Poll - When you fence new people..

[angrylemur]

Do ya just kill them, or do you give them a chance? I usually let new fencers get up to 7 points against me at tournaments (not pools, but in DE), at my salle I tend to be more generous. Just curious what everyone else does.

[Moonitic]

Kill 'em. It's unfair to let them think they're doing better than they are. Let them EARN the points.

[Link14]

At meets I won't cut anyone slack, but at practice I try and stick to basic moves if I'm fencing a beginner. Usually end up having to do that anyways since beginners don't usually react the way you want them to, like feints.

[DarkTransient]

It totally depends on if I want to make out with her.

[attila]

At club practice I usually just use them to work on something, but i don't "pound" on them. In a Pool round I will try to "bagel" them. In a DE I do use them to get my flick game going for the later - read tougher-- bouts.

On a better note, I usually do tell them what I did and what their worst habit was after I fence them. Some appreciate this apporoach and some take great umbrage. Such is fencing.......

[FoilFreak6276]

sometimes I go easy on them.

[angrylemur]

I don't like people who take advice as criticism. When I was still in my first year listening to advice from stronger fencers helped me out alot.

[DamedEscrime]

I take my cue from the person I'm fencing. At the club, if it is one of our seven year olds, of course I won't do to him what I'd do to someone bigger and older. With the new ones my own age or size, I start out slow to see where they are at, if I think the can take it, I let them have it. Of course I'm usually telling them things at the same time, like get your hand back or you can chase me too.
At tournies I will never give away a touch. I had people do that to me and I was insulted. Touches must be taken not given!

[ 08-22-2001: Message edited by: DamedEscrime ]

[Peach]

Most of the time when I encounter new people at the club (if by "new" you mean unfamiliar rather than novice), it seems as if they assume they're going to beat me. So no, I don't take it easy on them.

With novices I work on stuff I need to improve. If it means they get some touches, that's fine by me.

--Delia

[Purple Fencer]

Well...if I'm in salle and bouting, I'll back off against a newbie, but I refuse to give anyone a touch. Like Dame said...it's insulting. Any touch I recieve is 'cause they did something right. I LINE it when the beginners get me...means they're improving and I've gotta work myself.

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by DarkTransient:
<STRONG>It totally depends on if I want to make out with her.</STRONG>

Brilliant!

just how old ARE you? how long have you been fencing?

-m

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by angrylemur:
<STRONG>I don't like people who take advice as criticism. When I was still in my first year listening to advice from stronger fencers helped me out alot.</STRONG>

I agree. That does annoy me. But, I have also been in the position that after certain DE's I don't want ANYBODY talking to me. So, what I usually do if I have advice to give is ask if they want it. Even those who might bite your head off for the advice will usually just politely say "No".

-m

[Gav]

When I'm training I don't fence as hard anyway I'm concentrating on technique. But out at a tourney they're fair game just like anyone else.

On the advice thing. I will hand out advice at our club, not at anywhere else. You tend to find coaches at rival clubs object. I never hand out advice at a competition unless it's asked (or it's a fellow teammate).

[d8m]

In a tournament, I kill everyone regardless of sex, beauty, or experience. I identify beginners only to remind myself to be simple so it will be easier to win.

As for the club, I usually don't fence them.
And if I do, it is merely to work on a specific action or technique.

As for advice I never offer it unless I am asked. Unwanted advice is ignored, and it just wastes my time. Also, having coached kids, and seeing other fencers give my students advice I can't stand it when a more "experienced" fencer gives advice. Many times the advice is contrary to what my student is working on, or above the level of my student, or just plain wrong.

I completely understand those fencers who get upset when others try to give them advice.

I was never one of those. I was always asking for advice to the point that people would avoid me.

[Foil Girl]

I was always totally insulted (and still am), when people take it easier on me just because I'm worse than them. It doesn't help my fencing or theirs. So I won't give away a touch to a newbie (that's newer than me anyways). If they've just started, sometimes I'll ask them if they want to do a drill or somehting that works on one of their weaknesses. I'm starved for input on my fencing, and if someone offered to do that, I'd eat it up, so ya, lol. I guess that's my two cents.

[Tomas N]

I'm in pretty good shape, but not in good enough shape to stay on the piste longer than I have to. A lot of people lose DE bouts because they spent too much time piddling around with newbies in the early rounds and they have no steam left.

[DarkTransient]

Originally posted by epeemike81:
<STRONG>

Brilliant!

just how old ARE you? how long have you been fencing?

-m</STRONG>

That is a joke, you donkey.

[epeemike81]

hey DT, how about answering the question:

how long have you been fencing?

-m

[arcon]

[ 10-23-2001: Message edited by: arcon ]

[Cutter]

When I get up against a newbie I first gain enough points to insure the win, then I play around. I use that time to practice things I am not very good at yet. This way I get a little practice time in during the bout as well and it keeps me from "humiliating" my opponent. Gives them a boost to get some touches and confidence is key in fencing. If you annialate them confidence is destroyed and for some, especially the kids, it is hard to come back from a 15-0 loss.