Saber Questions (and an Epee question)

[mackillian]

I have a few. The first is when to start saber lessons. I've fenced seven months (2x-3x a week after 9 weeks of beginner) and have been doing the advanced competitive training since the end of August. I'm still making progress in foil and love it. However, my coaches have said repeatedly that I've got the instincts and talent for a good saber fencer. When to start lessons for saber?

Also, none of my coaches teach saber (one used to, but no longer will because of age) and I'd have to go out of club to get lessons. I feel sort of odd about that.

Another thing is that my club will be offering an epee class next month. Now, I've done a lot of work on making my instincts NOT counterattack in foil, but parry and riposte instead (keeping ROW in mind instead of the instinct of "Oh, they're stabbing me, I'll stab them first). Would taking epee affect my work on foil?

[keith]

Would taking epee affect my work on foil?

no, good epee has nothing to do with sticking your arm out and hoping. Just make sure you train yourself as an attacking/parrying epeeist from the start rather than being more passive. The foil attacking instinct can be dulled by some epee tactics.

.... but epee and sabre do, not, mix, at, all, ever. Or only for fun and footwork practice.

[prototoast]

It's at least worth looking into fencing sabre, and finding out if you like it. Where do you live, and more importantly, how far do you have to go to get to a club where you could take sabre lessons? If it isn't a huge inconvenience, I think you should at least try it. If you don't like it, you can stop and then at least you'll have a little better understanding of sabre.

[oso97]

If your coaches say you've the instincts and talent of a good sabre fencer, and they're encouraging you to fence it, then do so. Doesn't matter how long you've been fencing. If they can't teach it, then go to someone who can. Particularly if they're okay with you going off (Kudos to them if they really are that open-minded).

The best weapon to start with is the one that the person teaching you is most comfortable with. But that's my view. Others may disagree... LOL

[mackillian]

I live in southern NH, so I'd travel 30-45 minutes to pick up a saber lesson. I'm going to talk to my head coach tomorrow about it as well.

[oiuyt]

.... but epee and sabre do, not, mix, at, all, ever.

Yeah, no way you'd EVER want to do THAT pairing. Impossible to be even marginally successful trying both. :eyeroll:

-B :)

[glowstix]

If your coaches say you've the instincts and talent of a good sabre fencer, and they're encouraging you to fence it, then do so.

i disagree with that. most would say i'm a foilist but i switched over to epee because its more interesting and more fun for me even though i would probably make a better foilist in the end. its about what you like most of all, this is not an occupation.

[Pelle]

I live in southern NH, so I'd travel 30-45 minutes to pick up a saber lesson. I'm going to talk to my head coach tomorrow about it as well.

thats quiet far. would you continue taking foil? what do you hope to achieve in saber? if you want to be a olympic fencer (many on this board do lol *cough* markstorm *cough*). i think the only question is are u dedicated enough to drive that hour to fence (there and back)? i have a feeling you are from your posts i have read. there for i say go for it, go get em' tiger and just do it.

[prototoast]

Yeah, no way you'd EVER want to do THAT pairing. Impossible to be even marginally successful trying both. :eyeroll:

-B

I mean, seriously dude... you're only an A in one of them.

[whtouche]

35-40 minutes is not very far to drive to fence.
Most people I know drive at least an hour, I know at least a couple who regularly drive 3 hours each way. I try to drive 2 hours once a week tho I've been slacking a bit on that due to team committments.
If you're in southern NH, where would you be driving for sabre lessons? Somewhere in massachusetts?

[keith]

Yeah, no way you'd EVER want to do THAT pairing. Impossible to be even marginally successful trying both. :eyeroll:

-B

hey, all three are fun - but to suggest to someone that there is no reason why many fencers only do two of the three as competitive weapons is a bit daft. There is a reason; but if he wants to do sabre and epee as a pair more power to him.

[mackillian]

Depends. I'm in Manchester, so I could drive to Concord (20 min), Nashua (30 min), Dover (45 min) or Southern Mass (at least 45 min). I'm lucky enough that my own club is 5 minutes from my apartment.

