The Fencing Club is in the process of becoming Redwood’s third official club sport (alongside sailing and mountain biking) by the end of the school year. The two-year-old club has recently been gaining traction; more than a dozen newcomers have taken up fencing by signing up for the club.
The club was founded in the fall of 2024 by senior Max Maguire and juniors Maayan Bujanover and Ben Burgstone. The founders wanted to introduce students to fencing because they believe it’s a personally rewarding sport and that it would be beneficial for the Redwood community.
Most of the club’s new members have little to no experience with fencing, so an average practice for a newcomer consists of warm-ups, footwork drills and tactical exercises that strengthen the strategic and mental aspects of the sport.
Burgstone is currently working with Assistant Principal Saum Zargar, who manages co-curricular athletics and facilities, to make fencing an official club sport at Redwood. They are engaging with the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) administration and estimate that the club sport will be made official in June of 2026.
In the meantime, the club’s goal is to get more students involved. For those interested in a sports leadership role, there will be opportunities to become team captains when fencing becomes an official competition sport.
In addition to leadership opportunities and physical exercise, fencing also offers mental and emotional benefits.
“Patience, engagement and focus are all skills that are nurtured by fencing, and everyone who’s involved with fencing picks them up and benefits from them in everyday life,” Burgstone said.
Fencing also provides an alternative for students who are interested in a team sport but want one that is less physically demanding.
“You don’t necessarily have to be super strong and fast to do well in fencing,” Maguire said.
There are three fencing styles club members can choose from: foil, épée or sabre. Foil is often the most popular style for members to begin with, as it has a clearer target area where a fencer can score a point. Additionally, the foil style uses a lighter sword with a balance point closer to the hilt and helps build fundamental skills, such as footwork and timing.
While the Fencing Club met in school last year, the founders agreed that it would be more productive to practice entirely outside of school this year. Now, members arrive at the Marin Fencing Academy (MFA) every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon to use the provided practice equipment. While Saturdays are the club’s designated practice day, members can also come in on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays to practice on their own time.
While students’ first lessons and practice equipment are free, Fencing Club members must pay a monthly fee to the MFA to continue practicing there. And if students want to participate in competitions, they must purchase their own sword and protection.
Tom Tulley is the owner of the MFA and feels that fencing provides an outlet for its members.
“We have kids in here that sometimes have emotional problems. When you put a mask on, it turns off your normal way of looking at yourself and you become something different,” Tulley said. “It’s kind of like a superhero thing.”
Along with individuality and a way to regain control of your mind and body, the Fencing Club also offers a close-knit community with strong team chemistry.
“I feel like we all have a good relationship; it’s a small community, so we all feel closer. Some of my best memories are from the mini inter-team competitions,” Bujanover said.
Any students interested in picking up fencing can contact club president Max Maguire for more information at his email address: [email protected].
