Fencing Thread

[Der Übermensch]

So Linkinbassist and I don't need to keep hijacking the L&R thread.

SO i now have a load of fencing gear. getting the parcel and opening it was like christmas coming early :) just to test it on the piste now and i'm set for equipment for a long while to come...

Seemingly pointless to mention, but it's the one high point i've had in near enough two weeks...Oh, and my uni (Staffordshire) beat Oxford 2nds today, which put a smile on my face as well :)

I managed to snap one epee in practice yesterday, and my second one seems about to :( We have no meets till next semester though so I'm not in any hurry to replace them. Just pissed me off...

On another note, you any good at Flechés? I've been trying to improve mine since last meet I was against this really short chick and I REALLY wanted to, cause it would have worked every time I felt... except I was pretty sure I'd just fall flat on my face :(

[Linkinbassist]

I have been fleching in practise, but i've only landed a couple of text-book ones...They do work, a lot of people just don't know how to deal with them which helps!

In Epee, you can cross your feet can't you? Cause i want to take up sabre but you can't let your feet cross so the Fleché becomes that much harder :s

I've got a lot of new equipment to test tonight, hopefully i don't have to hand over my swords to the armourer tonight to be fixed! That would be a tragedy...So, there must be more fencers than us, surely?!

[Der Übermensch]

One guy on our team, this big hulking Ukrainian (although he is really very friendly) does Fleché ALL the time. He's also a lefty which makes it a lot easier as his natural direction is to the off hand. I always forget and run towards the sword hand.
As for dealing with them, I don't remember what I used to do in foil, but in epee being tall is all that really matter. Do a hasty retreat while leaning forward and you generally can catch them on the arm. They just run into the blade for you :)
I once saw a Saberist demonstrate a Saber fleché, they called it a 'flunge' and it was hilarious.

[Linkinbassist]

It's like an off-balance skip, it makes me laugh too :p i fenced a guy yesterday who's a sabreur and he hadn't fenced foil in 2 years. I beat him 5-2 when he was still in sabre mode because he kept doing stop-cuts and left himself completely open, so i just poked him in the stomach and took the match :p

Then he finally got in the groove and beat me 5-4 :( it was so close though, he's got immense speed on him!

[Der Übermensch]

I need to practice my foil more or else I'm gonna be doing the same thing, but just trying to tap my opponents hand... Our Epee squad is the only one that is actually responsible, we always show up at practice and always meet quota for tournys. The sabers and foils are lazy never enough show up, so we decided I also will double as the sub for the foil squad. I'm going to get my *** handed to me royally I feel if the need arises...

[Linkinbassist]

I just found out that the first competition that the club is expected to enter outside of BUSA leagues won't actually be foil-inclusive...so now i gotta train in sabre and epee properly. damn competitions :/ good thing i've got a sabre lame and cuff, really!

[Der Übermensch]

I'd probably go epee rather then sabre if you are gonna be taking on a secondary weapon. The absence of right of way aside, it is much closer to Foil stylistically. The only difference is you stop going only for the torso and figure out how to score on their hand.

I had a really iffy practice yesterday... I completely whopped my gf's ***... 15-2. I don't think she has beat me once in the past month for that matter, and I know it's getting to her, since objectively, she is a lot better then me. I just have a foot on her so bait her to attack, step back and get the same place on the arm all the time. I need to figure out how to let her win one with out her noticing I'm being intentionally sloppy, cause I know she'll call me on that if I do :-\
Or maybe I should just work on my foil for awhile :p

[Linkinbassist]

Hehe, i'd do the second one, then you might still be on speaking terms when you go to sleep at night :p

Since i turned single, it has come to my attention that women in breeches are pretty fine. We hosted Loughborough girls last wednesday and there was only one sub-par girl on the team, the rest were good-looking women.

I might have to see what happens at the keele 24hr fencing charity event, as my friend said aptly 'You should find a girl who really knows how to handle your sword' :lol:

[Der Übermensch]

Fencing lends itself to no end of bad innuendo...

But its not ME she gets mad at, she just gets super frustrated with herself and it makes me sad to feel responsible for it.

And yes, a well fitted pair of knickers is damn complimenting...

[Pop music sucks]

God I really miss the excitement of individuals that honestly want to better themselves at their form and technique. I first started on foil about 8 years ago as a sophomore in high school. I found it extremely fun. My first instructor was strict, but not too hard. We'd learn the forms in a sort of "boot camp" style. Everyone listens to his and his co-instructor's directions and copy their forms and apply it towards a target wall. After everyone got their form (torso positioning, legs) down we then sparred with a partner.

But my first partner's form was really twitcy and sloppy. He would hunch forward a lot and keep his blade at a 45 degree angle towards his left (he is right-handed). So it was pretty easy to get him because I'm a lefty and he had a whole side exposed (opposite his blade). However, because I kept beating him, he decided to become someone else's partner because one person left the club. The chick I fenced was wayyyyyyy better in her form.

