SYFA Rochester, MN Fencing Club
We'd love to meet you! Fill out the form below, and we'll schedule a time to talk and visit our Rochester, MN fencing club program.
SYFA Rochester, MN Fencing Club
We'd love to meet you! Fill out the form below, and we'll schedule a time to talk and visit our Rochester, MN fencing club program.
SYFA Fencing Club in Rochester, Minnesota
The SYFA Fencing Club in Rochester, Minnesota is for athletes with a desire to learn the Olympic sport of Fencing.
We foster a welcoming atmosphere dedicated to camaraderie among all fencer-athletes. Our coaches, headed by three time State Champion Coach Kamau Wilkins, are dedicated to each athletes growth as an athlete and as a person.
We have classes for all levels:
| Program | Ages | Time | Days | Fee per month | Monthly Fee w/1 lesson/wk | Monthly Fee w/2 lessons/wk | Monthly Fee w/3 lessons/wk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aces - 2x/wk | 8-12 | 4:00-5:30pm | Flex Schedule - Choose any two days per week. You can change your schedule from week to week with Head Coach Kamau Wilkins’ permission. Classes cannot be made up from previous weeks (i.e. you missed last week and want to take four classes this week). Add Saturdays for an additional $40 per month. | $100 | $180 | n/a | n/a |
Cadets 2x/wk | 12-19 | 5:30-7:30pm | Flex Schedule - Choose any two days per week. You can change your schedule from week to week with Head Coach Kamau Wilkins’ permission. Classes cannot be made up from previous weeks (i.e. you missed last week and want to take four classes this week). Add Saturdays for an additional $40 per month. | $100 | $180 | n/a | n/a |
Youth Champs - 4x/wk | 8-12 | 4:00-5:30pm | Youth Champs 4x/wk meet every M, T, W, Th. Saturdays are included. | $220 | $300 | $380 | $460 |
Champs - 4x/wk | 12-19 | 5:30-7:30pm | Champs 4x/wk meet every M, T, W, Th. Saturdays are included. | $220 | $300 | $380 | $460 |
| Saturdays only | 8+ | 9:00am-noon | Saturday mornings is Open Bouts. The club will be open from 9am-noon. | $80 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Private Lessons (Members Only) | 8-19 | TBD | $20 lesson fee is for one occurrence of a 20 minute lesson. Lessons are taught in increments of 20 minutes. Private lessons are vital towards a competitive fencer’s growth. 1x/wk for local fencers, 2x/wk for regional, and national, 3x/wk for the most competitive fencers. | $20 per 20 minute lesson |
Ages 8-12 (Aces and Young Champs)
Rochester, MN Fencing Club (SYFA) Team holds up their first place trophy.
Two option exist for fencing-athletes ages 8-12. The Aces program, which meets 2x (two times) per week, or the Young Champs program which meets 4x (four times) per week.
We recommend that beginners in this age bracket begin with 2x per week and build up to 4x per week as they gain more experience.
Our 8-12 age classes are engaging, fast-paced, and fun. Fencers build skills, play games to solidify those skills, and then participate in fencing matches with teammates. Ace and Young Champs fencers will be invited to in-class tournaments and will be coached on opportunities to fence in local or regional tournaments.
Ages 12-19 (Cadets and Champs)
The Cadets program is for newer fencers who can only commit to 2x per week of fencing. We recommend that beginning fencers start in the Cadets 2x per week program before moving up to the more competitive Champs program which meets 4x per week.
The Champs program is for athletes who wish to apply their skills in local, regional, and perhaps national tournaments. We recommend the Champs program for athletes who want to compete in the MN State High School Fencing League and their tournaments.
2023 Men’s Foil MN State Champions.
Private Lessons
Private lessons are vital for fencers who want to compete at a higher level. The top fencers in MN all receive multiple private lessons per week. Coach Wilkins and his SYFA coaches can conduct private lessons during scheduled meeting times, but reserve the right to schedule them before or after class as well. Please contact Coach Kamau to schedule your private lessons. kamau@yelkids.com
Home School Groups
SYFA offers programs for home school groups. With her sister company, Youth Enrichment League, SYFA can provide home school groups with chess, robotics, coding, and other programs as well as fencing.
Inquire with the local {YEL!} franchise owner, Kamau Wilkins, at kamau@yelkids.com.
SYFA FAQ
Where do I buy my own equipment?
There are a number of places to purchase your own equipment, including Blue Gauntlet and Absolute Fencing. Consult with your coach about what your young athlete needs.
How much does equipment cost?
As you might guess, equipment costs vary widely. Starter sets can be as little as $200-250, whereas experienced fencers may spend much more to get the exact equipment they want.
When should we buy our own equipment?
If you are invested in fencing as a sport for your child-athlete, you may want to purchase a mask, glove, and foil sooner rather than later. This way they will have equipment that is more precise for their size rather than club equipment.
Fencers who wish to compete at MN State High School Fencing League tournaments or regional and national tournaments should have their own equipment before competing in those events.
Is fencing equipment expensive?
It can be. However, the investment is in line with, or less than, other youth activities like band, other sports, etc.
Can I be prorated for a missed class?
We have a flex schedule for Aces and Cadets athletes. These athletes can come to the club up to two times per week. If they miss a week, we cannot grant a make-up in a following week.
Are there refunds?
SYFA and it's parent company, Youth Enrichment League, have a "We will make it right. Guarantee." If you are not satisfied with our programs, please let us know and allow us to explore solutions to meet your expectations. 99 times out of 100, it is an easy fix to make things right with an athlete and their parents. If you are still unsatisfied, we will provide a refund.
Is fencing hard to learn?
Great question. At it's most basic, fencing is easy. I have a sword and I need to poke that person with it. Easy to understand, right? From there, it gets far more complicated, and that is one of the greatest appeals of this sport. At more competitive levels, the technical and strategic aspects intrigue athletes. Fencing is referred to as the sport for the intellectual athlete. Maybe this is why fencing attracts so many engineers, computer scientists, and other intellectuals.
Can adults participate?
Ask Coach Wilkins this question. Adult options may be available.
Is fencing a lifetime sport?
We hope it is for you. One of the better fencers and coaches in Minnesota is Ron Frazzini. Ron is still fencing and coaching at the age of 89 (he looks like he's 70, by the way).