Foil, Epee, Sabre: why?

[RITFencing]

I like epee.

It has taught me that people who use many words are usually trying to obscure the truth - not reveal it.

That was deep. You blew my mind, man.

[Inquartata]

Yeah...wells are deep, too. Also dark and dank, and hard to escape from.

Guess we should turn up our noses at Shakespeare, James, Tolstoi, and all of the other people who "use too many words".

Simplistic, anti-intellectual pap.

[jBirch]

Yeah...wells are deep, too. Also dark and dank, and hard to escape from.

Guess we should turn up our noses at Shakespeare, James, Tolstoi, and all of the other people who "use too many words".

Simplistic, anti-intellectual pap.

Wow. I feel honoured.

James.

[RITFencing]

Oh, he's just cranky because...

Well, I'm not sure anyone knows why Inq is such a crumudgen. What exactly made you this way, man?

[MyrddinsPrecint]

i fence sabre because i have attention deficit disorder.

[Inquartata]

Oh, he's just cranky because...

Well, I'm not sure anyone knows why Inq is such a crumudgen. What exactly made you this way, man?

I see the world as it is, not as I wish it was, or as people tell me it is, that's why.

[RITFencing]

I see the world as it is, not as I wish it was, or as people tell me it is, that's why.

Oh, ouch. I used to do that; but now I have my good friends, John Jameson and Son to help me stay focussed on the enjoyable stuff.

[walrus418]

The quality and tactical "depth" of the fencing is defined not by the weapon but by the fencer. I encourage students to explore whatever weapons they want, but try to provide some initial guidance as to those nuances that make for effective actions for that weapon.

As they say: water will seek its own level. Each fencer must find and define their own path.

[Reepicheap]

I greatly appreciate the various insights posted in response to my question. Thank you all!

My new foil is also shiny.

[airathanas]

You're holding a gun pointed at a target and someone is standing next to you. You're told that when the person hits you (not with a weapon, just plain out hits you), you have to shoot the gun. So when that person hits you, do you:
a) Shoot the gun (epee)
b) Ask the person why they hit you (foil)
c) Shoot the person (sabre)

Funny but true.........

My two cents:
I poke therefore I am not a sabre fencer.
I do not argue therefore I am not a foil fencer.
I think therefore I am an epee fencer.

[Peach]

Stand the fencer on guard facing a target. Then pop a balloon behind the fencer.
If the fencer lunges and hits the target - foil
If the fencer just stands there - epee
If the fencer does a 360 and hits the person who popped the balloon - sabre

[Peach]

Seriously, though--you should be able to tell by the deep divides separating our largely similar weapons that the person doesn't pick the weapon, the weapon sort of picks the person. Which one feels right? Which one looks right? Fence that one.

[larkmaj]

Stand the fencer on guard facing a target. Then pop a balloon behind the fencer.
If the fencer lunges and hits the target - foil
If the fencer just stands there - epee
If the fencer does a 360 and hits the person who popped the balloon - sabre

wouldn't it be a 180?

[Peach]

wouldn't it be a 180?

Heee hee hee - yup. (Doing a 360 with laughter)