMA
9:00 - 10:00 am - Rapier
10:00 - 11:00 am - Youth fencing class & Beginner HEMA
11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Competition Foil, Epee and Saber
4:00 - 5:00 pm - Beginner & Experienced Kendo
Sunday
11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Rapier
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - Military Saber
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Tameshigiri (Beginner Friendly)
New Procedures
Checking in Before Class
1. When students and parents first enter the building, a staff member will take their temperature using a touch-free infrared thermometer. Vaccinated individuals do not need to take a health screening. Individuals who have a measured temperature exceeding 101°F will be given 5 minutes and have their temperature read again. After a second reading, if an individual’s temperature still exceeds 101°F they will be sent home.
2. Unvaccinated individuals must wear a face covering inside whenever possible. Students that do not have a face covering may be sent home. We will provide a disposable mask whenever possible.
3. We are still doing our regular cleaning and sanitizing at intervals throughout the day.
During Class
Students are asked to bring their regular equipment to class. Make sure to bring your bag all the way down to the main floor where your class meets. If you are borrowing equipment from CBA, make sure to give it to your instructor at the end of class for cleaning. Each class has its own specific procedures. Please check in with your instructor for the most detailed information