History

Some time ago… in a land, not so far away….

Meghan Gardner started training in martial arts at the age of 12.  Having never been particularly interested in sports before then, she made up for a lack of physical talent with a deep curiosity.

Later, while attending Syracuse University, she started Foil Fencing with the SU Team. At the same time she was working towards her Instructor Certification in martial arts and pursuing a degree in Visual and Performing Arts. It was there that Meghan met the love of her life and married her husband, Frank. They moved to California for a few years where Meghan was an Underwater Videographer and expanded her training in martial arts with the American Tae Kwon Do Association. It wasn’t long before Frank became involved in martial arts as well. Both tested for their black belt together (while Meghan was 6 months pregnant) and passed.

Soon after having their first daughter they decided to move to the New England area to live closer to their families. Meghan immediately started teaching martial arts through the local recreation departments and health clubs. It was only a couple of years later before their second daughter was born. And then it was time to get busy…

In 1999, Guard Up! Inc. was incorporated with the idea of offering numerous styles of empty hand and traditional weapon arts. In 2001, they opened their first full time training facility in Burlington, MA. It wasn’t long before Guard Up caught the attention of the surrounding community. Here was a place where kids, teens and adults could learn sword fighting and fencing!

We noticed that many of our students were especially creative. They longed for an activity that provided mental stimulation… where strategy wasn’t limited to a predefined model… where safety and fun were more important than winning… where questions were more than allowed – they were encouraged.

As the word spread, classes, students and staff grew so much that they expanded to a new facility located near the Burlington Mall. Five years later, that facility was outgrown and relocated down the road to our current home with 7200 square feet of climate controlled space, over 230 onsite members and another 150 offsite, and a new After School Program.  Guard Up is now the largest swordsmanship training school in the USA.

In 2006, Frank Gardner became accredited as a Junior Olympics Volleyball Coach at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. His mentor, John Kessel (former Olympic Coach who led the US team to gold in Sydney 2000), inspired Frank to pursue new coaching methods that increased lesson retention and improved performance. He believed these methods to be universal to all competitive sports.

At the same time, Meghan became involved in the Positive Coaching Alliance. The PCA endorses a modern coaching method that inspires kids and adults by emphasizing concepts such as “Honoring the Game” and redefining what it means to be a “Winner”… which aligned perfectly with the Guard Up philosophy.

Meghan and Frank combined these methods and added other elements from Frank’s professional training in Crisis Communication to develop a comprehensive coaching program unlike any other. To enact these methods, all Guard Up instructors attend mandatory weekly meetings in this coaching methodology. This allows all of our instructors to remain on the “cutting edge” of the science of learning.

Alongside the development of the professional coaching program at Guard Up, Meghan enlisted the help of a number of brilliant instructors and game developers to devise a custom Live Role Playing Game for Guard Up students. This game system became known as Points & Powers™ and is one of our most impressive offerings of our classes and events. It is also the foundation of our Wizards & Warriors™ Summer Camps and After School Program… providing an exciting and comprehensive rules system that allows students and campers to live the type of adventure they have only ever read about or seen in the movies. The focus of the game is to help students develop an understanding of strategy, tactics, teamwork, problem solving and other important life skills in a highly entertaining and creative environment. The success of this program has attracted the attention and dedication of people from all over the country who spend their summers at our camps – both as campers and as staff. During the school year, kids and teens also get to participate in these adventures through our weekly classes, monthly events and our After School Program.

Today, Guard Up is known in the surrounding communities and the sports industry for its high standard of instructor training as well as its emphasis on sports and creative games as vehicles for positive personal growth. We hope that you will join our family at Guard Up where exploration, fun and community are an integral part of our activities… where sword sports are taught for bright and creative minds. Come on by and you will find your adventure waiting for you.

Philosophy

Our philosophy at Guard Up! Family Swordsmanship is simple. Every class, camp, party, program and event must precisely follow our primary Three Rules of Operation (3RO) in the following order:

1. All actions must be SAFE.
2. All actions must be FUN.
3. And all actions, when #1 and #2 are met, must be EDUCATIONAL.

Guard Up! is a company created by families for families. We understand the needs of various ages… from the youngest Little Knight all the way up to our adult competitive sport fencers. And since many of us are parents, we place Safety as our first priority. However, in our 10 years of operation, we have come to realize that everyone, even the most avid competitor, also wants to have fun. So we have applied this ingredient thoroughly in each of our programs and offerings. Our instructors are highly trained in our special coaching methods. And our team of plot writers make sure our interactive adventures capture your focus and inspire your imagination.

What motivates us is also simple: It is the excited, wide eye look our students have when they “get it” after practicing a technique and having their coach “catch them doing it right”… and it is the excited, wide eye look of wonder when a child sees their imagination come to life in front of them… offering them the chance to be the hero in a real life adventure they have only ever dreamed of before. This is why we are passionate about our work. We love to inspire.