Places to fence epee

[Army Fencer]

Eds brought up the topic of good places to fence sabre in the US. How about epee? (I have my own ideas, but I'll hold off for a bit)

[sreckiki]

Originally Posted by Army Fencer

Eds brought up the topic of good places to fence sabre in the US. How about epee? (I have my own ideas, but I'll hold off for a bit)

Let me think about it... The DCFC!

Hahaha... (sorry, I had a tough week...)

[jspierre]

I think a lot of people might say the NYAC; NYFC is good too, and I think there are relative centers of strength at Golden Gate, Oregon Fencing, DCFC, and maybe one or two of the New England clubs.

[Calder]

Fantastic place here in Utah, Wasatch Fencing (www.wasatchfencing.org). Great people, really nice club.

[glowstix]

Originally Posted by Calder

Fantastic place here in Utah, Wasatch Fencing (www.wasatchfencing.org). Great people, really nice club.

cool website. only $35/month, thats good.

Originally Posted by Army Fencer

How about epee? (I have my own ideas, but I'll hold off for a bit)

i'll tell you where not to fence epee: FL!!! only like 2 As' in the entire state!! actually its getting a lot better but i still drive 2 hours just to practice epee a few times a month (and i call myself epee fencer ). people just get stuck in foil here.

[telkanuru]

New York/New England, I think.

[scrapinpeg]

NYAC has a strong epee program, with lots of good fencers and frequent competitions.
NYFC has a handful of strong epeeists, but not much of a program, and maybe 2 opens a year.

[mlr2fence]

Glowstix: Maybe you haven't found all the epee fencers in Florida since they have some up and coming kids on the NRPS--must have some good coaching somewhere.

[glowstix]

Originally Posted by mlr2fence

Glowstix: Maybe you haven't found all the epee fencers in Florida since they have some up and coming kids on the NRPS--must have some good coaching somewhere.

i've seen a few of them. at the same time, i've never fenced an A rated event here. i know there are a few Bs'. the good coaching for epee is in south and central FL. way out of my driving range.

[Army Fencer]

Hands down, NYAC is the best place to fence in the US.

I think it's a toss up between Northwest Fencing, DCFC, and Golden Gate.

The FC has a few good fencers, but I don't see much of a program there. Northern Colorado has a program coming together; it'll be interesting to see if they go anywhere.

I don't see much out of New England (sorry Mike, sorry telkanuru)

[glowstix]

Originally Posted by Army Fencer

Hands down, NYAC is the best place to fence in the US.

I think it's a toss up between Northwest Fencing, DCFC, and Golden Gate.

The FC has a few good fencers, but I don't see much of a program there. Northern Colorado has a program coming together; it'll be interesting to see if they go anywhere.

I don't see much out of New England (sorry Mike, sorry telkanuru)

clearly i'm in the wrong part of the country.

[JEC]

In another thread, I posted this info:

Gulf Coast - biggest city: Houston
Foil: 2 A's and 8 B's
Epee: 5 A's and 12 B's
Sabre: 2 A's and 2 B's

South Texas - biggest city: San Antonio
Foil: 2 A's and 10 B's
Epee: 19 A's and 17 B's
Sabre: No A's and 5 B's

North Texas - biggest city/complex: Dallas-Fort Worth
Foil: No A's and 8 B's
Epee: 7 A's and 15 B's
Sabre: 1 A and 4 B's

Epee: 1) South Texas (by far) 2) North Texas 3) Gulf Coast

The catalyst for the excellent epee in South Texas was the presence of the US Modern Pentathlon, whose coaches developed many of the current coaches in the surrounding communities. Perhaps, the presence of Akhi in Houston might be the catalyst to improve the quality of Saber in the Southwest Section. We and others hope so.

[Army Fencer]

Interesting, JEC. I know that Fort Sam Houston is in San Antonio. What clubs are there?

[JEC]

None that I know of. However, we had a veteran Epee fencer from there in our club. Modern Pentathlon has a good number of highly rated epee fencers. There are two very good groups using the Gym at Texas State University at San Marcos (45 min. away from San Antonio) that includes at least 5 A's and a couple of B's. (the University club and the ATAC club: http://www.atacfencing.org/ )

[The Armourer]

... anyone coming to the UK? Let me know and Reading Fencing Club is the place to come.

[veeco]

I'm surprised nobody mentionned Gago's excellent club, LAIFC, as well. He runs a very good epee program and there are lots of strong fencers there.

