sabre camaraderie

[servdragoon]

Has anyone noticed a distinct difference in the amount of comaraderie amongst sabre fencers (whether competing against each other or not), than of epee and foil fencers?

[Inquartata]

It's even more noticeable amongst the [i]Veteran[/b] sabre fencers.

[epeemike81]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by servdragoon:
<strong>Has anyone noticed a distinct difference in the amount of comaraderie amongst sabre fencers (whether competing against each other or not), than of epee and foil fencers?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">bull****

[Inquartata]

Well, yeah, that's more prevalent among sabre fencers, too...

<small>[ 07-26-2002, 12:33 AM: Message edited by: Inquartata ]</small>

[SäbelFechter]

Different in what way? Do you get the impression that there is more or less camaraderie among sabre fencers than those in the other weapons?

[Dalton]

There is a clear difference between foil/epee fencers and sabreurs. In the FIE satelite tournaments the participants ALLWAYS go together for dinner and drinks afterwards. I have asked about this from the epeeists, and they don't do that. In fact, they where, like, "what? you can do that?" and shook their heads in disbelief.

[Mo]

Different in what way? Do you get the impression that there is more or less camaraderie among sabre fencers than those in the other weapons?
Maybe among older saber fencers.... the folk that are old enough to drink are really fun!

[Spanky]

yip: seems like sabruers who have faced-off often enough do bond better than most foilists/epee-sits...and i've seen this in at least two countries in two different hemi-shperes. of course there are exceptions, but he and she will soon get their bums kicked (i ferverently hope!!!!).

[Gav]

Dalton: I know plenty of Epeeists who go out for dinner after a tourney. If you are reffering to the A grades then maybe not.

Actually I'm quite surprised about how much stuff flies around about the elitism of Epee/Foilists. At our club, it became apparent that everyone else thought the we [the Epeeists] were very elitist and wouldn't talk to anyone unless they were carrying an Epee. At the time I thought, "EH? Is this the same bunch of guys?" Then I realised what the problem was we train on different nights from everyone else, nobody knew us. It's all fixed now and we're one bug happy fencing family - well almost.

There's a lot of good natured [mostly] jibing between the various disciplines. Everyone thinks that Epeeists are elitist (that's cos we're the best). Everyone thinks Folisists are flashy, 'weapon-supremacists'. Finally noone knows what Sabreurs thinks cos they're all down the pub!

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

[epeemike81]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by Gav:
<strong>Actually I'm quite surprised about how much stuff flies around about the elitism of Epee/Foilists.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">From what I hear, the "elitism" in NYC is reserved for a very few sabreurs at the FC, and if you talk to the other sabreurs at FC, I am guessing they would NOT feel a comraderie with the elitists.

servdragoon, your thoughts on this?
-m

[Purple Fencer]

It's just some sort of sabre herd mentality!

UNless, of course, you started fencing sabre as a young child at Falcon in L.A....then you tend to look down on everyone else.

[counter riposte]

Personally, I think that it each group of weapon knows each other simply because we fence each other. Unless you are working in a salle were Sabre V. Foil occasionally, a foilist is not going to know a sabreist, and vice versa. The more you fence each other, the better you get to know your opponent. That's all.

[servdragoon]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by epeemike81:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by Gav:
<strong>Actually I'm quite surprised about how much stuff flies around about the elitism of Epee/Foilists.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">From what I hear, the "elitism" in NYC is reserved for a very few sabreurs at the FC, and if you talk to the other sabreurs at FC, I am guessing they would NOT feel a comraderie with the elitists.

servdragoon, your thoughts on this?
-m</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">If you are talking about Keeth, Aki, and Herby, then i would say that they definitely have no problem knowing and showing they are the dominante sabre fencers at the club. But i wouldn't say they behave like "elitists". I think people maybe intimidated by what they have been able to do for themsleves and wont approach them as easily as someone who is lower in the ranks. From my experience they are pleasant, friendly guys who dont have a problem talking to or fencing someone who isnt as good as them. They do go partying with other sabrist who arnt as accomplished as them.

[Inquartata]

Gav---I wouldn't call it elitism, exactly. It's more a matter of intensity, I think. In foil especially, and to an extent in epee, the dominant personality type seems to me to be more tightly wound; they seem to be so caught up in the feeling that "in a little while these guys will be my enemies on the strip" and are reluctant to socialize overmuch. They tend to sit or stand around watching the next potential adversary intently, or at best "hanging" with club/teammates; sabre fencers seem to me to be more gregarious toward other fencers they don't know. Of course, there are lots of exceptions to both stereotypes, but that's just the vibe I tend to pick up at competitions...