Fencing

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

Does anybody fence? I plan to take it up after my intro course is over (3 Mondays to have a little playtime with each blade. ^^).

It's a lot of fun, and I already love the Epee, though I still have to try out Saber. But I'm torn on which to start with. Like I said, I love the Epee, but I think starting with Foil would make me better with the Epee once I get to it.

Maybe I'll do Foil for a month or two and then switch to Epee.

[dysplektia]

*sneaks quietly into off topic and cautiously dips toes in*

Yup. On and off for years for fun. Epee with french grip, not pistol ( I'm not a purist. I'm just stubby so I like the extra reach )

I wouldn't say I'm good at it, but you cant beat stabbing a masked faceless opponent with a yard or more of steel , to relieve daily stress. (Plus the mask muffles the quiet muttering )

I started with foil, but found it too rigid ( rules, not the blade ) but it suits my other half, who is irritatingly fast, and has a love of foils with really whippy blades. Something about being able to tag someone on their back when attacking from the front, if done right. pfft. showoff.

I love Epee - which you've already tried. That whole " If you can see it and reach it, you can stab it" part appeals to me. The rules are similar to foil , but I personally find it - free-er ? A bit more relaxed anyway

Sabre I havent played with so much, other than a couple of lessons. Pro's - Side of the blade contact. Con's - Upper body target only ( doesnt suit my low and evil designs )

The club I was with certainly didnt have policies about restricting anyone to just one weapon. Mixed matches were sadly not allowed

I don't know how serious you are, but your own kit makes it all so much more comfy than club/ group gear. Plus it fits.
( Incidentally - the pudding bowls are ok, but a full chest plastron is Much Much comfier in the long run )

You also have the little round bruises the relevant weapons target area. in , which make for a conversation piece. The ones that are white in the middle are the best.

Go for it. I've never found any sport i like so much.

Regards,

Dys

[Sheldonrs]

I took 2 semesters of fencing in High School and loved it. It was the only gym course I did well in. Epee was my favorite.

[Shards]

I used to. I was a saberist in high school. Foil is a good way to get the basics down, but it's not very exciting in it's own right. I would suggest spending some time with it if you want to improve your fundamentals, then picking up another weapon. If, on the other hand, you're a casual fencer, and don't mind being moderately decent as opposed to pretty good, go right into the weapon you like best, you'll enjoy it more.


For the record, Epee is much more about acrobatics and reflexes than the other two, as there is no such thing as a non-scoring touch. Saber, my blade of choice, is more about pure athleticism, and burst speed. The right of way rules are designed to require you to charge the opponent as soon as you're allowed, and if one of you defends instead of attacking, it can turn into a metal maelstrom, as each parry or dodge will include a counter attack, unlike the more slow paced foil, where it is sometimes in your best interests to let your enemy think you'll repose and then screw up their defenses.

Basically, think of it this way: A high ranked Foilist is like a master chess player, all about manipulating the rules in a relatively slow paced environment. A high ranked Epeeist is like a carnival acrobat, adept at performing tricks you didn't think their body was capable of pulling off on a split second's notice. A high ranked Saberist is like a raging berserker, all speed, strength, and endurance, with the level of skill determining just how perfectly they apply their weight to a parry, or how close they get to a blade as it swings past without touching them.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I fence. No reason you can't play with all weapons forms, but if you are just starting out, I would think you'd probably be best starting with foil, just to get the discipline down.

Plus, it's been my experience that you are less likely to break or separate your opponent's rib with an inexperienced foil thrust. Foils sting if you get whipped with one, but that's about the worst they usually do. Learn control, then move on to other weapons forms.

Only time I was seriously injured in a match was when I was hit in the chest with a wild epee thrust. Epees don't give nearly as easily as a rib does. Foils do.

Oh, yeah. Make sure you wear adequate chest protection. Like I wasn't doing.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

I took 2 semesters of fencing in High School and loved it. It was the only gym course I did well in. Epee was my favorite.

Dude... where was that at my school? I coulda been a jock!


Thanks for the tips, everyone. At the school I'm going to, they provide plastic chest protectors. What I really need is armpit padding. I get stabbed there more times...

[AdminAssistant]

ummm, I've taken a bit of Stage Combat, does that count? Unfortunately, they changed teachers before I took the class, and the new prof. hadn't been certified in armed combat (foils, daggars, broadsword*, etc.) yet. But she was able to bring in someone to do a workshop.

