Schedule:
Mondays:
Youth Armizare (ages 13-15) at 6pm (Open on President’s Day!)
Tuesdays:
Armizare Fundamentals Course 5:30 – 6:45 pm
Intermediate Course 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Intermediate Course Freeplay at 8:30 pm
Wednesdays:
Bolognese Fundamentals 5:30 – 6:45 pm
Bolognese Intermediate/Advanced 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Bolognese Freeplay at 8:30 pm
Thursdays:
Armizare Fundamentals Course 5:30 – 6:45 pm
Advanced Course 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Advanced Course Freeplay at 8:30 pm
Fridays:
Friday Fight Night – Once per month, will be announced, please check
Sundays:
Open Floor Training – Announced in Classes
Special Sessions:
Will be announced here and in classes
Closures:
Will be announced here and in classes
Vaccination Policy:
Because we are exercising hard and producing aerosols in an enclosed space, and because we also engage in grappling, wrestling, and throwing drills, we are requiring full vaccination plus a booster to enter the studio. Any of the available vaccines are fine. We do need to see your vaccination card, but we will not record any information from it. And I will be happy to show my card on request. If you have a medical condition that specifically prohibits Covid vaccination, and can provide documentation from a licensed MD, you may also attend. If you have religious or philosophical objections, or you are not comfortable with this policy, we do understand, and there are other local martial arts schools who do not require vaccination. This policy is part of the studio’s overall commitment to safety in our practices, and to the health and well-being of our students, staff, their families, and out community.
Free COVID-19 vaccinations are available for ages 12 & up:
The up-to-date list of vaccination clinics is here:
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics – Lane County
https://lanecounty.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=17388003
Fencing Masks:
Due to Covid-19 and what we have learned about airborne disease, we are no longer providing loaner masks. We sell new fencing masks in the studio for cost ($65-$85), and will buy back at half price any mask within two months of purchase (should you decide not to continue); provided the mask is in good condition and was purchased from us for use in an introductory course. We will sterilize these masks for resale as used masks at half price one time only – we will not buy back any used mask. Sterilizing masks is time-consuming due to the extensive padding inside; it is not possible to do between classes.
Going Forward
We are living in a time of considerable uncertainty, and considerable stress. Exercise and martial arts can help us relieve that stress. Armizare was born in the era of the Black Death, a plague that devastated Europe, particularly Italy, in Fiore’s youth and paid periodic visitations for centuries to come. We never expected to find ourselves in a modern global pandemic, but here we are. During this time, it’s important that we all have the ability to focus on our physical and mental well-being. Both physical exercise and intellectual engagement are critical parts of our overall health.
We will have to be flexible in our approach. I still expect that over the next couple of years we will have periods of greater and lesser restrictions on movement and activities. If more people were willing to be vaccinated this would probably not be the case, but unfortunately we are unlikely to reach community immunity on a national level. Northwest Fencing Academy will use a combination of live classes, online classes, and online courses to build a useful and meaningful training program that we can all follow. We will have to plan strategically, we will have to be flexible, and be nimble as well – but that’s really what martial arts is all about, when you get right down to it.
-Sean Hayes