While I have never fenced at the AC, I would say that they do have a strong program, but that some of the fencers at the AC weren't originally trained at the FC, and might not even train there full time. So it doesn't mean it's not as good a program as anyone says, but if I went and fenced there I am not sure I would be able to fence someone from their top team on any given day. Perhaps someone who fences at the AC can confirm?

[gladius]

Originally Posted by JEC

In another thread, I posted this info:

Gulf Coast - biggest city: Houston
Foil: 2 A's and 8 B's
Epee: 5 A's and 12 B's
Sabre: 2 A's and 2 B's

South Texas - biggest city: San Antonio
Foil: 2 A's and 10 B's
Epee: 19 A's and 17 B's
Sabre: No A's and 5 B's

North Texas - biggest city/complex: Dallas-Fort Worth
Foil: No A's and 8 B's
Epee: 7 A's and 15 B's
Sabre: 1 A and 4 B's

Epee: 1) South Texas (by far) 2) North Texas 3) Gulf Coast

The catalyst for the excellent epee in South Texas was the presence of the US Modern Pentathlon, whose coaches developed many of the current coaches in the surrounding communities. Perhaps, the presence of Akhi in Houston might be the catalyst to improve the quality of Saber in the Southwest Section. We and others hope so.

JEC, your analysis and diagnosis of the epee situation in the SW Section requires a second opinion.

To compare the number of letter ratings in a Section is not really significant in terms of where the best epee fencers today are. A more apt comparison is by using the number of the current RPS fencers and the number of fencers with letter rankings, the latter of less importance than the former. If you follow this method, i.e., nationally ranked fencers (USFA RPS updated Dec 12, 2004) and the letter ratings (SW section updated Dec 10) you get the following:

South TX: 9 "A" + 3 "B"
Gulf Coast: 5 "A" + 2 "B"
North TX: 4 "A" + 3 "B"

Accordingly, South TX is first, Gulf Coast is second, and North TX is third, for the time being.

Your comments about Akhi in Houston as the catalyst to improve the quality of saber in Houston are kind and hopefully a larger numbers of fencers will be attracted to this weapon, even though the GC division has already the top current saber fencers in the Section. But we all want more competition and Akhi, now free from servitude, has the potential to make it happen.

I hope that you don't mind if credit is given to the work of Andrey Geva, head coach of Alliance Fencing Academy, and another former slave, who in less than a year has developed 6 "A" rated epee fencers and one "A" rated fencer in saber (all A-04). Andrey has provided a healthy and much needed alternative for anyone interested in fencing in the Gulf Coast Division in general, and Houston in particular, and he is the real catalyst today for good fencing in Houston.

You are welcome to experience the quality of fencing in Houston January 8 at the Houston Cup #2 Tournament in preparation for Overland Park. The Open Mix Epee event has thus far 45 fencers: 13 "A," 6 "B," 9 "C," 6 "D," 4 "E," 7 "U." It could be a A2 event. At least 9 fencers from your Division are planning to attend (seven of them "A").

If you need more info contact Andrey at Alliance Fencing Academy www.Alliance-Fencing-Academy.com or check with Askfred.

If you come, bring your camera!

[mrbiggs]

In the thread about Pris-de-Fer, that newly done club in Massachusettes, someone mentioned alot of high-ranked fencers coming on a certain day...I'll go get the link...

Here...

[MHS Fencer]

Originally Posted by mrbiggs

In the thread about Pris-de-Fer, that newly done club in Massachusettes, someone mentioned alot of high-ranked fencers coming on a certain day...I'll go get the link...

Here...

::rolls eyes::

If you're looking for the best competitions it's probably going to be at a place like the AC (much as I hate to admit it) - they have the most top-level fencers - none of those mentioned there compare to them. I didn't train at the AC but I've fenced with them a bit.

There are also a couple of college programs with strong epee teams, but the structure naturally prevents outsiders from coming in.

The FC used to be better with epee (although, to be fair, I haven't been there recently so this is going more on word of mouth) but it seems like a lot of their talent has become less diligent in training with being in college/been away, (Does Horvath even train anymore?) or Rashaan Greenhouse's leaving, coupled with some bad luck. There never was much of a program, but there used to be more depth (or so it seems to me).

[whtouche]

MHS, where do you go to school in boston?
Do you fence for them?