Head coach
- Discipline
- Respect
- Community
- Excellence
Focus the mind Master the blade
Foil classes for kids, teens and adults in Almaden Valley, from the first lesson to tournament bouting. Coached by Oleksandr Volkov and Oleksandr Volkov Jr.
Almaden Valley Fencing Center
Discipline
Footwork, distance and blade control, built through steady practice from the first lesson.
Respect
Every bout starts with a salute and ends with a handshake. Win or lose, fencers honor every opponent.
Community
Coaches, parents and teammates who show up for each other on and off the strip.
Excellence
Focus, confidence and resilience that help fencers excel in school, work and life.
Why fence with us
Chess at full speed
Every touch is a decision made in a fraction of a second: when to attack, when to wait, how to read the fencer in front of you. It trains the mind as hard as the legs.
Coached by the Volkovs
Head coach Oleksandr Volkov and coach Oleksandr Volkov Jr. lead the group classes. Oleksandr Volkov also teaches private lessons by appointment.
Every age, every level
No experience needed. Classes start at age 6, and three levels take you from your first en garde to tournament bouting, at the pace that suits you.
What fencing builds
Fencing works the whole body and asks for full concentration. Fencers carry what they learn on the strip into school, work and everything else.
Get started- Coordination and reflexesFootwork and blade work train hands and feet to move together, fast.
- Focus under pressureA bout rewards the fencer who stays calm and thinks one move ahead.
- ConfidenceEach new skill, and each bout fenced, builds belief that carries off the strip.
- FitnessLunges, footwork drills and bouting build leg strength, speed and endurance.
- RespectEvery bout begins with a salute and ends with a handshake.
Why we teach foil
Foil is where most fencers start, and where many stay for good. It rewards precision and clear thinking, and gives every beginner a solid base in the fundamentals.
- Target
- The torsoArms, legs and head are off target.
- Scoring
- With the pointA touch lands with the tip of the blade.
- Right of way
- YesWhen both fencers hit, the one who had priority scores.
Classes by level
Group foil classes run Monday through Saturday, with beginner classes for kids and adults on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Your coach moves you up when you're ready.
Beginners
- Star Wars, ages 6–8: Tue, Thu 4:00–5:00 pm
- Ages 9+: Tue, Thu 5:00–6:00 pm
- Adults: Tue, Thu 7:00–8:30 pm
Intermediate
- Mon, Wed, Fri 5:00–6:30 pm
- Sat 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Advanced
- Mon, Wed, Fri 6:30–8:30 pm
- Sat 1:30–3:30 pm
Visit the club
| Monday–Friday | 3:00–9:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 9:00 am–4:00 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Programs
Group foil classes for every age and level, private lessons with head coach Oleksandr Volkov, and two simple ways to get started.
Get started
Start your fencing journey
Two simple ways to begin. Try the sport with a coach at your side, then join the club when you're ready to make fencing part of your week.
New to fencing
Intro to Fencing
$75
Intro package
Pick up a blade, learn your first moves and see why fencers fall in love with the sport. You'll train with a group at your level, then get one-on-one time with our head coach.
- One group class at your level
- One private lesson with head coach Oleksandr Volkov
- For kids from age 6, teens and adults
Ready to commit
Club enrollment
$150
Enrollment fee
Make it official. Enrolling makes you part of the Almaden Valley Fencing Center family and sets you up to train week after week, with coaches who know your name and your game.
- Your membership with the club
- A place in the class level that fits you
- Access to the Zen Planner member app to book and manage classes
For class tuition and current rates, call or email us. Every fencer also needs a current USA Fencing membership, which provides insurance while you fence.
Programs
Programs for every level
Group foil classes at three levels, plus private lessons with head coach Oleksandr Volkov. Your coach moves you up when you're ready.
Beginners
Your first steps on the strip: the en garde position, advancing and retreating, the lunge, and the basic attack and parry. Once the footwork holds together, you start fencing simple bouts. There's a beginner class for every age:
- Star WarsAges 6–8Tue, Thu 4:00–5:00 pm
A playful first step into fencing for our youngest fencers, built around games, balance and footwork.
- BeginnersAges 9+Tue, Thu 5:00–6:00 pm
The fundamentals of foil for kids and teens, from footwork to first bouts.
- Adult beginnersTue, Thu 7:00–8:30 pm
Start from scratch at any age, with footwork, blade work and your first bouts at your own pace.
