Going Left

[Reebek]

I'm right handed, and primarily (almost exclusively) fence Epee. I took up Sabre, and found that I really like it. The problem is, that I have an old, traumatic shoulder injury that, while it tolerates Epee (with some encouragement), it really doesn't like Sabre at all. After discussing it with my Epee coach, I decided to swith to left handed just for Sabre. The Sabre coach wasn't pleased, but he's going along with it. The problem is, I'm having some difficulty with the transition. The footwork is coming along, but the blade work is difficult. I can't seem to tell where I'm supposed to hit my opponent. I've played left handed Epee (at a time when I considered a total switch to left), and didn't have the same issue with that. Anyone have any suggestions on how I might fix this? O.K., I know the first one is "fence more Sabre." The problem is that the Sabre fencers only come in once a week and don't stay long... I'd like to become competitive in Sabre, as it seems like a lot of fun.

[edew]

Practice, practice, practice.

[cowpaste]

It's really just a matter of getting used to the new hand. I used to do foil left handed, and I recently swapped the right handed. The transition wasn't too bad because I'm naturally right handed.... Anyway, I think you just need to practice more. Pick up a sabre blade at home and hit your pets/family/furniture. It is probably going to feel extra frustrating at first because you remember what you could do with the other hand.

[Reebek]

That's not a bad idea. I think I'm fighting two battles here. The main one being switching to a non-dominant hand. The other is the cutting motion of Sabre. I've been fencing for nearly four years, and Sabre was just introduced at our club about a year ago. Everything about it is new. Just practicing with the blade may be beneficial. ...and it won't be difficult. In a weak moment at Nats, I bought a left-handed Sabre starter kit.

[prototoast]

It's certainly do-able. While not a fencing example, pitcher Billy Wagner of the Phillies was right handed, but injured himself, so he could no longer pitch with his right arm. He became a southpaw and has become one of the best closers in baseball--and he can bring it 100 mph.

So basically the message is that if you need to switch hands and you work hard enough, there is no level of ability that is out of reach.

[hpfencing]

I'm left handed and I sometime Coach rgiht handed, it's a tough change but it can be done.

It's hard because the domanite side of your body wnats to take over. It's also hard because you muscle memory has been trained the oposite of what you are trying to do.

Sabre is just different enought that you should be able to do it with alot of practice

[Sarah]

I frequently switch left and right... but I'm a lefty so I've been forced to do things the right-handed way most of my life. The best suggestion that I can give is to be determined, your body will want to use your dominant side, but if you keep your mind to it, you'll soon find that you can fence with both hands.