CBA IS PROUD TO BE THE ONLY FENCING CLUB IN MINNESOTA THAT HAS A DEDICATED WOMEN'S FENCING PROGRAM FOR FOIL AND EPEE
Introductory Classes
Our introductory children’s classes are gender-mixed.
However, the objective for the girls is to get them into the Competitive Training group as soon as possible.
This way they can work with and learn from the more experienced fencers.
Intro classes are: Tuesdays 6:00-7:30
Introductory individual lessons by appointment.
Philosophy
Women’s fencing is a different game from men’s fencing, just as women’s soccer and women’ basketball are different from men’s soccer and basketball. In the real world, fencing tournaments are gender-specific.
Therefore, the best approach is to train girls and women to fence each other, using some men as training partners when appropriate and under controlled conditions.
Competitive Training
Our competitive training groups each have a strong team spirit, and the more advanced fencers are enthusiastic about helping the younger and newer fencers to improve.
As is age - and activity appropriate, we all work together on some tasks and split into different age and experience levels for other tasks.
Activities vary but generally includes:
Warm-up
Footwork
Drills and/or Group Lessons
Bouting
Women's Foil
This group covers a wide age range, currently 10-25. It is generally run separately from men’s foil.
Training sessions are:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Women's Epee
This group’s age range is currently 13-38.
It is run parallel to men’s epee training on weekdays and has a separate training time on Saturdays.
This group is able to work together on all training activities.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Saturday: 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Hosted Tournaments
Since 2023, CBA has hosted in-house women’s tournaments:
Open Series: A series of open women’s tournaments in all three weapons
Youth Days: Regular Junior/Cadet and Youth tournaments in all six weapons
Instructors
Paul Soter
Anna Schliep
First US National Coach for Women’s Epee
Coach of first US woman to win a World Cup competition
Coach of US National Championship Team
Coach of Pacific Coast Championship Teams
Coached US and Canadian women at numerous international competitions
Father of a recruited Division III college womens’ soccer and ultimate frisbee player
Coach of High School Champion Women’s Teams
Foil (San Francisco)
Epee (Minnesota)
US Fencing Coaches Association Prevot de Epee
and Moniteur de Saber
Blake Highschool Epee Coach (men's and women's squads)
Minneapolis Gymnastics coach
Girls-gone-strong certification
Active competitive fencer
Parent of Y10 fencer
Tyler Clayton
Founding CBA Coach
Lifelong Minnesota Fencer
Certified Nutritionist
Certified Physical Trainer