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Borrowing from Eastern martial arts schools, Maryland Fencing Club awards stripe patches, worn on a fencer's sleeve under the club patch, to denote
what he/she has learned from the club curriculum. These ranks only carry meaning within the club; they are based mostly on what a student learns vs. what
he/she earns in competition. The USFA classifications (E, D, C, B, A) and national points are based on what a fencer has earned vs. what
he/she has learned. While each fencer will learn at his/her own pace, and there are no rigid timetables for training, it is estimated that
a new fencer of average ability, with at least two training sessions per week, will acheive purple rank within a year, orange a year later, and 1st degree black a year
after that. Training along with the club curriculum is only required for new fencers. Fencers new to the club with prior experience
may elect not to follow the curriculum, or if they do, they may take an equivalency test (after their first month of full membership) to get credit for
their training and accomplishments prior to joining the club.
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