Epee Posting Question

[howtobrew]

Hello,
I was browsing some of the archived material and noticed a thread on posting, spanish grips, and threatening the floor...

The question that this raised for me was, are you allowed during a bout, actively fencing, to change your grip on a french grip weapon? Can you shift your grip from pommel to guard to change your tactic or is this considered cheating vis a vis other fencers with pistol grips. (are pistol grips = orthopaedic?)

I have just ordered the LP Reaction Epee and am concerned that I getting into unknown waters here. Is posting generally frowned upon? What makes the Spanish grip so controversial?

Also, Do other fencers dislike their opponents blade not paying attention to them. Is the piste surface sacred? ;-)
Thanks,
John

PS. my current epee is an FTM with Uhlmann rubber over metal grip.

[oiuyt]

You may change the position of your grip on a french so long as you don't do it during an offensive action (to prevent throwing the weapon and catching the end of the grip before it escapes your hand).

All pistol grips are orthopedic.

The Spanish grip is illegal because it both has a postable pommel (same as a French) AND orthopedic aids. You are allowed one or the other but not both. If you have orthopedic aids the grip must be designed to be weildable in only only position and that position must have the thumb within 2cm of the bell.

Posting is absolutely not frowned upon and is a completely legitimate technique.

Threatening the floor is not illegal (as long as you don't hit it, intentional touches not on the opponent are illegal, bending or straightening the weapon on a metallic piste is illegal, doing anything that might damage a metallic piste is a good way to get a armorer to start hunting you and THAT'S worse than merely risking cards...). Absence of blade is a completely legitimate technique.

-B :)

[howtobrew]

"so long as you don't do it during an offensive action "

Ah! Thanks, by offensive action, I would interpret that as at least an extension, so if I have my arm bent, and only extend/shuffle my arm enough to shift the grip to the pommel or vice versa, then that is acceptable, right?

[oiuyt]

If you're not trying to hit it's not an offensive action (well, not quite true, if you manage to hit without trying that would still be an offensive action).

Just walking your fingers down the grip to a different position while jockeying for position is completely legal.

Incidently, for reference, adding reputation only works if you have at least 50 posts. Before that point your comment (if any) shows up but your action has no effect on the person you're attempting to give feedback to.

-B :)