Learning and Lefties

[Epeemom]

I've just started fencing-after observing the child for a few years (why let him have all the fun?).

I'm a righty-and have just now started doing a little open fencing. Last night I fenced a lefty. One of the coaches was directing and he told me that the distance is different-and yes it is!!! Since I'm older and a momma, I'm not intimidated by anything on the other end of the strip.

I'm not freaked out by lefties, I just realize that there will be a little mental adjustment when fencing them-in order to make a move work. This is an intellectual excercise for me-just trying to figure it all out.

Did everyone's coaches teach them using both or just one and let them figure out the other on their own? Should I ask my coach to let me try moves with him fencing both right and left handed?

Thanks!

[Zelda]

My old coach had a very bad habit of switch hands half way through a lesson. If you want experience ask!

[Epeemom]

Originally Posted by Zelda

My old coach had a very bad habit of switch hands half way through a lesson. If you want experience ask!

So, did it help in the long run?

[Epeemom]

Originally Posted by Zelda

My old coach had a very bad habit of switch hands half way through a lesson. If you want experience ask!

So did it help in the long run?

[Mr Epee]

Originally Posted by Epeemom

I've just started fencing-after observing the child for a few years (why let him have all the fun?).

I'm a righty-and have just now started doing a little open fencing. Last night I fenced a lefty. One of the coaches was directing and he told me that the distance is different-and yes it is!!! Since I'm older and a momma, I'm not intimidated by anything on the other end of the strip.

I'm not freaked out by lefties, I just realize that there will be a little mental adjustment when fencing them-in order to make a move work. This is an intellectual excercise for me-just trying to figure it all out.

Did everyone's coaches teach them using both or just one and let them figure out the other on their own? Should I ask my coach to let me try moves with him fencing both right and left handed?

Thanks!

1. Welcome to the sport.

2. If you are just starting out, you will do much better to work on the basics with your coach for a long time before starting to switch things up.

3. I personally would never want a coach switching hands unless I was having a serious problem.

4. I happen to love fencing lefties, because it's much more linear. The lines available tend to present elegant solutions. The problem is that many left handed fencers simply don't know how to fence.

[Zelda]

Originally Posted by Epeemom

So did it help in the long run?

I guess. I can now coach right handed while fencing left handed! Its a matter of exposing yourself to those of different handedness.

[glowstix]

Originally Posted by Mr Epee

I happen to love fencing lefties, because it's much more linear. The lines available tend to present elegant solutions. The problem is that many left handed fencers simply don't know how to fence.

yeah, i happen to love fencing other lefties too..

[VERITAS]

Fencing lefties is fun and hard.

One who used to come to our practice wasn't terribly good, so it wasn't much harder than fencing a righty.

There are a few that are exceptionly good, and can beat me with the left hand and present a very serious challenge with the right hand.

Learning to fence left-handed apparantly solves the problem, but takes a lot of time.
Other than that, fence them as often as possible. They have the same difficulties against you, except they are more used to the situation.

[rcmatthews]

I fence a lefty in my club on a regular basis, and now frequently it won't even register that I am fencing a lefty in a tournament. It just something you have to get used to.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by glowstix

yeah, i happen to love fencing other lefties too..

I suddenly feel so...loved!

[RebelFencer]

I had a lefty coach which helped a lot, although for awhile I had trouble fencing other righties (oh bitter irony). But yeah, I've had matches end where I did a double take and say, "You're left handed?" My advice:

1) Remember, you have the exact same position as they do...which means that whatever they can do you can do as well.
2)Their flank is usually an appetizing target area since it is now much closer to you
3)The goals of the bout haven't changed, just the process in which you achieve them, so it is partially a process of adapting to a new "style."

Since you're just starting out I understand how lefties can be a big pain, but as you get more experience and start fencing them more you'll learn exactly what you need to do.

[epeezack]

My coach gives his students advice and tips on lefties only when asked, since we only have one lefty in our club.

[pacer]

I've had the same experience as rcmatthews - it doesn't even register at a tournament that I' m fencing a lefty. For some reason my club has a high number of left handed fencers and there have been open fencing nights when the lefties are in the majority. I quickly learned that each fencer (right or left handed) has their own style. Some seem to require hugging the left side of the strip, others don't and so on.

[Alain]

There's nothing (much) wrong with lefties... Don't forget that if you have a problem against a left-hander, then they have the same problem against you! Some things will work better against them, some things won't. You get to find out what these are with practice and experience!

We have a good - if that's the word - number of them at our club, and I've fenced so many of them over so many years, that I don't really notice anymore.

My coach is right-handed, and to date I don't think I've ever had a lesson from a leftie. However, if you are having problems with lefties, then just ask your coach and he should be able to help you out Good luck!

[keith]

so in epee lefties are brilliant for reinforcing the linearity of the point's movement during the attack - any straight action progresses through the targets, hooking actions are suicide (so it always surprises me just how many leftie epeeists have this pavlovian hooking stop hit, but I'm glad they do)

in foil the tricky thing is the change in the angle your point meets the target - bad point control and poor ability to fix the point are probably the big two problems people have (even more so than the distance shift). Against a leftie the sixte target is small and slopes away from you but is often poorly defended so an engagement in quarte then a lunge with opposition is a simple and often effective action. Beat fient sixte hit flank is also a handy action

... and remember that because of the angles the tiniest quarte parry/engagement is required to clear the blade or open the line.

[epee1]

My coach is a lefty, a TALL, lean, male lefty. Our club has at least 4 other lefties in it. I love fencing them all. A quick, circle beat 6 to the palm - gotta love it!! My problem now lies in that I can no longer make distance with short, stumpy, right handed women and since I have to fence women at all the bigger tournaments, things are tough all over. Poor me!!!

[AndrastVitesse]

Originally Posted by Mr Epee

The problem is that many left handed fencers simply don't know how to fence.

Hey, I find this very offensive! Some of the best fencers out there are left handed

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by AndrastVitesse

Hey, I find this very offensive! Some of the best fencers out there are left handed

I think his point was that many lefties have gotten used to depending on their left-handedness, and when they're in a bout against another lefty, they fall back to the same tactics which are righty-specific. They still WORK, but the moves are less elegant than they could be.

Or am I missing the point completely?

[Gav]

A couple of observations:

Remember that Lefties are intrinsically closer to you. Beware of your distance when fencing them; their wrists and knees are closer to you, however yours are closer to them. Chances are that they have a lot more practise at hitting at this distance then you.

Their is less angle, so you will have to angle more. If you imagine that there is a straight line from your forearm extending through your wrist up your Epee and across to your opponent. Against a lefy this line will continue to extend till it meets their elbow. Remember that and adapt; use more angle.

A lefty's on-guard is normally going to be in sixte and probably on your outside line. Try to move your 'defensive box' more to your outside line to accomodate. Don't exaggerate this, Lefty's can be as adept at hitting the inside wrist as they are the outside. Similarly don't leave your arm too far into the left as Lefty's like the outside wrist hit, they even like it is a short attack so they can redouble inside.

Sixte and counter Sixte are the natural Lefty parry, but don't be fooled. Although a lot of leftys rarely show off their Quarte Quarte is actually very effective and a good lefty should be able to use it. If you cannot hit the wrist be prepared to move their arm about using compound actions (they will be doing the same).

Fence lots of Leftys.

On the hooked riposte: I've never came across this (and I'm a lefty) unless it was some righty doing it. Yes I like it as well.

[rcmatthews]

Wow, RebelFencer, you had a left handed coach? Me too, thats crazy. I wonder if it's the same person.