Fencing- what weapon is the most fun?

[Blarg]

I love the idea of any target being available and by any method. This seems to me much closer to any reasonable idea of combat. It also seems to fit my natural aggression more. Sorry, I thrive, in sparring, on seeking to exploit weakness, and though I think it is a terrible thing in life, it is an ideal regarding matters of life and death. The more opportunistic, maybe even crueler who knows?, the better. That said, in sparring or competing I'm not talking about cheating/purposely wounding in order to win. Strictly mean life or death, whose connection to fencing is a huge part of what I like about the idea of fencing. Everything completely on the line, all the time. Sweet jeebus! Awful, in the original sense of the word. And probably a bit in the present-day one.

The saber seems the most serious weapon to me. The foil and epee were never weapons of war, and would indeed be a laugh in war. They were the weapons of nobles and dandys. But I could see the appeal of other weapons too.

Could anyone tell me more about the role of leg strength and spring in fencing? I imagine it can be tremendously important, but wonder if my naturally slow legs and flat ass would be a bigger handicap in one type of swordplay than another? My hands can be brilliantly fast, but while with training my legs can be powerful in terms of kicking hard, and nicely evasive(I can dart from side to side and backwards very comfortably and fluidly) they are not particularly explosive in terms of speed. If the ass counts in propelling the lunge, how crippling is my abysmally flat ass?

P.S.: I'm not all that bad at deadlifting. So there's some power there. Just no speed in my gluteus flatimus.

[gurgeh]

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The saber seems the most serious weapon to me. The foil and epee were never weapons of war, and would indeed be a laugh in war. They were the weapons of nobles and dandys.

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I don't think this is true at all. If an epee was a weapon only of the rich, it was because swords were expensive and not because it was a weapon for dandys. As for "war," yes, I'd prefer a sabre in a completely confused melee. As for dueling with live blades, I'd much prefer a solid point weapon, especially if my opponent had a shorter, slashing weapon. Also note that the target area for sabre is above the waist- that's because it was intended for fighting on horseback rather than the ground.

[gurgeh]

In case anyone else lives in central MA, I thought I'd post this:

http://www.higginssword.org/guild/te...html#longsword

It's the only place I know of where you can learn broadsword techniques.

[Blarg]

Well dueling and war are quite different. Soldiers didn't carry foils into battle; they were a gentleman's weapon. A thin, point-only weapon like a foil would be inefficient in war. Swords also bash when they don't cut, and the ability to cut off a limb is pretty great. Also, slashing and the swords that encourage it, like those of the Indonesian archipelago and scimitars, have been a very successful alternative to puncturing. Giving up the weight and durability of a bigger sword, and slashing too, isn't any good in war. If it had been, you would have seen some armies equipping notable segments of their men with thin stabbing weapons. But, they didn't.

[kyleb]

When I saw this thread, I said to myself: "I bet Blarg has about half the posts in the thread."

Good to see that I was fairly accurate.

[[Phill]]

[Anacardo]

Kendo - laughable IMO.

[ElSapo]

It strikes me as strange that you would have an open choice. Most coaches tend to start a new student on one weapon, and move them from there. Not a progression as in A is better than B, but depending on temperment some are "easier" than others.

It's been a while since I fenced. But I fenced seriously for about 12 years, having success on a state-wide level and some success nationally. My college did not have an NCAA team, so I continued with my local club through those years.

In any event, it was my understanding that many coaches begin new students out with Epee. Three reasons, primarily -- it's simpler to understand (first to hit any area of the body wins the point), the equipment is simpler (no lame), and tends to be sturdier and perhaps cheaper in the long-run.

Epee is a decent weapon to start with, simply because the rules are fairly common sense.

Where you go - or if you go anywhere from there - is up to you and the coach.

Personally, I fenced foil almost exclusively. I loved it - fencing remains some of my fondest memories and proudest achievements. And foil always struck me as the weapon which best merged athleticism and strategy.

But the truth is, which weapon anyone suggests to you will most of the time revolve around which they liked best, and which they fenced most. Saber and Foil fencers don't really dig Epee, because of the lack of right of way. Foil fencers think Saber fencers are lunatics, and Epee fencers think right of way is silly.

Ok, that's not all true, but if you were to grossly generalize, well, there you have it, at a very club-casual level anyway. The very best fencers can usually compete strongly in at least two (three is rare).

My suggestion is to start with Epee or Foil. And from me, I say Foil is the most fun. But either one makes a fine starting point.

It really is an amazing sport, and I regret leaving it. But when I moved - broke - to a new city, I found it tough to keep with it. And then time and transportation and so on, and suddenly it's been six years since I really fenced. And it's a shame, because it was one thing I felt I truly was starting to "understand," and yeah, I was in the best shape of my life. Do not let people talk down about the physical benefits of the sport - it is intense.

It's an extremely rewarding sport. You can fence it on so many levels, progress or not, travel or not. There are recreational fencers in all parts, fencing side by side with fencers who are very, very good.

I hope you enjoy it, whatever decision you make. It remains one of those things I define myself by, despite being someting that is probably in the past for me.

Robert

[Warik]

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I have an awesome counterattack. I daresay it's my best touch.
Stop counterattacking? You must be mad.

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Apologies - maybe I shouldn't be more clear. I meant counterattacking into an opponents valid attack, which is what I did forever until somebody finally explained the call to me in terms that someone who hasn't been fencing for years could understand.

A counterattack after an opponents failed attack is teh pwn.

[Warik]

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After wariks post, I think Saber has taken the lead. I like the idea of slashing, and it seems that all fencers here think its the most fun.

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Hooray! I made a difference.

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As for height affecting which weapon I will be best with, I am 5'9. Should this influence my choice?

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Nah - I'm 5'10". There are a few really good saber fencers I've been crushed by who are that height or slightly taller. If you were really tall then you'd have an advantage in foil/epee. One of my club's epee fencers is pretty tall and has a real reach advantage over shorter fencers.

In saber it is not THAT much of an advantage because it doesn't necessarily matter who hits first - it matters who has right of way.

But saber is better anyway so even if you dwarfed Shaq I'd say to fence saber. =)