Homeschool families are welcome at West Coast Fencing Academy in Austin. There is no weekday daytime group class: homeschooled children join our regular evening classes, beginner and advanced groups, which are the same groups every other child trains in. If you want fencing during the day, Coach Pasha gives private lessons by request, in the mornings and during the day. To book either one, call him or leave your number.
The evening group classes
Groups go by age, and each one starts with a free trial class:
| Ages | When | Price after the free class |
|---|---|---|
| 4–6 | Saturday, 9:00–10:00 AM | $120 a month, once a week |
| 7–11 | Monday and Wednesday, 6:00–7:30 PM | from $150 a month |
| 12–18 | Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 6:30–8:30 PM | from $150 a month |
| 19+ | Wednesday, 8:00–9:15 PM | $120 a month for adult beginners |
The 4 to 6 class is on Saturday morning, and the rest are on weekday evenings. Fencers aged 7 to 18 who want to compete can join Elite, competitive training four times a week for $275 a month; Elite is open to join, with no invitation needed. Every member pays a $500 annual membership on top of the monthly price. Which group is right for my child? goes through each group.
For a homeschooled child, a group class gives what a lesson at home cannot: other children of the same age to train and fence with, every week.
Daytime private lessons
On weekdays, daytime training exists only as private lessons. They are given by request, in the mornings and during the day, so the time is agreed with Coach Pasha when you call. A private lesson is one fencer with the coach. Prices are per 20 minutes and are listed with every other price.
Some families combine the two: a group class in the evening for fencing with other children, and a private lesson during the day.
Can fencing count as PE?
That depends on how your family or your homeschool program records physical education, and the answer is theirs, not ours. Check with them before you plan on it. What we can tell you is when your child trains: the days and times above, and the time of any private lesson you book.
For a sense of scale, the federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans advise that children and teens aged 6 to 17 get 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous activity every day (Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, 2018, read 2026-10-22). One or two fencing classes a week are a part of that, not all of it.
How to start
- Call, or leave your number. Tell Coach Pasha your child's age and that you homeschool. If you want daytime private lessons, say so.
- Come to the free class. It is one of the regular group classes. Bring sneakers, athletic clothes, a towel and a water bottle; we lend the mask, jacket, glove and blade. The only paper is the registration and waiver form, signed in person at the class.
- Watch it. Parents are welcome to watch the first class.
- Decide afterwards. There is nothing to pay for the free class. If your child continues, you sign the membership agreement and pay at the next class. The kit stays free for the whole first month, then it is $40 a month to rent, or your own.
Your child's first fencing class, step by step walks through the day, and after-school fencing in Northwest Austin has the club's hours and how to find the door. In the summer, our fencing day camps run Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 2 PM, for ages 6 to 18.
Call Coach Pasha at (408) 592-1244. If he is on the strip, leave a voicemail: he calls back within 24 hours. Or leave your number and he calls you.
