Northwest Indiana Fencing Club

09/14/2026

Registration is now open for NIFC's Pitchford Winter Classic on AskFred. Follow the link below. This is a 2 weapon, 1 day event, Epee & Saber. Dec 9, 2026

https://www.askfred.net/tournaments/4724d52a-4e86-4ef3-b232-0930f1cf5e9b/preregistrations

09/12/2026

Congrats to Jake on winning a Bronze Medal at the Skyward tournament today!

09/11/2026

We have 4 more USA Fencing sanctioned tournaments booked. And we just got our new tournament stamps. Next up will be our Pitchford Winter Classic in December! Sign up on AskFred.

09/11/2026

For the Thursday installment of "Where's Coach Bob" we look south to West Lafayette and Purdue Fencing Club. He was at N.I.F.C. today while Coach Marek Stepien (OLY) was coaching the Intermediate+ Epee class. But departed early to drive 80 miles south to the Purdue University Campus.

NIFC is a volunteer run 503(c) charity and we work hard to provide outreach and support, not just to the local community but also to Collegiate Clubs.

While we mock Coach Bob for his travels to colleges, for his grumpy sarcasm and his generally "BOB" like charachature of himself all around the midwest, for at least the last half dozen year he does have the reputation of working with many fencers who compete at Collegiate Clubs, from NIU, to Bradley, Univ of Illinois Chicago, U of C, to Wisconsin Whitewater/Marquette, IU to Purdue and he has been invited to help the brand new Holy Cross/St Mary's/Notre Dame club. Coach Bob is both a USA Fencing "Spirit of Sport" winner and also was named "Coach of the Year" in the collegiate Midwest Fencing Conference.

The incoming class at Purdue Fencing Club is huge. Maybe 65+. A nice size group of experienced fencers are incoming this year, but a lot of beginners. Tonight there were fewer fencers but still maybe 60 in the beginner's group!

Photos from the Thursday evening beginners class at Purdue Fencing Club. The class was so big it was split into 3 different sub-classes. One for each weapon. The students will be rotated through all 3 weapons over the next couple of weeks.

09/10/2026

In the latest installment of "Where's Coach Bob?" The fencing students at University of Illinois Chicago put up with his never clever wit nor wisdom as he was up there as a returning guest coach. On the bright side, for NIFC, we got a break from him; also one of our newer Epee students finished his birthday bouts last evening and celebrated with cupcakes.

09/09/2026

Collegiate fencing is now in session. Our own Coach Bob was at the Tuesday Youth Epee with Coach Lauren Reese & Reese Butta this afternoon … then off to Purdue University in W.Lafayette for their practice. Their beginner class is huge! But the big question is where will Coach Bob be Wednesday?

09/06/2026

Reese medaled at this weekends USA Region 2 event. Congrats to him for doing an amazing job at a highly competitive event.

09/02/2026

Tonight is our In-house President's Cup Saber competition. Tomorrow marks the return of Olympian Marek Stepien to NIFC. Coach Marek will be leading Epee and Foil classes, giving private lessons to beginners through serious national competitors and brings a new level of professionalism to NIFC.

08/31/2026

08/31/2026

Fencing is a singular sport that tests your nerves, enhances your decision making, improves your reaction time, stamina, and cardio health while also stressing your muscles. Individual combat, but in a healthy and fun way. And no experience is necessary!

Youth Epee taught by 3 of our young talented fencers, ideal for kids ages 6 to 12, every Tuesday from 5pm to 6:15pm.

In the afternoons on Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday, Olympian Marek Stepien takes over and teaches a Parks Department program and Epee classes.

Coach Stepien also is signing up students for Intermediate Foil, which will begin on Sept 17th in the evening.

Starting October 13, NIFC & Purdue University Coach Bob will start a Beginning Saber Class on Tuesday Evenings. Saber, the fastest of the weapons is sort of a combination of monster trucks & 2 rams crashing their heads together, but in a fun way.

Located in St John, we are an all volunteer run, non-profit, Olympic Fencing Club, and the only Fencing Club in a 6+ county area in Indiana. We supply all the equipment and make fencing fun, whether you are a beginner or a competitor. See our website for links to classes. www.nwifencingclub.com