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drippingwet · 10-16-2004, 02:35 PM

Ok, just done the Leicester Open (UK) with new box timings, and a lot of counter-attacks, no flicks, and an unlucky pool, with an even harder 1st DE. Tried the march, but it seemed very vulnerable to a timely counter. Simple attacks, again, counters (as if they weren't hard enough already).

So although in the pool I often did quite well against some of the best in the country, considering I'm just a two yearling, I didn't exactly manage to beat them, although I came reasonably close. I just don't seem to have the winning hit yet.

I've decided from my recent experience not to bother with the march (oppening up the opponent kind), at least for a long while. Also that trying to make simple attacks work seems like such a waste of energy when only 10% seem to get through. So I've decided to go back to basics (as if simple attacks weren't basic)... Despite the outcome of the day, I did learn some very important stuff. I realised that I actually had a very strong parry 4. For some reason I didn't necessarily follow them up with riposte. Maybe the recently adopted simultaneous half-retreat had something to do with it. Perhaps I just havn't had the chance to realise this strength before now, because very often I would retreat out of the way of an attack, not parry it. I'm going to cultivate this one! So that's my focus for defence sorted out, at least until it's perfected. As my offensive action, I've decided to focus on short attacks, always ready to make parry riposte with my strong 4, and therefore make it very difficult for my opponent to fence defensively. I suppose this is working towards some of the main strengths that Romankov and Omnes had. Romankov with his strong parry 4, and Omnes' short attacks. So the opponent has a challenge whether he attacks or defends. Of course I'm not claiming to have the same skill in these actions as these guys had/have, but I think they are very good choices to focus on and try to make perfect. Simple actions like these can serve you very well, even at the highest levels, without having to march or jump up in the air.

Opinions?

Boo Boo · 10-16-2004, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drippingwet

Opinions?

So did you have fun?

Shame that Leicester wasn't that strong for foil this year....

Of course good basics serve you well (in particular good distance, changes of direction and preparations - things that make basic parries and simple attacks all the more effective...): it would be more constructive to concentrate on these rather than worrying too much about what Omnes and Romankov would do...

Boo
(worn out, just got back, and VERY bruised)

ChubbyHubby · 10-17-2004, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drippingwet

Ok, just done the Leicester Open (UK) with new box timings, and a lot of
&*$%#@ counter-attacks, no flicks, and an unlucky pool, with an even harder 1st DE.

What makes you think it was an unlucky poule? Who did you have?

drippingwet · 10-17-2004, 05:42 AM

What are the principles of preparing an attack? How do you protect the preparations?

And you mention worrying too much about what Omnes and Romankov would do. But all I was talking about was Romankov's parry 4 (quite a simple parry I think you'll agree), and Omnes's short/second intention attack (still a simple, fundamental traditional action, which seems safer than a totally comitted 1st intention attack that will probably get parried by anyone who is as good or better than I am). Sometimes simple attcks work, but I'm not sure you will see them as the winning action in many bouts. Simple attacks and marching attacks are at opposite ends, but the march, at least at high level, seems/seemed the norm. Would't be so if simple attacks were are staple tactic.

I thought it was an unlucky pool, not because of the fencers, but because of the fact that I was coming very close, even to Sussex House, but not winning.

I'm currently only managing to go fencing twice a week, which is OK, but I'm not sure you're going to achieve anything big with that, or at least not for a long time. But I'm going to Univeristy next year, and some of the places I've applied to have fencing 4/5 days per week. So I can study all day and fence all night.

ChubbyHubby · 10-17-2004, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drippingwet

If I can get 4 out of 15 on a top 10 fencer now,

Who did you go out to? (got the 4 out of 15)

Boo Boo · 10-17-2004, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drippingwet

But I'm going to Univeristy next year, and some of the places I've applied to have fencing 4/5 days per week. So I can study all day and fence all night.

Which universities are you considering? Maybe we can point you in the direction of some of the better ones... since it is quality of training and not quantity that is important.