I'm *cough*too old*cough* to be an Olympic fencer since I just started this year and I'm 24. However, I want to do as well as I'm able to do because I love this sport. So if I can find the lessons at a reasonable price and the time from my MSW courses and internship and my research job, then I'm willing to go for it. I don't want to give up foil, I've put in too much work and have too much fun with it to give it up. But learning saber might be fun.

[DJ Apostrophe]

once the new club opens, you should probably consider coming down to Prise de Fer. The new facility is going to be outstanding (see pics at http://www.prisedefer.com ) and we will be in north billerica, MA, which mapquest says is a 47 minute drive from manchester. For as long as I've been fencing (3.5 years) i've pretty much always had the hour+ drive to fence. It really isn't that big a deal to me. YMMV.

-w

[mackillian]

That new facility looks fantastic. Wow.

[keith]

once the new club opens, you should probably consider coming down to Prise de Fer. The new facility is going to be outstanding (see pics at http://www.prisedefer.com ) and we will be in north billerica, MA, which mapquest says is a 47 minute drive from manchester. For as long as I've been fencing (3.5 years) i've pretty much always had the hour+ drive to fence. It really isn't that big a deal to me. YMMV.

-w

on an off topic note - is it worth heading to pris de fer for open fencing while the club is in concorde or are the facilities a bit cramped etc?

[Pelle]

once the new club opens, you should probably consider coming down to Prise de Fer. The new facility is going to be outstanding (see pics at http://www.prisedefer.com ) and we will be in north billerica, MA, which mapquest says is a 47 minute drive from manchester. For as long as I've been fencing (3.5 years) i've pretty much always had the hour+ drive to fence. It really isn't that big a deal to me. YMMV.

-w

looks good soo far, i take it its still being built. will it be permantly wired and dedicated to fencing?

[MyraTrue]

Pelle, my view on if you should take the epee class is biased: I AM an epeeist

But I spent the first year and a half, maybe more, of my fencing trying to decide what weapon I wanted to fence. I learning in foil, started to fence epee and foil at the same time, kept on with that until I dropped foil and fenced some sabre along with my epee. In the end, I can fence all three (though I don't claim anything about doing it really well), but enjoy epee the most. I had to try all of them out to know it, and to do it for a while ebfore it became clear what I liked.

Will epee alter you foil negatively? It depends on how well you can shift back and forth beteen having right of way, and not having it. I think it also depends a lot on your epee fencing tactics. My epee uses a lot of parries, and so I can still fence foil. I just have to pay attention to my back hand (which totally covers if it were foil) and not to counter attack into the arm. How fencing epee will change your foil depends on you, but I don't see your foil falling into ruin just because you pick up an epee to see what its like.

I have learned that there are tactics and techniques that are taught in different weapons that apply nicely to others. You might learn something in epee of use to you in foil. Go, enjoy, explore the weapons, have fun! And good luck.

last note- several old coaches of mine have said I act like/fence like/react like etc a sabreur. But I LIKE epee, and its my choice. Don't let anyone label you and make your mind up for you.

[DJ Apostrophe]

Keith,

yes...we get about 6 or 7 strips set up for fencing each night, and we are pretty busy, but not to the point where you don't get any fencing in. Concord Academy's space is very nice, more than enough room for your stuff, to hang out while not fencing, and real locker rooms with showers... it is an excellent interim place.

Pelle,

Yes our space will be permanent, and wired for fencing. I haven't been to the new space yet, but I've heard that it looks even better in person.

-w

[noodle]

hey, all three are fun - but to suggest to someone that there is no reason why many fencers only do two of the three as competitive weapons is a bit daft. There is a reason; but if he wants to do sabre and epee as a pair more power to him.

he was being sarcastic.
craig is yet to implement the sarcasm bit flag for posts.
oiuyt is a sabre/epee fencer

[MyraTrue]

hey, all three are fun - but to suggest to someone that there is no reason why many fencers only do two of the three as competitive weapons is a bit daft. There is a reason; but if he wants to do sabre and epee as a pair more power to him.

I missed this... make me laugh! I know multi-weapon fencers, and have done it at tournaments. I have a great deal of respect for multi-weapon fencers... I know what it takes to do it, and am happier to remain in the realms of epee only. Unless sabre or foil is made attractive, and after the weapon I really care about. But it sure makes for good stories- the fencing multiple weapons at events!