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#12
11-27-2006, 03:08 AM
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Re: Fencing- what weapon is the most fun?
Gamblore,
I don't find fencing to be all that great in terms of developing overall fitness. For everything above the waist, the muscle and nerve training your body receives is very specific and asymmetrical. You'll definitely strengthen your glutes, thighs and calves. Also, I do believe that the more intense pace of saber makes higher demands on your footwork than foil. But, really, you should be hitting the gym and doing footwork-only practice in addition to bouting and weapon drills, no matter which weapon you fence. 
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#13
11-27-2006, 03:34 AM
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Re: Fencing- what weapon is the most fun?
ya I don't expect much in terms of a workout, I plan to get that elsewhere for the most part, though I am kind of hoping to get some better reflexes/speed with my attacking arm. This is something I always wanted to improve, and was one of the reasons that encouraged me fence.
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#14
11-27-2006, 03:42 AM
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Re: Fencing- what weapon is the most fun?
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#16
11-27-2006, 10:25 PM
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Re: Fencing- what weapon is the most fun?
Sabre is definitely the most fun, but also the most popular (at least where and when I fenced...), so you might not be able to jump into it right away.
If I couldn't do sabre, I'd do foil. Epee seems like it's more interesting because of the wider target area, but in practice it degenerates into trying to spear your opponent's toe, which is not fun for me. Again, just at the low level I acheived.
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#18
11-27-2006, 10:35 PM
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Re: Fencing- what weapon is the most fun?
For those that don't get this thread:
Sabre:  Foil:  Epee: 
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#19
11-28-2006, 01:24 AM
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Re: Fencing- what weapon is the most fun?
If you like right of way, you're going with foil or sabre.
If you don't give a damn about right of way and prefer to let the person who gets there first score, you're going with epee. If you like cuts and clashes and think that seeing sparks fly off your opponent's mask is too cool to pass up, you're going with sabre. If you think jamming the thickest, heaviest piece of metal into your opponent's body is too cool to pass up, you're going with epee. If you like the fastest possible action, you're going with sabre. If you like charging headlong past your opponent while you attack, you're going with epee or foil. I started with sabre. It's very fast and favors aggression. Target area is everything above the waist, with any part of the blade. Frustrating things can occur when you have a crappy judge, who thinks that your pris le fer was actually your opponent's, and awards him the touch instead of you. Super fun things about sabre, other than the obvious, include the opportunity for stop cuts, which I think compare favorably to check-raising the aggressor in poker. If you see guys who are fairly short or squat and maybe even pudgy, they probably fence sabre, but I've seen all types. I fenced epee a little after sabre, and I could honestly go back and forth. It was nice to get away from stupid beat attacks that would never have any chance of actually moving a blade off-target and just say "Who gets there first, wins." Target area is the entire body. I wouldn't attack or even feint at the nuts for two reasons, though: 1) Your opponent is probably wearing a cup, which takes the fear out of it, and 2) Keep in mind that he has a sword in his hand, too. You don't want that sword looking for the family jewels. Lines of attack and defense become much more important, and precision is favored over quickness. Epee bouts last far longer than sabre bouts because there is less of a sudden crash and more of a back and forth, and therefore your stamina must be greater. Aggressive epeeists may fleche a lot, which is not allowed in sabre unless the rules have changed in the last couple of years. If you see tall, skinny people, those are most probably epeeists, as the longest reach matters more with this weapon than any other. I never fenced foil other than in screwing around. And by screwing around, I mean screwing up, so take heed that is is definitely my weakest weapon. Target area you must already know pretty well if that's what you started with, and of course you can fleche, but you have to hit the trunk, and right of way is a concern. I never liked foil because the really good fencers could flick their blades so easily, brush your shoulder lightly, and take a touch in a way that I think has nothing to do with actual fencing. That said, I really disliked it because I was no good at it. If you prefer the interplay of line attacks and parries, but like right of way and don't want to worry about wrist or head touches, foil is for you.
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#20
11-28-2006, 01:33 AM
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Re: Fencing- what weapon is the most fun?
[ QUOTE ]
Gamblore, I don't find fencing to be all that great in terms of developing overall fitness. For everything above the waist, the muscle and nerve training your body receives is very specific and asymmetrical. You'll definitely strengthen your glutes, thighs and calves. Also, I do believe that the more intense pace of saber makes higher demands on your footwork than foil. But, really, you should be hitting the gym and doing footwork-only practice in addition to bouting and weapon drills, no matter which weapon you fence. [/ QUOTE ] You can also do some training with the opposite hand to balance things out a little. I had one coach who said you should be good enough with your off hand to practice against your teammates with it, and that should take care of some of the assymetry. I felt like a 'tard the few times I tried it, though.
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