Brain vs. Braun

[Mr Epee]

Epeecurian -

I have posted the story of this Bormann incident in the forum...

Under the title of "1983 World Championships - Epee Story"

[VELISARIOS]

Mind over body...!

[Welted 24/7]

Originally Posted by mrbiggs

Depends on the weapon. You can get quite far in epee with brains alone, but in foil and sabre, brains simply compliment your physical abilities.

That's a joke, right? For whatever stereotypes there are about sabre, if you just try and muscle your way through, you're dead meat. I've fenced a lot of people who thought cutting harder was the solution when they weren't getting touches and they've all gone down to simple tactics. Anybody who fences with "brains simply complimenting their physical abilities" will never be a very good fencer.

[Alain]

Originally Posted by Welted 24/7

That's a joke, right? For whatever stereotypes there are about sabre, if you just try and muscle your way through, you're dead meat. I've fenced a lot of people who thought cutting harder was the solution when they weren't getting touches and they've all gone down to simple tactics. Anybody who fences with "brains simply complimenting their physical abilities" will never be a very good fencer.

Welt's right, y'know. The top "sabreur" at my university club - apart from me, obviously - is the one that hits hardest. I fought him yesterday and won 15-3, but DAMN did it hurt. People who just hit hard shouldn't fence; it's not about hitting, it's about scoring a point (and looking good whilst you do it)

[Coup de Grace]

I'll second that. My coach reminds us that Sabre fencing is all about finesse and not brute strength. A supple wrist and supple mind makes winning touches.

[Army Fencer]

It's interesting to me that of all the people who have participated in this poll, most of the better fencers on the board chose the "mind" option.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Originally Posted by Army Fencer

It's interesting to me that of all the people who have participated in this poll, most of the better fencers on the board chose the "mind" option.

Good point army. I would really say that both are needed though. If you rely on your muscle... you're gonna go down when you fence someone better fitter than you. I also agree with grasshopper, in that, by the time you can use your brain to the fullest, you're usually quite strong and fit, from all the fencing..... they are interdependant. I take back my vote about muscle being more important. Muscle and mind, IMHO, are linked, and without the muscle, you cannot use your mind, and without the mind, you cannot use your muscle.

[keith]

Originally Posted by Army Fencer

It's interesting to me that of all the people who have participated in this poll, most of the better fencers on the board chose the "mind" option.

or is it just the creaky knees brigade trying to make themselves feel better?

[Coup de Grace]

A supple mind with creaky knees can still defeat a brute.

[dreamer90024]

Personally I think it's definetely a mix of both. I fence epee and you don;t have to be the strongest or the fastest fencer out there to win if you have good timing, but you go have to have enough endurance to fence for 9 minutes. I don't think you can isolated either, you can get to a certain level with just one, but at some point you need both. This said I would like to point out that, no matter how smart you are, if you don't have the strength/ endurance to execute an action against a stronger fencer (even if it just means retreating with enough acceleration to get a counter attack) than you aren't going to have much luck.