Is this OK?

[The Crazy Wacker]

I was just wandering if its ok to strap a french grip to my arm?? If so, could I use any old piece of cloth, or would I have to buy a special strap or something??

The reason why I want to try this, is to stop myself from doing this funky parry. Theres nothing wrong with it, but it only works once or twice until the opponent catches on. Its also very hard to riposte from that position.

[edew]

[quote]Originally posted by The Crazy Wacker:
<strong>I was just wandering if its ok to strap a french grip to my arm?? If so, could I use any old piece of cloth, or would I have to buy a special strap or something??

The reason why I want to try this, is to stop myself from doing this funky parry. Theres nothing wrong with it, but it only works once or twice until the opponent catches on. Its also very hard to riposte from that position.</strong><hr></blockquote>

No, not ok. You get to use a grip which allows you to hold it in different positions (and possibly do funky parries). You can't also get additional advantages by securing that grip with additional material so that your funky parries, say, can work better.

[The Crazy Wacker]

[quote]Originally posted by edew:
<strong>

No, not ok. You get to use a grip which allows you to hold it in different positions (and possibly do funky parries). You can't also get additional advantages by securing that grip with additional material so that your funky parries, say, can work better.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well its a single parry that i don't want to do... oh well i'll just have to try and 'stop' doing it.

[The Crazy Wacker]

[quote]Originally posted by edew:
<strong>

No, not ok. You get to use a grip which allows you to hold it in different positions (and possibly do funky parries). You can't also get additional advantages by securing that grip with additional material so that your funky parries, say, can work better.</strong><hr></blockquote>

So you can't even put a wrist strap around the pommel and your wrist?

[D'Artagnan1673]

nope, nada, nein

[lochinvar]

*sigh* Crazy Wacker--strap that puppy to your wrist, and don't listen to these guys.

I refer you to the thread in this forum:
"FOC Rule Answer: Wrist Straps and Grips" (04-04-02) where Craig, our webmaster, contacted the Fencing Official's Commission on this very question.

Here is the answer, in part:

“The martingale or wrist strap is legal for use in USFA competition,
irrespective of the type of grip used. There is much mis-information out
there about the use of the strap, but this is the final word on the subject.
Wrist straps are ok.” (boldface added)
[signed]
"Bill Oliver
Fencing Official's Commission"

We continue to plow the same sterile ground, and wonder why we can't get a crop in... Craig, if this isn't included in the FAQ, it should be.

[ 05-30-2002: Message edited by: lochinvar ]</p>

[D'Artagnan1673]

I'll be a monkey's uncle. I went back and re-read the email Bill Oliver sent me, and it sure did say that any grip may use a wrist strap.

[lochinvar]

Was that you, D'Art? I thought it was Craig...
I stand corrected on my attribution.

[135711]

strapping a grip to the wrist has long been reconized as being illegal, illegal, illegal, furthermore, it causes injuries, that is why, my dear, the pommel of the french grip is never supposed to always be adhering majically to the wrist through some awesome combination of finger control, who told you that......, incredibly, it will move away from your wrist while executing certain moves, as it should.

[achilleus]

[quote]Originally posted by The Crazy Wacker:
[QB
The reason why I want to try this, is to stop myself from doing this funky parry. Theres nothing wrong with it, but it only works once or twice until the opponent catches on. Its also very hard to riposte from that position.[/QB]<hr></blockquote>

Practicing with a wrist srap will just get you used to fencing with a wrist strap.

You'd be better off practicing your parries without it.

[The Crazy Wacker]

Well, i was just going to use it with the french grip, until i get one with a visconti.

[lochinvar]

[quote]Originally posted by 135711:
<strong>strapping a grip to the wrist has long been reconized as being illegal, illegal, illegal...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Recognized wrongly--see the above, straight from the horse's mouth.

I can't speak about the ortho grips, but it has never, to my knowledge, been illegal to use a wrist strap with a French grip. And I've been involved with fencing for over thirty years.

I don't know where the idea that it's illegal got started or why it persists as it does, but it's just plain wrong.

[ 05-30-2002: Message edited by: lochinvar ]</p>

[D'Artagnan1673]

[quote]Originally posted by lochinvar:
<strong>Was that you, D'Art? I thought it was Craig...
I stand corrected on my attribution.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Actually, it was both of us. Out of coincidence, I wrote to Bill Oliver with the same question a day or two before Craig posted the responce. It seems that both of us mis-read our email.