info@modernduelists.com | (410) 793-4664
505 Blueball Road, Building 205, Elkton, MD 21921
Welcome to Modern Duelists!
Welcome to MoDuel! We’re an epee fencing program in Cecil County, Maryland—just a short hop across both the Delaware and Pennsylvania lines. We teach the sport of fencing to a hugely diverse group of students: total beginners and elite competitors; kids, teens, adults, and retirees; people looking for a fun way to exercise and people looking for their life’s passion. No matter who you are, we’d love to have you join our community and learn to fence with us.
Ages 8+
(410) 793-4664 | info@modernduelists.com
505 Blueball Road, Building 205, Elkton, MD 21921
Our Story
In 2013, our founder and former head coach Jeff Safko first opened the épée-only fencing program in Cecil County, Maryland. We teach our students not just how to fence, but how to “fight,” how to think, and how to be a true student of the game. We tailor our teaching to what each of our students wants and needs. Whether you’re fencing for fun or trying to compete at the highest levels of the sport, we’re here to help you reach all of your goals. We are committed to our athletes and deeply proud of our resulting record of accomplishment: A-rated fencers, Youth and Veteran National Points, medals at all levels, and most recently, the bronze medal in the 2023 Women’s Veteran 70 Women’s Epée National Championships & April North American Cup.
Our Coaches
At MoDuel, our coaches are the program.
We’re not running a big “industrial” program where you’re just “generic student 23”. You’re a real person that wants to learn how to fence. No getting lost in a crowd, no nonsense about a program’s tradition, just real, quality coaching!
Ryleigh Sweet, Head Coach
Head Coach Ryleigh Sweet was one of Modern Duelists’ original members and is now its head coach. She has over a decade of experience under her belt, during which time she’s worked her way up to becoming a prominent coach. She’s a very active competitor on both the regional and national circuits and is known for a fencing game that is extremely energetic and overpowering.
Jeff Safko, Coach
Coach Jeff is the founder of Modern Duelists and the brain behind the MoDuel Method. He’s been fencing for over 20 years and coaching for 18 of those. In his time as a coach, he’s earned a certification as a moniteur d’epee with the United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) and led his students to incredible success: “A” ratings, regional and national medals, youth and veteran national points, and more. He brings a unique, high-energy approach to instruction that is both fun and extremely effective. If you’re working with Coach Jeff, be prepared to sweat!
Justin Tirrell, Coach
Coach Justin joined Modern Duelists in 2015 after fencing with the University of Delaware and has since gone on to become one of the club’s strongest fencers. He is truly passionate about the sport and enjoys sharing his competitive know-how with other fencers. His fencing game is known throughout the program for featuring lightning-fast attacks. Coach Justin is also a certified referee with USA Fencing.
Fence with Us
Are you ready to start training with us? We’d love to have you!
Fencing As a Beginner
Please call or send us a message to let us know you’re interested! We’ll share available options, answer any questions you might have, and help you get started in this amazing sport.
Beginner Fencers
Are you starting fencing for the first time? If you’re ready to train hard, we’re ready to teach. We accept new beginner students on a rolling basis. Please inquire about when our next beginner session will start!
Experienced Fencers
Are you a fencer with previous experience looking to try the MoDuel Method or to join us for open bouting? Contact us to learn more about our availability.
YOUTH FENCERS
MoDuel is now offering youth fencing classes for students ages 8-12! Contact us to learn more.
Class Schedule
Monday
Senior Training Class
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Coach Ryleigh & Coach Justin
Senior Intro Class
6:30pm – 7:30pm
Coach Megan
Open Bouting
8:00pm – 10:00pm
MoDuel Staff
Tuesday
Youth Training Class
4:30pm – 6:00pm
Coach Ryleigh & Coach Sam
Youth Intro Class
4:30pm – 6:00pm
Coach Ryleigh & Coach Sam
Open Bouting
6:00pm – 10:00pm
MoDuel Staff
Wednesday
Senior Training Class
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Coach Ryleigh & Coach Justin
Senior Intro Class
6:30pm – 7:30pm
Coach Megan
Open Bouting
8:00pm – 10:00pm
MoDuel Staff
Thursday
Youth Training Class
4:30pm – 6:00pm
Coach Ryleigh & Coach Sam
Youth Intro Class
4:30pm – 6:00pm
Coach Ryleigh & Coach Sam
Competitor Class
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Coach Ryleigh & Coach Jeff
Saturday
Open Bouting
9:30am – 11:00am
MoDuel Staff
Senior Intro Class
10:00am – 11:00am
Coach Megan
Drill Session
11:00am – 11:30am
Coach Justin
Conditioning Class
11:30am – 12:30pm
Coach Justin
Youth Intro Class
1:00pm – 2:30pm
Coach Sam
Our Students
So what kind of person fences, and what kind of person trains at MoDuel? The short answer is that there is no one kind of person that fences with us. Our students come from all walks of life: all backgrounds, all ages (8+), all genders, and all levels of experience and athleticism. We have elite athletes and reformed couch potatoes, teenagers and retirees, complete beginners and national medalists.
Here’s what all of our fencers do have in common: We’re fighters. We have an unwavering dedication to self-improvement, to finding out how far we can push ourselves and how good we can get. We find joy in putting in the hard work. We see our teammates and our community as a vital part of the process, and we know we couldn’t improve without them. They push us to be better, and we do the same in return. We fence not because we love the results but because we love the journey..
Fencing News & Resources
Which Fencing Tournaments am I Eligible For? (2025-26 Edition)
Understanding which fencing tournaments you or your child are eligible for can be complicated, to say the least. There are a lot of different tournament categories for different ages and skill levels of fencers, which is great in terms of the variety that it offers....
Tournament Challenge Levels
To help our fencers decide which of our tournaments they may want to attend, we’re trying out a new “challenge level” system. Under this system, each event will get a ranking between zero and five (or a range of rankings). A Level 1 is the least challenging, and a...
Tournament Resources
Ready to compete in your first fencing tournament? Take a look at our collection of tournament resources to learn everything you need to know about to sign up and prepare for your first event.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When do you schedule private lessons? How long are they?
Lessons are scheduled throughout the day Monday – Thursday & Saturday afternoons. Beginner lessons are only available after 4pm Monday – Thursday & Saturday afternoons.
Lessons are typically 20 minutes but can be scheduled in longer blocks upon request.
What equipment do I need to purchase?
Established fencers need to have their own passable gear to participate in any programming. Beginners may use club gear at no additional cost, and will gradually acquire their own personal gear under the supervision of coaches who will ensure correct fit, safety, and compliance with current fencing rules.
Do I need to have previous experience?
No experience is required to begin fencing! As long as you’re willing to train hard, we accept students of all levels of experience and athleticism.
Am I too young/old to start fencing?
We only accept students aged eight and up, however, we have no maximum age. Our fencers range in age from 8-70+ and we have a large community of adult fencers!
Do you teach foil/saber fencing, HEMA, or any other types of swordfighting?
We are an epee-only program and have no plans to expand into other weapons or historical swordfighting.