Hong Kong Fencing School immediately caught our attention thanks to its founder Wong Zan, a former Hong Kong team coach who has trained over 50 athletes for the city’s representative team.

His experience is reflected in the way coaches teach here. One parent we spoke to told us her kid went from barely knowing what épée (another fencing weapon) was to making the regional youth team in just a few years.

We love that they cater to everyone from toddlers to competitive pros. Their beginner courses break down the sport into simple, easy-to-follow steps. 

We like that they teach footwork first before letting new students touch a blade, which helps build confidence without feeling overwhelming.

We also found their group classes excellent for anyone wanting support on their fencing journey. 

Plus, the facilities are fantastic too. They have dedicated pistes (fencing strips) and well-maintained gear that’s regularly updated. 

However, their popularity works against them a bit. A few families said that it can be hard to get a spot in their private classes.

Provides reasonable teaching quality

“The venue is spacious, clean, and provides reasonable teaching quality.”

• Alex Fung, Google Reviews

They provide us extra training for free

“Been there for 3 years, it improve me a lot !they provide us extra training for free”

• Yin Chung Yau, Google Reviews

The Academy of Fencing stands out for its comprehensive approach. They teach all three fencing disciplines: Foil, Épée, and Sabre. 

Studentsdon’t need to hop between schools if they want to experiment. This flexibility also makes the school ideal for beginners or those curious about multiple styles.

The coaches are impressive too. They have won over 150 medals collectively, including international titles. 

One man we met said his coach helped him fix a messy lunge technique that had held them back for years. 

We also love that they make fencing feel approachable for newcomers. They have trial lessons that let us test the sport without signing up for a full course. We appreciated the thorough demonstrations and helpful advice on correct form. 

The only downside? We found that parking can be a nightmare.

The academy excels not just in teaching technique, but in building character

“The academy excels not just in teaching technique, but in building character. The coaches mentor children in integrity, respect, and independence alongside skills and footwork. They foster a disciplined yet supportive environment where young fencers grow into skilled, confident, and well-rounded individuals. Highly recommended for any levels.”

• Frankie Chan Google Reviews 

The coach is approachable 

“Our child has been learning fencing at AFHK for over a year. He really likes Coach Lee and his wife Grace here. The coach is approachable but can also be strict when needed, teaching the kids with great patience and effective methods. Therefore, we will continue to let our child develop in this sport here.”

• Soei Kong Google Reviews 

Fencing Master has the only 2-time Olympian head coach in Hong Kong who specializes in Foil. Coach Lau Kwok Kin guided the Hong Kong team to victory at the 2023 World University Games. 

We like how Coach Lau doesn’t just teach fencing. He teaches his students how to lead. From the fencing positions to the right mindset for swordsmanship, we learned a lot in the class we took here. 

Speaking of class, we love that all his classes are in English and cater to international school students. 

The fencing camps are great too. Students we spoke to appreciated that their coach could spot every small mistake and help them fix it right away. 

We also like that they do demonstration fights for corporate events, which is a fun way to showcase the sport to people who’ve never seen it up close. 

That said, their focus on Foil means those who want to try Épée or Sabre will need to look elsewhere. 

Grows not just in skill but in confidence

“We cannot express enough how grateful we are for Fencing Master. Our son, Andrew, had joined the club for more than 3 years. The professional coaching here is exceptional especially coach Dave where he took the time to understand Andrew’s strengths and interests, tailoring exercises that not only developed his skills but also kept him engaged and excited. Each session is filled with motivation and encouragement, making learning both fun and effective.

The result of this learning makes Andrew grows not just in skill but in confidence. He now looks forward to every practice, eager to learn more about the sport he loves. We highly recommend Fencing Master to anyone looking for a nurturing environment where young athletes can thrive!”

— Hendra and Ingrid

• Hendra Arifin Google Reviews 

Coaches were engaging and patient

“We had a corporate team building activity here, coaches were engaging and patient. Will recommend this to all companies for internal team building.”

• Jenny M. Heung Google Reviews 

Elite Academy of Fencing focuses on whole-person development. We love that they treat fencing as a way to help people build life skills, and not just sport skills. 

One adult student we spoke to said the classes helped him manage stress better. He said the discipline of focusing on each move takes his mind off stress. 

Their class structure is very meticulous and thorough, with a structured curriculum, printed manuals, and a grading system. This gives their fencing students clear goals to work towards. 

They also offer classes in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, so there’s no language barrier. 

We also love their free fight sessions. These are open to everyone, not just students. We joined one of these and had fun sparring with different styles for just HKD $100 a session. 

However, their classes sometimes have a waitlist, which can be annoying for those eager to get started. 

The staff have been very nice to me and my friends

“After fencing here myself,i think that to excel in this type of sport you need to be creative and have good eye coordination.I think fencing allows people to think creatively.The staff have been very nice to me and my friends.I thank them for allowing us to try this unfamiliar sport.The place is nice and you can even play videos games while you wait.I will definitely consider taking fencing seriously.its very intense and fun.”

• Matthew Merina Google Reviews 

The environment was very nice 

“I tried Fencing today and it was a surprising experience for me. The environment was very nice and the coaches are super friendly and experienced. The overall comment is that I recommend this place for a great learning opportunity.”

• 匿名小飛象鴨嘴青蛙短尾矮章魚獸 Google Reviews 

What makes the European Fencing Club stand out is its unique “From Zero to Hero!” program. It’s a 90-day course that gets beginners ready for tournaments.

Headed by Coach Serhii Mymrenko, who has 20 years of experience in Épée, the center trains all fencers. One student we met said she went from never holding a sword to competing in a local junior tournament in a few months. 

In classes, we like that Coach Serhii makes sure his students understand why they’re doing each move, and not just how. He gives in-depth explanations to help his students gain a better understanding of the sport.

We also appreciate that they teach all three fencing types and offer customized physical training (CGPT) to help fencers build strength and flexibility. A student who started fencing to stay fit said the CGPT program has improved his body aches.

Their group classes are fun too, and welcome students from all over the world. We enjoyed the community vibes in the group class we took. 

The only catch? Their schedule is heavier on evening and weekend classes, so it can be tough for people with irregular work hours to commit. 

Helped me great deal with improving my technique 

“My club in the UK was closed for winter break, decided to squeeze in some extra practice in EFC during my vacation in HK. Worked with the friendly amazing coach, his teaching is focus and precise, helped me great deal with improving my technique in a short time. Great school to learn to fence and train up physically.”

• Dorothy Lee Google Reviews 

Professional expat coaches

“Professional expat coaches. Very high level of education and fun classes, very affordable price. My kid (9 y/o) loves those lessons. Spacious and new sport facilities”

• Yulia Sirkina Google Reviews