Feet and Hands?

[JJMUR]

Hi guys. First time I've posted here. I've read quite a few posts here over the past few weeks, but haven't had much to say. Well, I guess the time has come to finally voice myself. I've been fencing for about 3 months now, foil that is. I have a desire to get better and advance as quickly as possible, and I have been making a lot of progress. I practice footwork every night, and go to fencing class every Tuesday and Thursday. Anyway.... I have been working on my lunges lately, just trying to improve speed and form, but I can't get it how I know it should be. Then it occurred to me, I'm left footed, but right handed . Now, since I haven't been able to approach my instructor lately, I was curious, should I adapt my fencing to my feet, or to my hands? Thanks for any response.

[whtouche]

I would say the fine motor skills required for blade manipulation make fencing right handed the best choice. I'm right handed, but can do a reasonable semblance of footwork left handedly. This will be a much easier barrier to overcome.
But make sure you do overcome it: as Im sure you already know, footwork is astoundingly crucial to fencing. So just practice and you'll get it.

[Artisan]

.... I have been working on my lunges lately, just trying to improve speed and form, but I can't get it how I know it should be. Then it occurred to me, I'm left footed, but right handed . Now, since I haven't been able to approach my instructor lately, I was curious, should I adapt my fencing to my feet, or to my hands? Thanks for any response.

How right handed are you?
I suspect that it will be easier to train your feet, than to retrain your hand, since there is nothing natural about fencing footwork to start with, but holding and doing stuff with your dominant hand is already a part of life. Besides, while fencing footwork is asymmetric, neither foot is dominant - just different. Think of it this way: front foot is for retreating, back foot is for advancing. Your problems with lunging come from coordination - its not a natural movement and will take a while to sink in. Try it with and without the arm extension, try it small and large, and with it preceeded by advance and double advance. Also, as you get more fit, and develop those "lunge muscles" your form will improve. For now the correct form is more important than speed, power or length - all of which will come later, and more succesfully if you develop a feel for the correct form now.

[The0ne]

The finer actions are made with your arm. I agree with Artisan and think you should stick to right-handed fencing. With lunging, remember to reach out with your front foot before you push off with your back foot. This is a lot quicker than pushing with your back foot first then lifting your front foot.

[Artisan]

The finer actions are made with your arm. I agree with Artisan and think you should stick to right-handed fencing.

According to one coach at our club, its easier to retrain the small muscle groups than the large, which supports the idea that a left footed righty should be compelled to fence lefty - but this also includes the potential to pick up the lefty factor as low hanging fruit, so the opposite might not be as true. IMHO, I still believe that foot dominance is not as important, so hand dominance should prevale.

[cowpaste]

I'm a moron that is righthanded and rightfooted, but I fence left handed. I found footwork to be easier to learn than bladework, so I agree with the others and say you should stick with righthanded fencing. One of the biggest problems I'm having right now with my left hand is strength. It seems that my left arm/hand is naturally a bit weaker than my right. I don't know if this is physical or mental. As for point control, parries, etc, I found that I developed these skills just as fast (or faster) than many of my fencer friends that started around the same time as me.

[Inquartata]

I'm a moron that is righthanded and rightfooted, but I fence left handed.

Oh, you're just waiting for the chance to use that line from "The Princess Bride", aren't you?

[rusty epee]

FWIW, footwork tends to drive bladework, so........stick with your dominant foot. It does no good to have blindingly fast hands if you can't get your body out of the way

[cowpaste]

Actually, I have no idea what you are talking about. Is that really in the movie?

[Inquartata]

My gibe was that as you are right-handed but fence left-handed...you're waiting to use the line "I know something you don't know...I am not left-handed!" and then switch your weapon to your right hand.

I suppose this goes to prove the truth of the old adage that you should never explain a joke to someone who doesn't get it...

[Artisan]

FWIW, footwork tends to drive bladework, so........stick with your dominant foot. It does no good to have blindingly fast hands if you can't get your body out of the way

No one seems to be addressing the question: Does the dominant foot go in front or back? While if you kick a ball with your right foot it may feel natural to have you right foot be in front, but I'm still not convinced that fencing has a "dominant foot" regarding which does more work, needs more coordination, etc.

[Saber-Psycho]

I'm right-handed, left-footed. I fence with my right hand. I would never think to fence left handed.
It's no big deal, when you start fencing, the foot work is unnatural no matter which foot you use.
Fence right handed.