And then our family moved towns and I didn't pick up a foil in years, until last year. We fenced with no protective gear. I accidentally got stabbed through my bottom lip. It actually pierced past the inner lip. It was fun, and didn't leave a scar. The next few times we got some paintball masks and went at it. My friend saw us fencing and stopped to check it out. He was at first really edgey about it, but he got over it after we told him that it really doesn't hurt when you fence someone that has good point control. So I got him into fencing and we joined the local club. But the only challenge was between himself and the instructor, everyone else was horrible at everything.

[Der Übermensch]

If you want bad form, you should have seen me at last practice. I finally got around to practicing my foil, and lost quite handily. I've still got good parry/riposte but my attack is horrible now. I'm so used to epee now that I just unconsciously don't let myself fully commit to it.
Plus my distance is really bad :(

[Mr. Ron]

Hey guys, saw this and figured you'd be interested.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/reclaimingtheblade/

[Pop music sucks]

If you want bad form, you should have seen me at last practice. I finally got around to practicing my foil, and lost quite handily. I've still got good parry/riposte but my attack is horrible now. I'm so used to epee now that I just unconsciously don't let myself fully commit to it.
Plus my distance is really bad :(Well, his back was always hunched into a squat and really twitchy in his movements. He'd also keep his feet not in the perpendicular form with the lead foot pointing towards the opponent; rather his lead foot would be facing the wall, like side stepping.

That's bad form.

I haven't fenced someone in 3 months:upset:

[Linkinbassist]

Oh my, i hate my schedule...

I was asked to fence against Nottingham 2nds as a foilist, but it's an away match and i'm in lectures till 1pm and the team departs at 10am :( Not pleased! I hope i can at least get considered for a home match, i really really want to prove myself to the team and to myself that i am a good fencer.

I will make myself available for later matches, i think :p

[Jawaharal]

Used to fence epee when I was younger. Had to stop because practice was so damn far away. I was decent, got like 30th in nation in my age group.

Really wish I had time to do this sport again considering my old coach moved to a much closer location now.

[Der Übermensch]

Oh my, i hate my schedule...

I was asked to fence against Nottingham 2nds as a foilist, but it's an away match and i'm in lectures till 1pm and the team departs at 10am :( Not pleased! I hope i can at least get considered for a home match, i really really want to prove myself to the team and to myself that i am a good fencer.

I will make myself available for later matches, i think :p

Personally I would just skip class :p

[Linkinbassist]

Personally I would just skip class :p

I wanted to but it's my busiest day and need to be there :/ i found out we lost by ten points to Notts 2nds and one of the foilists actually failed to turn up so we had one of our epeeist/sabreur cross-over guys do foil which he HATES with a vengance. I just felt guilty that i didn't go when the scoreline came in :(

Our girls hosted Cambridge 2nds and lost, however the Cambirdge girls were lovely. I spent about 20 minutes whilst there was another bulb-cleanup (second in two weeks :s) talking to one of them because she does history and i wanted to know what the Uni was like seeing as i'd like to do an MA there. She was pretty cute too, so i was overwhelmed by intellectual conversation and cuteness and i should have got her damn number.

[Pop music sucks]

Hahaha, you could duel for her phone number:p

"I win, I get your number, you win, you get my number"

[Der Übermensch]

I wanted to but it's my busiest day and need to be there :/ i found out we lost by ten points to Notts 2nds and one of the foilists actually failed to turn up so we had one of our epeeist/sabreur cross-over guys do foil which he HATES with a vengance. I just felt guilty that i didn't go when the scoreline came in :(

Our girls hosted Cambridge 2nds and lost, however the Cambirdge girls were lovely. I spent about 20 minutes whilst there was another bulb-cleanup (second in two weeks :s) talking to one of them because she does history and i wanted to know what the Uni was like seeing as i'd like to do an MA there. She was pretty cute too, so i was overwhelmed by intellectual conversation and cuteness and i should have got her damn number.

There will be more chances, yeah?

[Linkinbassist]

There will be more chances, yeah?

To fence for the team? I hope so. Home matches are harder to make the team for, because all the regulars are free for them :/ I'm practically garuanteed a place on the team next year and for Varsity this year, but i want to get a team spot this year >.<

i't just irritating, really...I really think if it was me and not grant who fenced foil, the match could have been somewhat saved because he is not a foilist in any respect and he acknowledges this. Ah well, not much i can do about the Notts result now, really. :rolleyes:

Hahaha, you could duel for her phone number:p

"I win, I get your number, you win, you get my number"

If there is enough time next week and there's a girl i like, i might have to do that :p

[Der Übermensch]

To fence for the team? I hope so. Home matches are harder to make the team for, because all the regulars are free for them :/ I'm practically garuanteed a place on the team next year and for Varsity this year, but i want to get a team spot this year >.<
Well I was meaning to chat up that chick again. I know that on our circut we always see the same people over and over.

i't just irritating, really...I really think if it was me and not grant who fenced foil, the match could have been somewhat saved because he is not a foilist in any respect and he acknowledges this. Ah well, not much i can do about the Notts result now, really. :rolleyes:

Can't be any worse then our team. We had a team event which only 6 people showed up for. We had to forfeit 9 bouts for every round cause we had zero foilists.

