California Fencing Academy

California Fencing Academy offers fencing and archery, including beginning archery and beginning classes and camps. The program includes a recreational and developmental fencing program as well as national, elite, international, and NCAA fencing programs. It also offers summer camps that can combine fencing and archery.

• Ages: 7–18 years old

California Fencing Academy has been active since 1986 and describes its history as “Forging champions inside & out since 1986.” The owner, director, and head coach is Ania Tibbetts. The program includes the CFA Recreational & Developmental Program and TEAM CFA – National, Elite, International & NCAA Programs, and it notes that summer camps registration is open. The academy also offers a newsletter and program guide sign-up and has offered promotions such as a Groupon free trial lesson in the past, as well as full refunds in some cases described in parent testimonials, and small class sizes for beginner archery as described in a testimonial.

Parents and students in testimonials describe experiences with fencing, archery, beginning archery, and summer camps at California Fencing Academy. Several testimonials mention instructors and coaches including Ania Tibbetts, Daniel Tibbetts, Dan, and Nick, and describe beginning, recreational, and national-level fencing experiences. One testimonial notes that the women’s Youth 12 foil national champion in 2013 was from California Fencing Academy. Other listed accomplishments include Genevieve earning a spot on the Irish Cadet National Team and attending the 2017 Cadet World Championships in Bulgaria, Julia earning a spot on the Japanese Cadet National Team, and Ishani Sood winning the 2017 Pan American Championship in Youth-10 Girls Foil. The program states that thousands of Bay Area residents, from recreational students to world-class athletes, have learned to fence at California Fencing Academy.

Last updated June 30, 2026.