- Star WarsAges 6–8Tue, Thu 4:00–5:00 pm
Intermediate
Build on the basics with blade work, distance and right-of-way tactics, and put them to use in regular scored bouts.
- Mon, Wed, Fri 5:00–6:30 pm
- Sat 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Advanced
Competition training for experienced fencers: tactical drills, conditioning and hard bouting to prepare for tournaments.
- Mon, Wed, Fri 6:30–8:30 pm
- Sat 1:30–3:30 pm
Private lessons
One-on-one time with head coach Oleksandr Volkov, the fastest way to sharpen technique or get ready for a tournament. Book online or call to set a time.
- By appointment
Schedule
The weekly class schedule. Club hours are Monday to Friday 3:00–9:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am–4:00 pm.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- 5:00–6:30 pmIntermediate
- 6:30–8:30 pmAdvanced
Tuesday, Thursday
- 4:00–5:00 pmStar Wars ages 6–8
- 5:00–6:00 pmBeginners ages 9+
- 7:00–8:30 pmAdult beginners
Saturday
- 11:00 am–12:30 pmIntermediate
- 1:30–3:30 pmAdvanced
Sunday
- Closed
Class calendar
See upcoming classes and reserve your spot.
Our coaches
Our two coaches lead every group class. Private lessons are with head coach Oleksandr Volkov.
Head coach
Oleksandr Volkov
Oleksandr leads the foil program at Almaden Valley Fencing Center, from beginner fundamentals to competition preparation. He coaches group classes and teaches private lessons by appointment.
Coach
Oleksandr Volkov Jr.
Oleksandr Jr. coaches group classes at every level, with a focus on footwork, bouting and helping new fencers feel at home on the strip.
Private lessons
With head coach Oleksandr Volkov, by appointment.
About the club
A foil fencing club in Almaden Valley, San Jose.
Almaden Valley Fencing Center teaches foil to kids, teens and adults, whether they are picking up a blade for the first time or getting ready for their next tournament. Classes are organized by level, so every fencer trains alongside people at a similar stage and moves up as their skills grow.
Fencing asks for speed and patience at the same time. Our coaches, Oleksandr Volkov and Oleksandr Volkov Jr., teach the technique and tactics of foil together with the traditions that come with it: the salute before every bout, the handshake after, and respect for every opponent.
Our facility
The club is at 6940 Almaden Expressway in San Jose and is open six days a week. The floor is laid out for fencing, with strips for bouting and room for footwork and conditioning.
Contact us
Questions about classes, private lessons or registration? Call, email or stop by during club hours.
Club hours
| Monday–Friday | 3:00–9:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 9:00 am–4:00 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Register
Sign up for group classes or book a private lesson.
How to get started
New to fencing? Our Intro to Fencing package gets you a group class and a private lesson for $75.
Create your account
Sign up below, then choose a class level or a private lesson time.
Get the app
Once you're registered, download the free Zen Planner member app, or log in on the web, to reserve classes and manage your membership.
Join USA Fencing
Every fencer needs a current USA Fencing membership. It includes the insurance that covers you while you fence, so we can't put you on the strip without one. Join before your first class. Coming for a trial class? Use the free USA Fencing trial membership instead.
Sign the waiver
Every fencer signs a liability waiver once, before their first class.
Come fence
Wear athletic clothes and clean indoor sneakers, bring water, and arrive 10 minutes early. Ask us about loaner equipment for beginners.
Sign up online
Choose a class level or a private lesson time and pay securely online. Have a question first? Send us a quick note and we'll get back to you.
Sign up
Call or email us and we'll get you registered for a class or a private lesson.
Coming for a trial class?
Before your trial, sign up for USA Fencing's free trial membership. Every fencer on our strips needs to be a USA Fencing member, and the free trial membership is the one to use for a trial class.
Registered? Get the app
Download the free Zen Planner member app to reserve classes, check your schedule and manage your membership. Sign in with the account you made when you registered.
Prefer your browser? Log in on the web
Forms
- USA Fencing membership
Required for every fencer at the club. It provides your insurance while you fence, and it also lets you compete in USA Fencing tournaments.
- USA Fencing free trial membership
For trial classes only. Sign up before your trial.
- Liability waiver
Signed once by every fencer, or by a parent or guardian for fencers under 18.