The Swords Club offers both group and individual lessons.
Also on this page are the club's history, Membership details and a list of members in our Committee.
The Swords Club began in 1913 and is the oldest fencing club in Australia.
Over the years the club's membership has included many State and Australian Champions together with fencers who have represented their country at World Championships.
The Club has been the centre for State and National Training Squads, Competitions and camps.
Beginning fencing as a Sabreur in Sydney, Sami then moved to the UK where he trained and worked as a fully qualified British Fencing Level 3 Coach in Foil, Epee and Sabre. He has experience primarily coaching youth (teenage) performance sport as well as working with adults of all abilities. He recently returned to Sydney, and is available for lessons on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Skills & Qualifications:
British Fencing Coaching Weapon Specific Course Level 3 Foil, Epee and Sabre
British Fencing Referee Qualification Level 2 Sabre
Australian Working with Children Check
NHS Emergency First Aid At Work
UK Coaching Safeguarding & Protecting Children
Mark has a Bachelor of Physical Education - Fencing Coach and is an ACC Level 3 Coach specialising in Foil.
He is at the club on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Previously coached fencing in England, UK.
Professional athlete MTK Club, Budapest ( Jan 1992 – Nov 2000)
Member of the Hungarian Olympic Team in fencing (1996, 2000)
Finalist - Sydney 2000 Olympics - Men's Foil Individual event
7th - Sydney 2000 Olympics - Men's Epee Team event
5th - Atlanta 1996 Olympics - Men's Foil team
Silver Medalist - European Championships - Men's Foil (1992 and 2003)
Bronze Medalist - European Championships - Men's Foil (1998)
3 times Hungarian Champion in Individual Men's Foil (2003, 2004, 2005)
7 times Hungarian Champion in Men's Foil Team events (1999-2005)
3rd - Junior World Championships - Individual Men's Foil (1989)
5th - Junior World Championships - Individual Men's Foil (1990)
Junior European Champion in Individual Men's Foil (1992)
Fiona is an ACC Level 1 Coach and teaches Foil.
She is at the club on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Fiona currently competes at a State and National Level in both Open and Veterans.
Jackie is an ACC Level 1 Coach and teaches Foil.
She is at the club on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Jackie currently competes at a State and National Level and was a member of the Australian Fencing Team (AFT) - Women's Foil 2013 and 2014.
Coaches Tuesday and Saturday.
He runs the children's classes on Saturday mornings and afternoons.
Stephen has been fencing foil for over 20 years and have been coaching for 3 years.
In 2019 the French Fencing Federation announced their rules for Lightsaber fencing.
The rules presented captured his imagination as they managed to convey a form of fencing that was very much like the fencing in the movies and had remarkable sections on the safe use of the LED Lightsabers used.
In October 2019, attended the first international workshop on Lightsaber fencing hosted by the FFE and spent two days learning more about this weapon from leaders of the sport.
From February 2020, Stephen will running classes in Lightsabre for both adults and children,
For more information go to Training Information/Lightsaber.
Other Supporting and Junior Coaches
In addition to the coaches above, the club is also supported by other coaches and junior coaches.
The other coaches coaches currently providing lessons at the club are:
- Frank Bartollilo
- Alwyn Wardle
- Jeff Gray
Our junior coaches provide lessons to beginner and intermediate students.
Vivienne Tucker - Head Coach - RETIRED FROM ACTIVE COACHING 2014 
Vivienne has been coaching full-time since 1977 and is an ACC Level 2 Coach specialising in Foil. Vivienne retired from active coaching in 2014 but continues as the club's Head Coach providing mentoring and training for the club's other coaches.
She has produced numerous State and Australian Champions and International Representatives. Her students have won:
Australian Championships:
U20 Mens and Womens Foil
U20 Mens and Womens Epee
U20 Mens Sabre
U17 Mens and Womens Foil
U17 Mens and Womens Epee
U15 Boys and Girls Foil
Australian Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Individual Champions & Teams
State Championships:
Open A-Grade Mens and Womens Foil
B-Grade Mens and Womens Foil
U20 Mens and Womens Foil
U20 Womens Epee
U17 Mens and Womens Foil
U17 Womens Epee
U15 Boys and Girls Foil
U13 Boys and Girls Foil
State Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Individual Champions & Teams
International:
U20 New Zealand Womens Foil
U17 New Zealand Womens Foil
U17 New Zealand Womens Epee
U15 New Zealand Womens Foil
Numerous representatives at World Championships, World Cup Tournaments and Oceania Zone Championships
The Swords Club 2021 Membership fees are being collected now.
Membership for Club Members each calendar year (January to December).
2021 membership fees are as follows:
Seniors
$200 per annum
Download:
2021 Over 18 Membership Form
Juniors (Under 18)
$160 per annum
Download:
2021 Junior Membership Form
You can use the Active Kids voucher as part of your 2021 membership fee. To apply for the voucher, please visit https://www.service.nsw.gov. au/transaction/apply-active- kids-voucher . Please send a copy of the voucher together with the completed membership form. You just need to pay the balance of the Junior Membership fee (i.e., $60 for renewing members, $65 for new members).
New Members
$5 Joining Fee for the first year
Visitors Fee
$10 per visit
Beginners
Beginner fencers are required to complete and sign the club's indemnity registration form.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions we are unable to continue short term hire equipment for lessons. The club is offering a long term hire (10 to 14 weeks- length of beginner course) after which if you continue you will need to buy your own equipment and clothing. It will be a $100 deposit and $5 per lesson equipment hire. You will take the gear home for the duration of the course. You can either purchase the gear that you have using the deposit and pay the difference, buy your own gear using the refunded deposit and paying the difference or if not continuing, return the gear and the deposit will be refunded to you.
Costs:
- Individual Lessons - $30- per lesson usually paid in 10 lessons blocks = $300. Paid to the coach
- Adult Beginner Course - $20 per lesson or $200 for the course of 10 to 14 lessons (paid to the coach)
- $5 equipment hire per lesson usually paid in 10 lesson blocks = $50, Paid to The Swords Club
- $100- equipment deposit for mask, jacket and breastplate (Compulsory for girls and women). This deposit is refunded once the beginner course has been completed and the equipment has been returned. Paid to The Swords Club
- $30- for purchase of a glove.
Download:
Over 18 Registration Form
Download:
Under 18 Registration Form
Co-delegate NSWFA