[Linkinbassist]

Well I was meaning to chat up that chick again. I know that on our circut we always see the same people over and over.

Hehe, i thought you had a girlfriend?

Can't be any worse then our team. We had a team event which only 6 people showed up for. We had to forfeit 9 bouts for every round cause we had zero foilists.

We have 5 fencers at any given match, we have a lot of sword whores and dual-weapon guys. the only match we forfeited was the one against Warwick where they broke all the foils including one of Warwicks :p

[Der Übermensch]

yeah. Don't mean I can't look though. We are all horrible on our team and rate all the chicks.

Generally binary though :p

[Linkinbassist]

hehe :p we're never in the same room unless we waren't at a match, and it's me and my arch-nemesis/fencing buddy mike doing the rating, since the president is either at a match himself or reffing with his girlfriend. he would be shot if he tried to rate a woman in front of her :lol:

[Der Übermensch]

Lol. My gf chides us for it, but she joins in too now and then.

[Linkinbassist]

that's a fairly easy-going lass you have there...

Since my insomnia has kicked in again, my fencing has slipped a little :/ ugh, i'm just gonna have to down a shedload of lucozade and go for gold...

[Der Übermensch]

Well who doesn't enjoy ripping on other teams? Fencing is so full of people deserving it too.

[Linkinbassist]

Oh totally, i've noticed that already. The Galant loser mentality bugs me as well. This is a sport like any other and you strive to beat your opponent, not reside yourself to defeat just because 'He always beats me' :/

It's so bad over here, british fencing is in tatters...

[Iskandar]

You guys are so pretentious.

[Badmoon]

haha, I've been waiting for someone to say that.

[Iskandar]

Coming soon: Fox-Hunting Thread (For Distinguished Gentlemen Only)

[Linkinbassist]

You guys are so pretentious.

How so? Anyone can join in this discussion :s

[Linkinbassist]

If you're getting at the fact it's fencing, then you can die in a fire with AIDS.

Fencing isn't a sport for the landed gentry anymore, otherwise i wouldn't be doing it...

[Der Übermensch]

Dropper, you're just jealous of our awesomeness. :chug:

[Linkinbassist]

Holy hell, i fenced Epee in a match against one of the girls on the team and i lost 6-10, which i guess wasn't too bad considering it was my first time fencing epee ever :p my leading thigh is covered in grazing, but i landed a foot shot which was pretty cool!

I also tried out sabre on the box against the same girl and one of the other new guys. Me and the guy went to 7 due to time, and it was 7-6 to me, which i was happy with but it didn't come easily! He never went back beyond his en garde line, it was quite intimidating. I pretty much slayed the girl to start with, just doing wrist shots and stuff, but once she got in the groove it was pretty evenly matched. Overall, tonight went rather well, and was the first night i didn't fence foil :p

[Der Übermensch]

Fencing girls in epee, just be defensive. Unless they are a freak and taller then you, just let them lunge, step back, and tag their wrist. My gf is the only fem epee we have, and thats how I always get her (although she did FINALLY beat me - 10-9 - last practice). Doesn't work nearly as well against guys.

[Linkinbassist]

i would have but she's a lazy epeeist, and to be a LAZY epeeist takes some doing. I had to make everything happen, and that was how she ended up getting me, either wrists or on the thigh. she's the same height as me and has a slightly longer arm by half an inch. I was impressed enough with the foot shot, to be honest! And your GF must have been happy as larry when she finally beat you :p

[Der Übermensch]

She was quite pleased.

If fencing a lazy, don't let them draw you in. Do the same thing they are, and just try to bait them in. Open up your six a bit, try not to make it look obvious or they won't take it. Even a lazy will go for an opening if you give them enough chances, and when you are ready for it, almost guaranteed you will get the touch.

[Linkinbassist]

Yeah, i made that mistake a few times. Either that or i'd bait, parry and i'd miscalculate my lung/step and she'd renew and get a touch on me.

>.<

It was funny when it got a little stale-matey and i just though '**** it' and tried to fleche her...went straight under her arm, wasted a good opportunity for a point.

[Der Übermensch]

Fleche is super risky in epee since you lack priority. It only really works well I find if you are against a lefty (assuming you are right handed).

[Linkinbassist]

Oh my christ, i made the team against Aston tomorrow :p

Fencing Foil and Sabre :) Rock on...

[jogerto]

fencing wtf

[Linkinbassist]

...your question is?

[Der Übermensch]

Ignore him.

Anyways, way to go 8-)

Our season is over until next semester, just practices which no one shows up to now :p

Good thing its over though as one sword has snapped and my other one is about to - last touch in my bout sunday I hit the helmet when the guy fleched, and the foible got bent up at about 45 degrees - so I need to get new ones but am too broke atm :(

[Linkinbassist]

I have to repair two sabres, and am in the same situation :(

We beat Aston, i made an arse of myself in sabre by tripping over myself :p made up for it by one-lighting twice after it. Overall, we had a laugh and kicked them about the place at the same time :p