Although to be honest, if you have big dreams, London is the only place that you really want to go to uni if you are a foilist (and then you would be looking at training at Salle Paul/Sussex House three/four time a week and not much at your uni club...).

Boo

drippingwet · 10-17-2004, 07:28 AM

For medicine I've applied to Sheffield, Hull-York, Aberdeen and Dundee. For Biochemistry, Leeds and Sheffield. But I've applied early for biochemistry, so I still have chance to put in more applications (including to London) if I don't manage entry to med school. How many times per week can you fence at Sussex House/Salle Paul. How close are they to the city centre? Are they expensive? Do they have entry requirements?

Boo Boo · 10-17-2004, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drippingwet

And, for medicine I've applied to Sheffield, Hull-York, Aberdeen and Dundee. For Biochemistry, Leeds and Sheffield. But I've applied early for biochemistry, so I still have chance to put in more applications (including to London) if I don't manage entry to med school. How many times per week can you fence at Sussex House/Salle Paul. How close are they to the city centre? Are they expensive? Do they have entry requirements?

As far as I am aware, none of those are big fencing universities - i.e. ones that would do the "maximum" for your fencing (fine for recreational fencers, but if you have bigger aspirations then not good...)

Salle Paul information is available here (http://www.sallepaul.co.uk/). They meet three nights a week at Highgate School.

Sussex House is Kensington and Chelsea, I believe. They train quite a few nights a week (enough - quanlity, not quantity...). But the club is "invitation only", so you have to impress Mark Nelson-Griffiths enough to get invited to attend.

There is also Salle Boston which is based near Waterloo (but currently meets at Eversholt Street, Euston, whilst it's premises are being refurbished...).

Not sure about price - most have a "student" rate (I would guess about £300 a year membership, but could be wrong...). But, if you want to get really good, that's what you want to do... talking about fencing and theorising is no substitute for actually doing it (with good opponents and good coaches).

Other places to consider include Manchester (Salle Kiss) and Edinburgh (Edinburgh Fencing Club), but London would be your first choice. But you definitely need to look outside the box of university clubs - if you aspire to recreational fencing or being "big fish within a puddle", then they are fine - otherwise you need to chose your university around a mainstream club...

Boo

drippingwet · 10-17-2004, 07:59 AM

Well if I make it to med school, then as much as I absolutely love fencing with the burning passion of a thousand fiery suns, I simply can't choose a sport over the chance of saving and improving people's lives. But if I don't, even if I get offers from leeds/sheffield in biochemy, then I might just try for London as well and send in some more applications.

P.S. What's Salle Kiss like, how often do they meet? Entry requirements? Cost? (just in case you know the answers to any of these questions).

Boo Boo · 10-17-2004, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drippingwet

Well if I make it to med school, then as much as I absolutely love fencing with the burning passion of a thousand fiery suns, I simply can't choose a sport over the chance of saving and improving people's lives. But if I don't, even if I get offers from leeds/sheffield in biochemy, then I might just try for London as well and send in some more applications.

P.S. What's Salle Kiss like, how often do they meet? Entry requirements? Cost? (just in case you know the answers to any of these questions).

SALLE KISS FENCING CLUB (Foil, Epee and Sabre),
Heywood Community High School, Sutherland Road, Heywood OL10 3PL
Coach: D Burghley, R Kiss
All Groups Mon & Weds - 18.00-21.00

Is all I know... but there are currently some nice fencers training in the Manchester area...

Boo

ChubbyHubby · 10-17-2004, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drippingwet

Well if I make it to med school, then as much as I absolutely love fencing with the burning passion of a thousand fiery suns, I simply can't choose a sport over the chance of saving and improving people's lives. But if I don't, even if I get offers from leeds/sheffield in biochemy, then I might just try for London as well and send in some more applications.

P.S. What's Salle Kiss like, how often do they meet? Entry requirements? Cost? (just in case you know the answers to any of these questions).

why don't you go over to the UK based forum http://fencingforum.com/forum for more info.