
SwordSeat™

Funded through generous donations from the BF Charity, on behalf of British Fencing and directed by Rick Rodgers, Dr. Ed Elias designed and developed the SwordSeat™ with his Integrated Design Engineering student Conor Roberts at the University of Bath. The SwordSeat™ is our response to the prohibitive cost and equipment requirements of wheelchair fencing.
Reducing the cost from many thousand pounds to a few hundred and making large bulky hunks of metal (that, to the surprise of many, are not allowed to move!) to something low cost, DIY, adaptable, and easy to transport.
The SwordSeat includes two wooden chairs:
We really hope that you give it a try and enjoy this fantastic sport!
Disclaimer – “The SwordSeat™ is a chair for community use as part of the development of a seated fencer. The chair is designed and intended for use only as specified below.
- Use must be restricted to club or recreational fencing
- The chair must be manufactured and assembled to the BF SwordSeat specification without any deviation.
- Use of the chair must be risk assessed individually for each participant by a coach who is BF registered and has a valid BF SwordSeat™ certification and who is satisfied that the chair is safe for the participant to use and who supervises use of the chair.
- Participants have declared to the supervising coach all relevant injuries and disabilities prior to use.
The chair is safe to use only if the above requirements are met.
Manufacturing of SwordSeat™ – Manufacturing of the chair must be undertaken by professionals in strict accordance with the published design.
Assembly- Please ensure that you follow all safety precautions and use appropriate tools during assembly. If you are unsure of your ability to assemble this furniture safely, we recommend professional assistance.
The chair may be used only if the above requirements are met.
By assembling this furniture, you agree that you are solely responsible for its assembly and use. British Fencing provide assembly instructions as a guide, and do not accept any liability for errors in assembly or any resulting injury or damage. BF excludes (so far as is it is able) any liability (including liability for negligence) arising from the manufacture or use of the chair (including where the chair is not manufactured or used as required above).”

How To Assemble
What pieces are included · How to assemble the pieces · How to use the ratchet strap

Fencing Alignment
Aligning the SwordSeat once built · Changing the alignment to left- or right-handed

Make Your Own
What equipment you’ll need · Final touches

FREE Downloadable SwordSeat Design File
FREE downloadable file · How to build a SwordSeat from scratch · Fully illustrated DIY manual

Purchase the SwordSeat pattern here
£75 (UK only) · A0 pattern sheets for easy cutting · Guided DIY

Purchase ready-made SwordSeat here
£400 (UK only) · Professionally CNC cut · Flat pack delivery

SwordSeat Purchase FAQ

SwordSeat Training CPD
Last updated 11 Aug 2026