Of course, the foils are blunted. Daggars, broadswords...not so much. Yes, I know actors who got careless and figured that out the hard way.

* Broadswords onstage are pretty uncommon, because they simply aren't as safe as foils. But, occasionally, they'll be pulled out for the Henry and Richard plays by good ol' Billy Shakes.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

Oh... ouch.

I always figured you'd have to know SOME fencing to choreograph a decent fake fight on stage or film. Of course, now I see that most movie battles are closer to Foil than a real duel. Bangity!

I think I'll purchase my own outfit and an Epee via Starter Kit (hee, I love those), and just borrow a Foil from the school. If I end up liking it, I can just get a foil later.

The school I'm going to is pretty loose about structure and levels of fencing (like some people think Foil -->Epee --> Saber). We actually did some electric Epee fencing last night. I was having fun with my "tail". The 3 newbs, myself included, each one once. And fairly. We all sparred each other twice, so lost one and won one.

[RetailWorkhorse]

I don't fence (couldn't afford the lessons when I had the chance) but EQ and I do have this nasty habit of greeting each other with staffs (and the wooden swords, which hurt like a bitch).

I work well with a 4.5' staff.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Here's the supplier most of us use; the link is to the collegiate fencing underarm protection page:

http://www.triplette.com/catalog.php?category=33

This company kind of split in two, more or less. The re-creation/theatrical supplier we all use is this half:

http://www.zenwarriorarmory.com/

[Nyoibo]

ummm, I've taken a bit of Stage Combat, does that count?

Almost, the parries and attacks are the same 1-5, just with fencing you're aiming for the person not casting your cut.

Oh... ouch.

I always figured you'd have to know SOME fencing to choreograph a decent fake fight on stage or film. Of course, now I see that most movie battles are closer to Foil than a real duel.

Not necesarily, they can actually stuff you up, just like martial arts can as well, in stage combat the aim is to not hit your opponent and make it look good, fencing and martial arts it's about hitting your opponent, looking good is a secondary consideration.


That being said, I love my stage combat, where else can you string together a 30 or so attacks and parries together at full speed and not worry about getting hit?

[AdminAssistant]

Not necesarily, they can actually stuff you up, just like martial arts can as well, in stage combat the aim is to not hit your opponent and make it look good, fencing and martial arts it's about hitting your opponent, looking good is a secondary consideration.

I'd say, with my limited experience with stage combat, #1 consideration is SAFETY. #2 is looking good. That is why, generally speaking, you will never ever ever see a sword in close proximity to an actor's face. ("Don't screw up the headshot!" is one of the cardinal rules).

As I said, I never got to do much armed combat (although I do know the basic 1-5 thrusts/parries), I got a full course in unarmed, which is just as fun. Performing the fight was REALLY fun, as I didn't really get along well with my scene partner, but she could take me any day of the week. However, the way the fight was choreographed, I got to totally kick her ass.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

Welp, I signed up for the Beginner Fencing courses. I'm gonna start with Foil, since that's the one I least liked.

We did Sabre tonight, and I was the only one there. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would.

My goal is to become proficient in all 3 weapons.

[Buglady]

I lived with a fencer for many, many years - he's a very tall, left handed man with a devilishly sneaky mind and endless patience. He does VERY well in foil. I took some lessons, and enjoyed it, but I wasn't in good enough physical shape to fence regularly. The club we were with at the time only allowed beginners to fence Foil, and women weren't allowed to do Sabre at all, so that kind of killed my interest in it and motivation to get in better shape. (I am NOT a foil or epee personality. I'm a crazy flailing berserker at heart and I wanted a sabre!!)

Now I am in better shape and the club here has quite a few women sabreurs so I may take it up again. I could be in trouble as far as gear goes though - cycling is already expensive enough as a hobby, and I *know* how much my ex spends on equipment...

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Wait, what?

You were in a club where women were not allowed to fight sabre?



(stutter stutter stutter) WHY?

What in the great blazing purple fk is the reasoning behind THAT??????

I mean, you know what? I could even understand it if it was something clearly dependant on upper body strength or that had a very, very high chance of injury to smaller people, (and then I'd only understand it marginally) but we are talking about a series of sports here that rely on speed. What's cool about sabre and fencing is that women are NOT at a handicap when their opponent is stronger or tougher.

Who were these cretins? Shoot, I'd have had some fun with those guys. "Oh, I can't fight sabre? Come take it away from me, sonny."