Broke my first blade:(

[SOA9286]

Well I was at practice and I was bouting a gent that nearly took my future children away from me yesterday. I was a bit aggressive, and went for an angled shot on his shoulder. Needless to say, the age of the blade and the odd angle did it in and it snapped. How often is blade breakage? It's an "SG" blade and BG seems to have them for 38$ (ain't too shabby..).

I felt rather dismayed about this. Poor college students can't afford to break club equipment!

On another thought...I would describe my opponent as a battering ram with a sword duct taped too the front. How would you defend against this? His arm doesn't bend, he literally runs to you. And he's a big, BIG guy, so he's got a lot of power in that thrust. It's wicked, hence I resorted to odder shots. Any thoughts?

[EpeeConvert]

Its the first of many...

[Black Jeebus]

If foil: extend your weapon before he does and just set your point in line and let him hit you. If he tries for a beat to open up ROW for him just disengage and let him continue onto your blade.

[SOA9286]

Oh joy. I was so dismayed afterward, but then I remembered I had won on a rather clever shot. But that 40$ or so (hopefully the coach will be kind enough to lend his discount)...oi...I hate spending unneeded $$

[mrbiggs]

If you use BG 5's, it could be as much as once every few weeks. I once broke 3 in a month. (All club blades.). How long they last depends on their quality.

[SOA9286]

Oops, forgot to mention it was in Epee. Woopsy daisy.

[Black Jeebus]

Umm... my only advice then is stick his wrist ! I'm sure an epeeist will be along shortly.

[daveappr]

distance. if you're in so deep you're going after the shoulder you've missed quite a bit of target area. Have you tried ceding parries with this brute? Remember heavy handedness is developed through bad habits and poor distance. This can lead to a rather expensive fencing habit..(I know from experience)

[SOA9286]

For BG, what do you recommend I do for a good electric? I'm just looking for a "starter" blade and their little electric kit is appealing. I'll wait till Xmas or my B-day for an Allstar or similar blade.

I love the feel of the Visconti after using the Belgian for a few practices.

In response to distance, I scored well when I allowed him to come in and then i parried-riposte, but the only problem is that he's so strong, and I'm not, that sometimes he overwhelms me. It's prolly a bigger deal b/c I am just starting (and so is he, mind you), but I would just like some different ideas. I got him twice on a jump-lunge. Another observation is a lack of inside defense. And by lack I mean he has none.

[mrbiggs]

Epées tend to last longer than foils, so ignore my above advice.

[SOA9286]

I snapped an SG one btw. Man it broke way to easily, but coach estimated it to be older than him haha!

Thanks everyone for their advice. I'm just looking to keep this order (pants, electric weapon, and this blade for the club) under 130$ (I am a beginner mind you) yet still retaining decent amounts of quality.

Any other suggestions on how to beat the lumbering giant?

[Black Jeebus]

Well I've found chair legs make nice impromptu bludgeoning devices.

[SOA9286]

It's hard when you can't find a decent chair on the piste!

[mrbiggs]

I snapped an SG one btw. Man it broke way to easily, but coach estimated it to be older than him haha!

Thanks everyone for their advice. I'm just looking to keep this order (pants, electric weapon, and this blade for the club) under 130$ (I am a beginner mind you) yet still retaining decent amounts of quality.

Any other suggestions on how to beat the lumbering giant?

Oppositions are REALLY good against all épéeists that don't know how to counter them. (Disengage)

[SOA9286]

On disengage...how do you think I got to the shoulder

[mrbiggs]

No, I was saying that if he doesn't know how to disengage, move your blade in what is somewhat like a circle, moving his blade away from your body, eventually ending up in the position, from right to left, his blade, your blade, you. Then you stab him.

Technically it's not ACTUALLY a circle, but that's the easiest way to describe it in writing.

[chiz]

SOA

I use Allstar FIE BF white blades – mine last about a year - maybe a little more. I started with Allstar Super blades they last about the same time but in the end of their lives the Super blades take on some strange bends before they broke, so I changed to the FIE blades.

Yep, we have one of these. A one trick pony – only one good move that works a lot. Same move – extend and advance. Our guy, his point control is good, his disengage is quick- your guy is running?

A basic epee marching or running attack. To counter – when his forte crosses your tip, drop a half step, counter parry to close the line 4 or 6 (this has to be done with a very firm wrist and relaxed hand) your target is the inside of his elbow – if the tip skips, let slide it up to the shoulder. Don’t lunge, just extend he will walk or advance onto your blade. If he slows down to disengage, lunge.

Or, from the center of the strip, counter 7 or 8 (side step to give your self some room) your target is his knee, upper leg or groin.

Your parry has to be quick, one motion, your tip follows a spiral path, very firm to hard but in complete control.

Let the line of his attack determine where he feels the pain, lean into it, make your counter hard combined with his advance…

Chiz

[Insipiens]

forté to foible. Even if he is really strong and holding the blade as if he had no capacity for relaxation in his shoulders you can still use leverage: find the weaker part of his blade (i.e. nearer the tip) with the forté of your blade (nearer the guard) and you can take control.

[Epeecurean]

All I can say is....congratulations! Hope you have a long fencing career and break many more! (don't worry, you'll break them less often with experience)

[DangerMouse]

The best bang for the buck on epee blades are the LP non-maraging at $40 a piece from the fencing post or the StM non-maraging at $20 a piece. I've had the LP last up to 4 years and they rarely break in less than 2.