Looking into fencing Epee...

[MikeTheSpike]

I am a 13 year old kid. I am new to this sport and have just started reading up on it today. From all of the sites I viewed I think that Epee would be the one I would like. I talk like I have feneced for like 6 months, I read A LOT! Any suggestions on things to consider?

[MikeTheSpike]

Ok........

[jBirch]

Hey Mike,

Traditionally, everyone starts with foil, but there is some thought that epee is the place to be. Have you found a club yet?

[MikeTheSpike]

Well I am looking into lessons, if that's what you mean. My mom's co-worker is a Epee Fencer and he is going to show me the equipment.

[mrbiggs]

You can't learn fencing by reading, although it will help alot. It's important that you find some instructor.

As for which weapon to choose-I'm of the school of thought that says you should start in foil, so you can easily change to the other two later. Also, you should at least try fencing all three before you choose, sometimes your first reaction isn't the right one. Of course, if you only have a coach for épée, then go for it.

[EricS]

If epee is your coach's specialty, then I would highly recommend starting out with epee. Sure, foil can teach you the basics of footwork, but the bladework, timing, and distance is quite different.

What would work even better for you (after a few weeks of lessons) is to practice fencing with experienced epeeists. With a good set of opponents, you pick up a good 'feel' for the epee bout.

I'm sure you've found this already, but the USFA website has a neat little map so you can find any nearby fencing clubs.

Best of luck with your fencing. Be patient--success takes time and a lot of practice.

[glowstix]

if its possible, fence foil first for at least a year. you're only 13. you'll understand fencing concepts a lot better.

[whtouche]

Also if possible disregard all the "fence foil first" advice, try all of them and pick the one you like best.

[Epee_Pox]

don't fence foil first. it's traditional, so i guess the thinking must be that thousands of dead people can't be wrong. but foil is not much of a prep for either sabre or epee -- it's similar in some respects, but counterproductive in others. it's evolved into it's own thing.

as others say, i recommend trying all three to see what fits your personality. all three are loads of fun! foil is energetic and fast, resembles swordfighting the least, and is full of opportunities for bickering about rules and who really got the point. foil will teach you right-of-way rules, and a typical bout is over well before the clock runs out. sabre is energetic and fast, is full of swashbuckling and bickering opportunities, and has the added bonus of being able to score without realizing you'd done so. sabre will teach you distance control, and a typical bout is over almost immediately. epee is less energetic at any given moment, but is more likely to wear you out as you dodge and dart until the clock runs out. epee will teach you to be sly and cagy, and requires the most sustained concentration for the longest time.

the particular skills don't really translate from one weapon to another. if you try to fence epee as if you're holding a foil, you'll be amazed how quickly and consistently you'll be beaten. if you try to fence sabre using your epee skills, you'll certainly tire out your opponent, but you'll be amazed how all the touches you land don't seem to count. etc. etc.

[Victor]

You may only take epee lessons after your coach reveals the secret epee handshake AND you go on a three-day vision quest to find your epee totem animal. Then, on your 56th birthday, you will be ready to pick up the sacred weapon and travel the world in poverty for 93 days. When you return home (still a virgin), you will be allowed to fence in your first epee competition.

[EpeeConvert]

Be weary, for your totem pole epee animal may not be a totem poll at all!!!
It may not even be an animate object! And the hes making up the virgin thing. Dont worry about the poverty thing it only gets really bad when you hit calcutta. other than that, good luck! and all the while though, you will be persued by the two armed man. So make haste!

[sabreur]

You may only take epee lessons after your coach reveals the secret epee handshake AND you go on a three-day vision quest to find your epee totem animal. Then, on your 56th birthday, you will be ready to pick up the sacred weapon and travel the world in poverty for 93 days. When you return home (still a virgin), you will be allowed to fence in your first epee competition.

Be weary, for your totem pole epee animal may not be a totem poll at all!!!
It may not even be an animate object! And the hes making up the virgin thing. Dont worry about the poverty thing it only gets really bad when you hit calcutta. other than that, good luck! and all the while though, you will be persued by the two armed man. So make haste!

And you guys think this will make him want to fence epee? When he can fence sabre and experience instant lodge brother/sisterhood with all other sabreurs, get a better totem animal (what's the epee totem animal--sloth, tortoise, turtle, slug?), and experience the eternal initiation of sabre--after all, you earn new stripes every time you step on the strip as a sabreur....

MR

[swordsen]

Actually epeeists just say things like that to keep saberists away.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Pick epee. Its the best weapon. Everybody knows that. Learning foil first really screwed up my epee game, and I had to unlearn all my cruddy foil moves. Work on footwork and point control above all things, as they will yield the most reward the fastest.

[epeefencer74]

And you guys think this will make him want to fence epee? When he can fence sabre and experience instant lodge brother/sisterhood with all other sabreurs, get a better totem animal (what's the epee totem animal--sloth, tortoise, turtle, slug?), and experience the eternal initiation of sabre--after all, you earn new stripes every time you step on the strip as a sabreur....

MR

Nah the totem animal for epee is the cobra, waits and watches, approach stealthy and strike like lightning.

[Peach]

you earn new stripes every time you step on the strip as a sabreur....

And this makes the sabre totem either the tiger, the zebra, or the Madagascar lemur.

. . . And somebody really should post a "totem poll," now that I think of it.

[Victor]

Seriously, there's nothing wrong with learning foil first. Contrary to what you might read about picking one weapon over the others immediately upon joining the fencing community, you're actually so early on the learning curve that you won't screw up anything by switching from one to the other after you give each a good try-out period. And in some sense the experience will provide a point of reference for contrasting what you like or dislike in each weapon later.

[EpeeConvert]

Theres a new thread to discuss fencing totem poles!

[Inquartata]

Just to maintain the balance of power---eschew the "foil first" business if you know epee is what you will want to fence. No point in learning things like ROW which you will have to unlearn later.

Though why ANYONE would want to doze standing up, er, I mean, fence epee when sabre exists is beyond me. ( The totem for epee really ought to be the hibernating bear, I think. )

[Army Fencer]

You guys are weird.

Any of the three weapons are a lot of fun. If epee is where you think you want to be, enjoy yourself.