FUN
⚔️
FITNESS
🗡️
DISCIPLINE
🛡️
FRIENDS
🔱
SWORDS
♞
FUN ⚔️ FITNESS 🗡️ DISCIPLINE 🛡️ FRIENDS 🔱 SWORDS ♞
Does your child love swords, fantasy, or video games? Introducing Knightforge Academy: a Historical European Martial Arts program created just for kids. Our classes keep children active, engaged, and excited to learn through hands-on lessons in medieval swordplay, safety-focused drills, and imaginative storytelling. For families whose children aren’t drawn to traditional sports or common martial arts like karate or taekwondo, Knightforge offers a fun, unique alternative that channels their interests into fitness, confidence, and a place to make friends.
At Knightforge Academy, your child won’t just learn how to swing a sword, they’ll discover how to move with confidence, solve problems, work as a team, and challenge themselves in a encouraging environment. Using safe but realistic foam training swords, our students explore the practice of medieval swordsmanship through games, drills, and age-appropriate martial arts instruction. that keeps them active, engaged, and excited to learn.
IF YOUR CHILD IS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 8-12 YEARS OLD, THIS CLASS IS OPEN TO THEM
If you have a child that is older than 12, they are welcome to join any of our general swordsmanship classes
Download our Parent Information Packet below to learn more about our program, curriculum, schedule, instructors, and what your child can expect at Knightforge Academy.
About Our Classes
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Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) is the study of real European swordsmanship based on surviving historical manuals written by fencing masters hundreds of years ago. Rather than recreating fantasy combat, HEMA teaches practical movement, coordination, timing, and control using techniques that were actually practiced throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance. At Knightforge Academy, we introduce these ideas in a way that is exciting, safe, and easy for children to understand.
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We take historical techniques and streamline them into age-appropriate lessons that focus on balance, footwork, teamwork, and safe sword handling. Every class mixes instruction with games, partner activities, and challenges that keep students active while steadily building real martial arts skills.
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Children learn best when they're having fun. That's why our classes combine structured drills with exciting games designed to develop coordination, reaction time, focus, and teamwork. Students work toward rank progression, earn opportunities to take on new challenges, and eventually graduate into controlled sparring as they demonstrate responsibility, safety, and good sportsmanship. Every activity has a purpose, even when it feels like a game.
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Knightforge classes can prepare children to enter in to our mixed classes that we hold on a weekly basis. They will have an understanding of the history, body mechanics, and techniques before they even go in. All children that go through the complete Knightforge program, upon reaching the age of 13, are automatically given the promotion of a Green Sash. This is a rank that those in our adult and mixed classes must test for.
Knightforge Class Schedule
Explore Our Memberships
NO CONTRACT
$200
Per Month
CANCEL ANYTIME
POPULAR
3 MONTH
CONTRACT
$175
Per Month
6 MONTH
CONTRACT
$150
Per Month
OR
EXPERIENCE KNIGHTFORGE ACADEMY WITH A FREE INTRODUCTORY CLASS
ASK US ABOUT FAMILY SIGNUP DISCOUNTS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS!
MEET YOUR SWORDSMANSHIP INSTRUCTORS
First Aid/CPR Certified and Clean Background Check
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Holly ONeal
HEAD INSTRUCTOR
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Vince Delvecchio
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Zak Burke
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Lily Daniels
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Katelyn OBrien
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Alex Waller
FAKE STEEL, REAL FUN
Learn about the equipment and systems we use in class to keep kids safe and engaged
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We use realistic looking, soft foam swords designed for safe sparring and impact. These are realistic looking, well weighted tools that are sure to capture your child’s interest and imagination! They feature flexible cores with multiple layers of soft foam that will allow students to learn proper form but leave with smiles. Our training swords are specific to this sport and offer a safe yet realistic training tool to those just starting HEMA.
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To ensure the safety of all of our students, we enforce the use of protective glasses and gloves anytime there is competitive contact. Even though our training swords do not require the use of protective equipment to be safe, we insist on protecting the eyes and hands of every child.
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Instructors will instill a level of caution, consent, and control in all of their students. Training in the rules and communication of safe sparring will be something that all students will learn as they become more acquainted with HEMA. Learning how to communicate consent between them and their training partners is one of our most important pillars of Knightforge Academy
Frequently Asked Questions
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Children from ages 8-12 years old
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All gear will be provided, just bring water, comfy clothes, and athletic shoes
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We use foam-padded swords, controlled impact, safety glasses, and gloves that are perfectly safe for children to train with.
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If from the same household, we offer discounts for enrolling multiple students. We also offer this if an adult is taking classes with us already or wants to sign up.
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Children who are 13 and up may enroll in our general swordsmanship classes. We have had many of this age do quite well in our mixed classes.
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Currently, we do not hold classes that can accomodate children under the age of 8
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All instructors have been First Aid certified and have a clean background check. They are both instructors and students of our adult swordsmanship classes and have been chosen for their demeanor, patience, and experience.
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We prefer that all students use our equipment but we are open to inspecting outside training swords to see if they work with our classes. Please ask an instructor when you arrive.
WHERE ARE CLASSES HELD?
UNIVERSAL COMBAT CENTER
5000 Colley Ave Norfolk, VA 23508
Have More Questions?
Please contact us using this form and a representative will follow up with you soon.