Too short for epee?

[Roach]

Are there people who really believe in the idea of being "too short for epee?" Do not get me wrong, I have been fencing epee for 7+ years now, and I can see the definite advantage of having a long reach. At the same time one of the better epee fencers I know is 5' 5". For that matter, I am ONLY 5'11" and "built like a saber fencer". (what ever that means) I hate the idea that people are being told that they cannot or should not fence a certain weapon because they aren't (insert lame physical stereotype here).

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

5''11 is plenty tall to be a successful epeeist. While it is an advantage, so what if you dont have it? Its also an advantage to have good footwork, or be stronger, or faster, or smarter, or hell, to not suck.

[daveappr]

While I may not be quite as eloquent as D+, I agree with him. Reach can be an advantage, but 5' 11' is not too short for epee. Reach, speed, point control, all are examples of things that go together to make a good fencer, but if you don't know how to control these things, what good are they? A fencer who trains hard, applies the tactics taught, drills learned, and learns body awareness will have success, as opposed to someone who is just tall and does not work to put the package together. Our club has a sabre fencer who is faster than almost everyone in our area but lacks the control or discipline to train regularly- he does well on a local division level, but out of the division his lack of body awareness, inability to apply tactics learned and lack of control of the speedy footwork he has costs him dearly. Put in the time and results will come. And don't forget, Success is defined on many different levels.

[bigdawg2121]

I'm gonna have to agree with Roach, I'm pretty damn short myself, and framkly epee is the weapon where I find it to be the least of an issue. When it comes down to it we're both left with a blade that's about 35in long...the distance from your closest target to mine is equal, all else is a matter of how well I manage my distance and set up my tactics etc. The disadvantage is that a shorter fencer can lose reach, if he/she just plain screws up, while the tall guy has more room for error...(although usually it evens out b/c all the tall guys assume they'll beat you anyway righht?)

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Also, fencing tends to reward a seasoned competitor, hardened and mature, especially epee. Competitive maturity can overcome a reach advantage easily.

[melihop]

If a man is 5'1" than he is probably "too short" for epee.. If a woman is 4'8" she is probably "too short" for epee... (this could be off.. this is just how it seems to me) I am only 5'2" and i can fence guys who are like 6' tall, who are about D level (perhaps better, not sure really, just know they have been fencing a lot longer than i have!) and I have onl; ybeen fencing epee for 6 months on and off.. and i can beat them somtimes... Yes i at 5'2" i will never be some A level epeeist, but you can still do well and have fun doing it. I am not saying it wouldn't be nice to have a few extra inches reach, but its not necessary!

[JEC]

... at 5'2" i will never be some A level epeeist

That is nonsense. I know an A level fencer of that height. The keys are timing, tempo, footwork, strategy, agility, and knowing your strengths and weaknesses. You are a small target, and your forearm probably is also a small target. It is definitively harder but finesse at the right time overcomes height and strength.

[mrbiggs]

Height never makes success an impossibility, it just makes it more difficult. 5'11", while probably below the average height of a decent epeeist, isn't short by any standards. You'll be fine. If you're 5'1" and male, then you might want to reconsider epee, simply because every move you make will have to be nearly perfect to make up for the height disadvantage, but if epee is your favorite weapon, you should pursue it no matter what. Especially if you're 5'11".

[kjbowker]

I agree with a lot of what the general opinion is. A shorter fencer must work on timing, distance, technique and speed to overcome reach. I'm 5'5' and love Epee. Everyone I bout against outside of my time at the university, are always taller than me by leaps and bounds. To me it seems speed is key. Getting inside their reach or defeating their attack and riposting very, very quickly, closing the distance before they can bring their point back on line.

Speaking of this, does anyone think a shorter fencer would be better served in close quarters with a shorter blade? Say a number 2 instead of a number 5? I have always fenced with a number 5, but someone once brought up the subject of me fencing with a #2 and I've been thinking about trying that out.

[JEC]

Experiment, but I doubt that it would help you in epee. In a sense, you would be making yourself unidimensional having to parry your opponent every time before closing in. With a #5, your reach to your opponent's wrist and forearm is the same for both of you. So, a well timed stop-hit can do but would be considerably harder with a #2 (giving away 3 inches).

In foil, it is a different story with the old timings. With the current timings, it probably is closer to epee.

[bigdawg2121]

Ummmm....I don't think 2s are legal for those of us that are no longer fencing prenatal or semi-squishy events...also the fact that you're shorter should give you enough of a close quarters advantage simply b/c your limbs are likely to be smaller and faster.

[mrbiggs]

Ummmm....I don't think 2s are legal for those of us that are no longer fencing prenatal or semi-squishy events...also the fact that you're shorter should give you enough of a close quarters advantage simply b/c your limbs are likely to be smaller and faster.

m.7. The maximum length of the foil is 105 cm


Unless there's another relevant rule placed somewhere weird, there's no minimum foil length, therefore 2s are fine. You can try out a 2, but I'd think it would most likely be a bad idea to amplify the advantages and disadvantages you already have. 2s are best for people who have trouble controlling a 5 blade.

[bigdawg2121]

Actually m.7 allows the weapon itself to be 110cm long for foil...the blade max is 90cm. That being said, I think if you check your tournament packets from the USFA you'll find a blurb in there quickly mentioning that Y-10s and 12s must use either a 0 or a 2 whereas all others may choose a 5 or a 4.....personally if you wanted to try out a 2 in epee I doubt I'd kick you off my strip for non-conforming equipment...at least not until I'd had a little chuckle about the situation for a bit.