Hello fencers!

[GrayGhost]

After way too many years (30+) of being a couch potato, I decided to return to fencing and drag my son along, too. I fenced foil for 3 years in college and then couldn't find anyone to fence with until recently. There's a good fencing club in town and though they specialize in epee, I thought I'd give it a shot. So far, so good.

General comment: Man, have things changed in 30 years!!! In college, women only fenced foil--now, all three weapons and even bringing home (USA) medals in saber. (You go, girl!!!) Electric saber--who'd thought it possible? (I always enjoyed the dramatics of saber fencers trying to convince the judges of a touch.) And, epeeists now fencing like foilists but with bigger blades. Got a lot of catching up to do.

Anyway, glad to be here and hope to see some of you on the strip. If so, please take it easy on the "old man".

(Lefties rule!!!)

[YankeeRebel]

Oh no, not another lefty! Welcome back to the sport, GrayGhost! I hope it's all coming back to you after 30 years. The great thing about fencing is that a good parry can beat youthful energy all the time. Experience trumps age. Welcome to the board

[ShadyLane]

(Lefties rule!!!)

Hello and welcome! I'm sure you'll adjust fine into epee

Yeah, you said it! Lefties rule!!

[parrythis]

Welcome, and don't let the 30+ years of couch potatodom slow you down. I am in my 50s and two years ago I made fencing the cornerstone of my fitness program. Now, I may be in the best shape of my life. Epee rocks! It's my favorite weapon.

[GrayGhost]

Hi All!

Thanks for the welcome.

Yep, while epee is cool (my college coach let us fence a secondary weapon in novice tournaments if we were seniors--I tried epee), I've got a few "foilisms" to unlearn: no more right of way & "off target" doesn't exist. Also, there is a lot more emphasis on getting the touch and not worrying about getting hit in return as long as you beat the other guy/gal by 1/25 sec.

BTW: When did they change the rule about the number of touches in a bout? When I last fenced (1971), it was 5 touches/4 minutes. Or was that just a NCAA rule and the AFLA (USFA)/FIE always used 15 touches/9 minutes?

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing if I can hold my own.

later,
GrayGhost

[broncofencer]

Hi All!

Thanks for the welcome.

BTW: When did they change the rule about the number of touches in a bout? When I last fenced (1971), it was 5 touches/4 minutes. Or was that just a NCAA rule and the AFLA (USFA)/FIE always used 15 touches/9 minutes?

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing if I can hold my own.

later,
GrayGhost

Direct elimination bouts are still 15 in 9 mins. (actually 15 in 3 3min. periods) Pools bouts are to 5 still.

welcome back to the sport

if you think sabre and epee have changed wait til you see foil it changes every year now.

[GrayGhost]

Thanks for the info.

Don't get me started on changes in foil!!! I read recently that the FIE is talking about making the weapon arm a valid target in foil. Is that true? If so, then (1) added expense for the poor foil fencer--new lame that covers the arm and (2) it starts looking more and more like epee.

I always liked the rationale I was taught about how we arrived at the different targets for each weapon:

• Foil: "Duel to the death"--go for the vital organs, hence the body trunk.
• Epee: "Duel for honor"--first blood, hence the whole body.
• Saber: "Fencing on horseback"--hurt the enemy, not the horse, hence everything above the waist.

Why can't they just leave things alone? Some change is necessary for the good of the sport (I like women fencing all 3 weapons and I think I can get use to "sport" fencing vs "classical"), but some things just don't make sense.

Sorry for getting on my soapbox.

later,
GrayGhost

[BrianH]

GrayGhost,

Welcome back to fencing! I hope you enjoy the sport the rest of your life and adapt quickly to the rules changes. And don't worry, you're far from the oldest poster on the forum...you'll meet a curmudgeon named Inquartata who is at least twice your age, and still burning up the sabre strips (without crossing over).

[VELISARIOS]

After way too many years (30+) of being a couch potato, I decided to return to fencing and drag my son along, too. I fenced foil for 3 years in college and then couldn't find anyone to fence with until recently. There's a good fencing club in town and though they specialize in epee, I thought I'd give it a shot. So far, so good.

General comment: Man, have things changed in 30 years!!! In college, women only fenced foil--now, all three weapons and even bringing home (USA) medals in saber. (You go, girl!!!) Electric saber--who'd thought it possible? (I always enjoyed the dramatics of saber fencers trying to convince the judges of a touch.) And, epeeists now fencing like foilists but with bigger blades. Got a lot of catching up to do.

Anyway, glad to be here and hope to see some of you on the strip. If so, please take it easy on the "old man".

(Lefties rule!!!)

Hello Gray Ghost. Wellcome to the forum and have fun!!!

[ThatReallyHurt]

Thanks for the info.

Don't get me started on changes in foil!!! I read recently that the FIE is talking about making the weapon arm a valid target in foil. Is that true? If so, then (1) added expense for the poor foil fencer--new lame that covers the arm and (2) it starts looking more and more like epee.

I always liked the rationale I was taught about how we arrived at the different targets for each weapon:

• Foil: "Duel to the death"--go for the vital organs, hence the body trunk.
• Epee: "Duel for honor"--first blood, hence the whole body.
• Saber: "Fencing on horseback"--hurt the enemy, not the horse, hence everything above the waist.

Why can't they just leave things alone? Some change is necessary for the good of the sport (I like women fencing all 3 weapons and I think I can get use to "sport" fencing vs "classical"), but some things just don't make sense.

Sorry for getting on my soapbox.

later,
GrayGhost

Nothing wrong with the soapbox - lots of people here use it.

Welcome to the forum!

[melihop]

Hey! welcome! Its great to meet you!!!

[Inquartata]

Nothing wrong with the soapbox - lots of people here use it.

I prefer the high horse, myself. I get more loft that way.

[ThatReallyHurt]

I prefer the high horse, myself. I get more loft that way.

Yes, and you leave more horse &#@( behind that way, too.

[GrayGhost]

All,

Thanks for the warm welcome!

... you'll meet a curmudgeon named Inquartata who is at least twice your age, and still burning up the sabre strips (without crossing over).

Without giving away too much info about my age , that would make him at least a centenarian. (There's a reason I picked GrayGhost. )

later,
GrayGhost

[ThatReallyHurt]

... you'll meet a curmudgeon named Inquartata who is at least twice your age, and still burning up the sabre strips (without crossing over).

Without giving away too much info about my age , that would make him at least a centenarian. (There's a reason I picked GrayGhost. )

Oh, don't worry - the rule still holds.

[Inquartata]

I was born 400 years ago in the Highlands of Scotland. Or something like that.

[swordwench]

I was born 400 years ago in the Highlands of Scotland. Or something like that.

"There can be... ONLY ONE!" Thank god for that.

Oh, and welcome.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Yay, another leftie! Welcome back to the sport!

[Zhi]

At your age, I think you have enough experience in this sport and just a liitle training I'm sure you're abilities will come back soon..
Welcome back

[GrayGhost]

At your age, I think you have enough experience in this sport and just a liitle training I'm sure you're abilities will come back soon..
Welcome back

Abilities--I sure hope so. However, I not sure about these old legs.

I have decided to enter a local E/Under tournament in about 2 weeks. Don't be surprised if afterwards you hear me say I'm only fencing "for the exercise" (IOW--I got decimated!).

later,
GrayGhost