Welcome to the Sonoma Fencing Academy!
The study of the sport of fencing is an extraordinary journey that we know will be a vastly rewarding experience for you. Below you will find information about the club, its coaching staff, payment schedule and more. Many of the programs mentioned here won't apply to you right away, but please browse them so that you know how far you can take your fencing in the months and years to come.
The coaches at the Sonoma Fencing Academy respect the skills and talents of all fencers from the first day beginner to the World Cup Veteran. We understand that fencers differ in their reasons for taking up the sport (competition versus recreation) and strive to make both feel welcome. We pride ourselves in doing as much as we can to help the novice student feel comfortable and are always here, ready to help!
Here is a little bit about our organization:
The Sonoma Fencing Academy was founded in 1997 by Maestro Michael Pacheco to provide a full time fencing academy to the residents of the North Bay Area. It is the first facility of its kind in this region. The Academy has roughly doubled in size every year since its founding, matching the tremendous growth of the sport of fencing throughout the region. Wherever you live throughout Marin and Sonoma Counties, we have a class for you. We are currently working to bring our program to as many locations as possible in the Northern Bay Area.
Instructors
Maestro Michael Pacheco, Owner and manager of the SFA, he has been fencing for 15 years and teaching for 7 years. He has a diploma, Maitre D'armes, from the French Fencing Federation. Much of his study and training in fencing has been abroad in France, Italy and Spain. As a competitor he has the highest domestic rating (A) and has won many local and regional competitions (including; Northern California and Mountain Valley Division Foil Champion). He has been a Pacific Coast Junior and Senior Championship finalist and he was highest placing American fencer at the French-American Open held in Sacramento in 2000. Maestro Pacheco is the founder of the Sonoma Fencing Academy. Also ranking high among his accomplishments is Co-Founding the Bay Cup; the organization which oversees all the competitions in Northern California. He is the proud coach of several fencers ranked in the top 10 of the United States point standings. One of his students (Alex Simmons) is the number one fencer in the nation!
Moniteur Jim Liebich has been fencing competitively for over five years in the Bay Area. This season he ranked 3rd in Category 2 Men's Foil in Northern California, earning several 3rd place and one 2nd place medal. He also ranked 13th out of 85 in the Open Men's Foil category for the season. Several years ago Jim began coaching at the Sonoma Fencing Academy and eventually earned his Moniteur teaching degree from the prestigious French Fencing Federation. He is currently working on his Provost degree to improve his skills as a coach, and continues to compete. Jim teaches many fencing classes in Sonoma County for youth and adult fencers. Beginning and intermediate fencers alike will find classes at the community centers in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa. He has taught classes at the Mariposa Magnet School and Pine Crest Elementary in Sebastopol, and is seeking to introduce fencing to a number of other schools in the area. Jim is also currently teaching fencing at Sonoma State University, with an eye toward developing a team of competitive fencers who will participate in a statewide inter-collegiate fencing league.
Assistant Coaches The Academy also has additional part-time assistant instructors who are training for their teaching degrees and you may see them substituting classes or attending tournaments to coach or referee.
Program Descriptions
The Academy understands that the fencing community has many different needs including different weapons (foil, epee, saber), age groups, and different levels of proficiency. Our main facility is located in Petaluma but we are currently undergoing an expansion process to bring fencing to many other locations in the Northern Bay Area. If the Academy is too far for you to drive, check to see if we offer a class closer to your area.
The main reason for a fencing academy is to provide fencing instruction and bouting opportunities for fencers. Beyond providing a diverse group of bouting partners and the appropriate space and equipment, we provide instruction in many forms to help build fencing excellence. Here are the forms of instruction we offer:
Beginner Classes There are two ways for a beginner to start. One of those ways is to take a regularly scheduled Beginners Class. These are four weeks long and meet twice per week (8 classes total). The course is inexpensive and is offered four times a year (or once per quarter). Equipment is provided. These classes are infrequently offered, so a more convenient way to join (at any time) is to sign up for the Youth, Adult+ or Junior program. Contact us for more detailed information about these programs.
Regular Footwork and Bouting By becoming a member of any of the programs that the academy offers, a fencer is entitled first of all to footwork lessons. These are important floor exercises that take up the first 45 minutes of each class. The instructor will facilitate warmup, stretching, footwork, and sometimes additional blade work (or other exercises) to build the skills and increase the endurance of each student. It is important to remember that footwork is optional and each fencer should move at their own pace. Also essential to the development of a fencer is bouting, meaning one-on-one competition with other students. Sometimes this is facilitated by an instructor, but oftentimes it is left to the individual student to take the initiative and find a partner to fence with. Bouting is unpredictable, and often mixes fencers of different skill levels and experience (don't be shy, it's fun and a great learning opportunity).
Private Lessons The most potent learning tool in fencing instruction is the one-on-one lesson. During private lessons, students will take turns working with the instructor. A lesson's method and practice are centuries old and it takes a highly skilled instructor to give a correct one. It is suggested for beginners to add these to their program. Multiple private lessons are essential to the development of a high-level fencer.
Team Development Those fencers who are interested in competition and development in fencing on a local, state, and national level join the Sonoma Fencing Academy Team. SFA Team fencers travel to tournaments and work vigorously to improve their fencing to meet the demands of a competitive fencing program. Team fencing is a larger commitment but the rewards are equally great. If you are interested in this challenging and exciting program, take a look at our intermediate and advanced fencing classes.
Outreach/Community Classes The Sonoma Fencing Academy conducts classes as well as demonstrations outside of its walls all over Sonoma and Marin County. These classes are designed to bring instruction to those who can't drive the distance to Petaluma, and the demonstrations are conducted to bring about local awareness about the existence of the Academy and the art of fencing.
Regular Workshops/Tournaments Every quarter the Academy holds tournaments and/or workshops on the weekends to help the fencer's development in a way that can't be done in a short evening or afternoon class. Some are designed specifically for beginners while others target the higher level fencer. Occasionally there will be a mix of the two. If you are a beginner, look for the Beginner's Tournament. This is a fun event and a terrific learning experience usually held near the end of each quarter.
Annual Fencing Camps Every summer the Academy organizes or hosts fencing camps that are worth a year of fencing experience. We have a number of localized beginner camps (usually about a week long) and we coordinate the renowned International Fencing Camp, which culminates in the Kendall-Jackson International Open. We also travel abroad to fence in some exotic locales such as France, Italy, Spain and even China. These camps can be held throughout the year although most are held during the summer.
Quarter Schedule, Payment and Program Offerings
The Sonoma Fencing Academy operates on a quarterly schedule, as follows:
Payments, workshops, tournaments and all Academy activities are scheduled on this quarterly basis. Here are our policies concerning payments:
Fencing Equipment
We have equipment for beginners to use for a fee of $10 per month. This fee only includes standard fencing equipment. We do not provide electrical fencing gear used for more advanced fencing. This gear must be purchased by each individual fencer. The Academy can recommend fencing equipment through a national vendor. If you would like to purchase equipment, have a look at our standard equipment guide and our electric equipment guide.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us.