Congrats! Don't worry, epee will grow on you... Yes, I'm on Facebook; I'll look up the group.

When I started with epee, that was the biggest thing for me to remember. Distance, timing, and EXTEND! My game is predominantly counter-offensive but that's also because I'm a pommeler. The extend and counter is a basic action that I have to be able to do in my sleep. That's also how I get the hand You should come to one of my clubs open fencing nights when you're on break. Our senior coach takes us through some intense footwork exercises and drills and then we fence. It's exhausting, but you learn a lot.

Yeah, my weekend just started so I have a few days to recover before I go at it again.

Hope your epee tourny went well!

Parry? In epee? Well, you certainly could more so than I. I don't have the leverage that pistols do so I'm all about avoidance and counter. Good footwork is a huge plus. One of the things my coach tries to get me to do is to use my "sabre feet" in epee. I'm sure you'll be fine; just takes some getting used to.

This week has been exhausting, fencing wise. I really love it and will continue with my crazy schedule, but all I want to do is crash. You graduate this spring, right? Well then, you can fence more!

Ha ha! My book was missing about 20 pages! I took it back to B&N and got a complete one. Sounds like the printer was having issues!

You're right; for a foilist, there's not point in using French. Epee, personal preference. Pistol does give more leverage for parries. That's one thing I'm constantly working on with my coach. The extended French game is all about timing and distance. I often let myself get way too close to my opponent where they can take my blade.

My club orders through Athos and I've also have gotten a few things from f.net. But mostly I tell my coach what I want and he gets it. He's an excellent coach, but yes, pretty tough. WFA doesn't have a monthly membership per se. You sign up for classes (usually an eight week session for around $100) and go from there. Right now I'm paying for an epee class, sabre class, two private lessons ($25/30 mins), and open fencing/drills ($5 floor fee). But I'm fencing much more than that. Tuesdays I have a lesson, sabre, and epee. Wednesdays I'm probably going to go to SAS for some open fencing that my coach suggested, Thursdays I go to another location where my club offers classes and have another lesson and epee class, and Fridays we have open fencing/drills taught by our fencing master. WFA doesn't have one main location; we offer classes in various schools, community centers, rec centers, etc. Since there's no monthly fee it's certainly one of the more affordable clubs in the area.

That's the book I have. Good for the basics (parries, terms) but as you said, not applicable.

Ah yes, the club/class rivalry. If you ask me, they're both bad, in both different and similar ways. Heh heh, pistol eh? Well, that's one thing that stuck with me. I just couldn't get used to the feel of the grip. So I stuck with French. Yes, I'm a pommeler. That's why I love the hand I just got my second epee and the blade is a lot more flexible than my other one. I'm going to have to work to get used to the feel. Good for a quick flick to the hand, though! Gah, foot touches; the bane of my existence. My coach made that my personal rule. If anyone gets a single touch on my foot, they get two touches (or I have to do push-ups, depending on the situation). I've gotten a lot better at countering because of that! But then, I have to be. After all, counter attacks compose the majority of the extended French game.

It would be good if there was someone at Fire and Ice who was willing to keep an eye out for the club. Especially if there isn't anyone currently at the club who knows what they're doing.

Fencing has consumed the last year of my life! Of course I love it! What I'm trying to figure out is if I should be spending as much time as I am. I fence up to three hours a night for four nights and have two private lessons with my coach per week. With my job, I usually leave my place at 5am and don't get back until 10pm. I usually go to fencing straight from work. So it's just a matter of deciding just how far I want to go with fencing. I asked my coach for some feedback as to my potential, etc. so we'll see.

Ah yes, I have an Evangelista book and look certain things up in it every so often, but as a whole...meh... Every now and then I can still hear Paige's "Once more, for the sake of the drill." And yet, the bouting is a disaster. Roz and I call it street fencing.

Good luck at the tourney! Do you go to SFU to practice as well? I didn't have any exposure to epee at EWU until my last quarter. And then I really didn't have any interest. It was all sabre for me. Now, almost all my time is spent with epee. Got to love those hand touches!

Is there anyone capable of leading the club in the right direction? Is Aurora still there? She was a somewhat serious fencer (a little immature...) who could have some potential leadership ability. Have you been in contact at all with Fire and Ice? They're supposed to be based out of Cheney, but I never looked into it. Whoever ends up president should definitely have knowledge about modern fencing.

Yeah, there were times where I just showed up to fence. Paige has a great heart and loves fencing, but he's wrong about so many things. My fleche is pathetic. So simple, and yet I just can't seem to get everything flowing. My club does so many lunge drills there are times my legs go numb. Lunge crossover lunge? Like a redouble? Good for you in earning a letter! I've only done one tournament so far so I wasn't expecting to letter. We'll see. I'm going to be discussing my fencing future with my coach pretty soon to see just how far he thinks I can go. My schedule is crazy and I'm trying to decide if all the time I'm spending on fencing is really worth it.

Sorry to ramble...I'm Rachel Hughes. To be honest, I kind of miss EWU. It's good to get updates about the state of fencing. Oh, is Gary still the vice-president?

Roz graduated, so I don't think you'll be fencing her anytime soon... She is, however, coming up to visit me before she leaves for grad. school and I'm hoping she'll bring her saber so we can have some fun...

Yes, Salle Auriol is crazy expensive. Which is another reason why I'm not going there regularly. However, my saber coach says I can go there anytime... It is an amazing place with some very good fencers (although I must say my clubs epee team beat theirs at Nationals...). Yes, atmosphere is good. The folks at Salle Auriol were pretty nice. Of course, I was too terrified to really take notice at the time.

Heh heh. Yes, saber can leave some pretty good marks. I definitely remember the EWU days when I did not wear a jacket during saber...I think that's why I have good parries... But now I just see each bruise or welt as a personal failing so each week my goal is to have less and less, if any at all. But a few little marks are okay, as long as your opponent has more...

I was talking with Roz yesterday and she remembers you. Said you caught on pretty quickly and were pretty good... Coming from Roz, you must be okay...

I fence with the Washington Fencing Academy. I've been to Salle Auriol, and my saber coach is trying to get me go there regularly, but that place is terrifying! To me, anyway. But I'm easily intimidated when it comes to fencing...

My last quarter at EWU the club went to the Lilac Open at Spokane Fencers, Unlimited....I...I don't want to talk about it... Okay, basically I went in totally unprepared (didn't really know the rules of right of way, etc.) and while I wasn't completely last, I was pretty close. It was very traumatic. So it will be a while yet before I do it again. But both my coaches are wanting me to compete....we'll see.

Fast, huh? Epee may not seem fast, but it has more of a calculated speed element. Have you tried saber...?

Ah yes, the 'super' senior. It seems to be the norm with the Education majors. One of my other former roommates is doing her student teaching right now.

Yes, when I came over here after graduation and started taking lessons, I originally was doing foil... However, after half my first lesson, my coach stopped me and asked if I was interested in epee. Basically, foil is not my thing. Granted, epee is his primary weapon so there is a little bias, but foil was not working for me... So epee and saber it is.

Have you been to a competition yet?

What year are you?

Careful...I fence extended french with my epee... Good that you've found a place to fence over here. I don't know much about that club, but then it is a little south for me.