BladeFit Academy Youth Sword Classes

BladeFit Academy Youth Sword Classes offers youth and teen sword training that includes Youth & Teen Soft combat sports, Youth Class, Cubs Club, Youth Longsword, Beginner Longsword, Intermediate Longsword, and Stick & Targe. Students take part in activities such as single combat, team vs team scenarios with fun objectives, longsword and smallsword practice, Highland-inspired shield work, stick-fighting, sparring, and games. All equipment for young students is made of specialized soft plastic materials designed specifically for their safety needs, and students under the age of 18 learn in the SCS (Soft Combat Sports) program, a globally recognized sword sport that uses HEMA-recognized equipment and rule sets.

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Class options include evening Youth Class and Cubs Club from 6:00–7:00pm, Youth & Teen Soft from 6:00–7:00pm on select Mondays, Youth Longsword from 10:00–11:30am, and various evening longsword and Stick & Targe classes for older teens and adults

BladeFit Academy lists a leadership team that includes Coach Nate as Head Instructor, with instructors Nathan McBride, Zane McBride, and Eric Kuhta. The program notes 17+ years of experience and states that adult students receive instruction in forms recognized as Historic European Martial Arts (HEMA), grounded in the works of authentic masters passed down by treatises. The mission statement describes providing a gathering place for those who wish to practice the virtues of swordplay and helping the next generation earn the discipline they need to win in life. The program notes that SCS is a globally recognized sword sport with thousands of students who compete under a strict set of rules of training and conduct, and that a Victory Patch is awarded for competing in an officially sanctioned duel. Testimonials describe a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, instruction by a knowledgeable coach, classes that include practicing techniques, sparring, and games, and a community with both children and adults training together.

Last updated February 28, 2026.