the flick

[Borrissey]

Hola:

I was fencing a fellow classmate last week when he tried to flick me...really, he just slapped me with the blade. The action, although annoying, got me thinking.

How do you flick in epee? Is it like casting your line in fishing?

cheers...

[ReverseLunge]

Hola:

I was fencing a fellow classmate last week when he tried to flick me...really, he just slapped me with the blade. The action, although annoying, got me thinking.

How do you flick in epee? Is it like casting your line in fishing?

cheers...

Well first of all, do you know how to fence foil? Flicking with an epee is much harder than foil. I learned to flick with a foil before an epee. If you flick with and epee and usually hit flat then please don't do it again until you have more practice. It is very painful and annoying as you know.

I've seen really strong epeeist parry-riposte with a flick to the back! A foil move!

[Artisan]

Hola:

How do you flick in epee? Is it like casting your line in fishing?

cheers...

No, it needs to be done with wrist and hand, with arm extending forward. If you c0ck your arm by bending at the elbow, you should be getting hit on the underside of your forearm.

[noodle]

flicking isn't unlike the motion done to crack a whip.
takes a lot of practice, especially to get a good one in epee.

[glowstix]

I've seen really strong epeeist parry-riposte with a flick to the back! A foil move!

i've seen that myself. and i think flicking in epee to the upper forearm is easier than in foil. unless i'm using a really flexible blade in foil, my flicks land flat 90% of the time.

[Borrissey]

I'm not looking to experiment with one in a bout. I just see people trying to land one on me, and I want to see how what I had to do to incorporate the tool into my repertoire.

Besides, I wouldn't want anymore to receive the bruises I've suffered. Also, I have only practiced epee. When and how long did it take everyone to learn the flick? Will I be at a disadvantage if I don't know how to use it?

Thanks.

[oiuyt]

Talk to your coach about it. Text is NOT a good medium for explaining the mechanics of a new move. Not to mention we can't help you practice it, see what errors you might be committing, etc. Whether or not you even should be learning it (or learning it at this point in your development) is likewise something that your coach should be helping you determine rather than us.

Talk to your coach.

-B :)

[noodle]

I'm not looking to experiment with one in a bout. I just see people trying to land one on me, and I want to see how what I had to do to incorporate the tool into my repertoire.

Besides, I wouldn't want anymore to receive the bruises I've suffered. Also, I have only practiced epee. When and how long did it take everyone to learn the flick? Will I be at a disadvantage if I don't know how to use it?

Thanks.

you don't need to know how to do one to succeed. it takes a while to be able to flick with accuracy on a non-moving opponent (including building up the strength, etc). its a good tool to have, but definitely not necessary. what it necessary, though, is knowledge of how to defend against one.

[rtran]

I'm not looking to experiment with one in a bout. I just see people trying to land one on me, and I want to see how what I had to do to incorporate the tool into my repertoire.

Besides, I wouldn't want anymore to receive the bruises I've suffered. Also, I have only practiced epee. When and how long did it take everyone to learn the flick? Will I be at a disadvantage if I don't know how to use it?

Thanks.

My old coach use to teach me that you need to raise your hand up high in order to get enough momentum for the flick. It took me a long time and alot of flat crowbar attacks before I manage that. After you get the motion you should start reducing the amount of vertical arm movement. You don't need a severe bend on your flicks to hit over the guard of an opponent.
A few other considerations. When you complete the flick action don't pull your arm back immediately as some beginners would do, make sure to leave your arm out as alot of people will counterattack straight into a flick (which is a low probability hit). If you want to flick to the back of your opponent, normally it requires an opponent to lean forward alot (seen occasionally in some lunges).