How to strengthen weak parries?

[OROD]

It seems pretty clear that if almost all competitive fencers and almost all top international fencers use pistol grips, even in spite of the fact that most people learn on French grips, that's pretty good evidence that pistol grips are better than French grips. You can always find a few people that use the French, and even some that are good or great with it, but that's not evidence that it's as good as the pistol grip. The evidence is in the numbers...


.

[striker]

Originally Posted by rory

......................................
The pistol is, undoubtedly, easier to learn and lends itself better to the modern game of foil as practised by most fencers: but there are still fencers who can use the French very effectively.

Well said sir. Your comments summarized tons of threads, posts, and
endless arguments on this forum about pistol verses French grip
in just three lines.

[Beowulfman6]

Originally Posted by OROD

If you want to strengthen your arm and be able to make really strong parries then you should do what I do... I practice parrying with a 3 foot long lead pipe. I shìt you not, I go to the club and get someone to drill with me... he attacks, I parry with my lead pipe, over and over, sometimes I also practice flicking with it. I've been training like this for two years and my right forearm is freakin huge! Of course, sometimes having one huge arm and another normal one is not so great... I mean, if I'm not paying attention when I walk down the street it'll cause me to veer to the right, that kinda sucks. But, hey, you gotta make some sacrifices for the sport you know!


.

I do something similar to this, and oh yeah- it works!

[OROD]

Originally Posted by Beowulfman6

I do something similar to this, and oh yeah- it works!

Uhmm, I'm not sure what to think when... I tell people that I practice flicking with a lead pipe, and they think I'm being serious!



.

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by rory

Ummmm.
Sorry mrbiggs, but you're wrong here.
(At least) one successful international fencer that I'm aware of uses a French in competition sometimes. His name is Erwann Le Pechoux, and he's ranked No. 2 in the world at mens' foil.

Sometimes? In all the footage I've seen of him, he's used a pistol grip.

So I may stand corrected--not 100%.

There are, of course, a few fencers who can be competitive with a French grip. I was knocked out in a DE by one just last August. But there are many disadvantages in fencing that one could compete with and be successful. For example, there is a veteran fencer who posts here who uses #2 blades, and is successful with them. But I would never tell a novice that using normal size blades is only easier, and doesn't carry with it any real advantage. So get the normal sized blades, and get the pistol grips, because sometimes an inch of blade or a tiny amount of strength makes no difference in a bout, but sometimes it does.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Originally Posted by rory

Ummmm.
Sorry mrbiggs, but you're wrong here.
(At least) one successful international fencer that I'm aware of uses a French in competition sometimes. His name is Erwann Le Pechoux, and he's ranked No. 2 in the world at mens' foil.

Where does it say this?

[keropie]

7 posts up ^^

[Ben Greenhalgh]

I think what i'm about to say has been more or less confirmed as to what to do when your getting "beat" down. There is no real need to strengthen your arm and tensing your arm will limit your reach when you go to repost anyway. As far as fitness training goes general fitness is the best. Running or jogging is good for general stamina. Try getting a device which you sqeese (can't remeber the correct name but you will find them in most fitness shops) this will help your grip. However i would agree that you dont need to hold your parry so hard the harder you hold your sword the more the beat will be effective against you. Hold it looser and try to disengage your opponents blade before he makes contact with yours and go in for an easy hit!

Good luck!

[rory]

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

Where does it say this?

Doesn't say it anywhere other than my post.
However I've seen it in person.

[hpfencing]

Also Step back with your parry to give you a little distance and time to figure out want to do....

[MikeHarm]

Attention to doing the technique correctly + using concepts of the unbendable arm technique in aikido = parry with a french grip equal in strength to any done with a pistol grip. Unless you post of course.

[DanInMI]

Originally Posted by edew

There's never a need to strengthen one's parry. If anything, I'd say there's a need to "weaken" one's parry.

Gawd, I am glad someone said that. My head was about to explode.




"The tighter you squeeze, the less you have."

[DanInMI]

Originally Posted by OROD

If you want to strengthen your arm and be able to make really strong parries then you should do what I do... I practice parrying with a 3 foot long lead pipe. I shìt you not, I go to the club and get someone to drill with me... he attacks, I parry with my lead pipe, over and over, sometimes I also practice flicking with it. I've been training like this for two years and my right forearm is freakin huge! Of course, sometimes having one huge arm and another normal one is not so great... I mean, if I'm not paying attention when I walk down the street it'll cause me to veer to the right, that kinda sucks. But, hey, you gotta make some sacrifices for the sport you know!
.

That is, perhaps, the worst piece of advice ever posted on fencing.net.

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by DanInMI

That is, perhaps, the worst piece of advice ever posted on fencing.net.

That's because it was a joke.

[Captain Hook]

I'm not sure what's funnier, the 'advice' ONROD posted or the fact some people believed there was a possibility of a guy with a freakishly developed right arm that makes it hard for him to walk straight lol

[KD5MDK]

I think with some young men, people are unsure how unimaginable that is.

[Grasshopper]

I recommend lots of arm curls with heavy dumbells and drinking high-protein shakes. Ha ha ha Just kidding!! Don't do that. Listen to EDEW.

[OROD]

Originally Posted by Captain Hook

I'm not sure what's funnier, the 'advice' ONROD posted or the fact some people believed there was a possibility of a guy with a freakishly developed right arm that makes it hard for him to walk straight lol

OMG, this is so insulting. First you misspell my name, then you suggest that I'm not telling the truth about my huge (not freakish) arm. Just because YOU cant do flicks with a lead pipe and YOU can walk in a straight line without having to constantly make course corrections doesnt mean I'm lying. So, just so you can see that I'm telling the truth I've attached a recent picture of myself... good day sir.

I said good day!


.

[Captain Hook]

Originally Posted by OROD

OMG, this is so insulting. First you misspell my name, then you suggest that I'm not telling the truth about my huge (not freakish) arm. Just because YOU cant do flicks with a lead pipe and YOU can walk in a straight line without having to constantly make course corrections doesnt mean I'm lying. So, just so you can see that I'm telling the truth I've attached a recent picture of myself... good day sir.

I said good day!


.

lol

whoops sorry about the name OROD,

my only excuse was that i was laughing too much to spell correctly, your arm isn't freakish, it's a work of bodily perfection

i bet it makes epee hard though

until now i thought only the hulk could do feats such as flicking with a steal pipe

now i know i am wrong, and am ashamed of my conduct

[rory]

until now i thought only the hulk could do feats such as flicking with a steal pipe

Are you calling the Incredible Hulk a thief?
I wouldn't do that, you wouldn't like him when he's angry.

And OROD, nice photo. The guy standing on the right of "you" is a member of this forum, by the way...