Hey buddy, is something wrong with that grip?

[Agim Zabeli]

So my wife and I are at a church dinner this winter and we end up getting introduced to another couple about our age. Turns out the husband of the other couple went through college on a fencing scholarship. I said “Hey, I fenced epee one year in the late seventies. I always wanted to take it up again. He says “Great. I was a saber man but I think I’ve got two of everything. Get yourself a mask.”

Well, I order a mask on-line, and a jacket, a glove and an epee with a pistol grip. Visconti? Belgian? I’m embarrassed but I don’t remember. Anyway, it shows up, everything fits, but as I’m holding the epee and staring at it, well, I can’t tell if the darn grip is on the right way. I mean it’s been almost thirty years since I held one of these things but I swear the damn thing is sideways.

My name is Agim Zabeli. I’m 47, 48 in April, and I’m about to start fencing again. I was never very good and I didn’t do it very long, but I’m pretty excited. I live in Coopersburg, PA, which is about 20 minutes south of Allentown on Route 309. If anyone is in the neighborhood, let me know.

And if anyone can tell me how to figure out if my pistol grip is on right, you would really be helping me out.

[Beowulfman6]

Your thumb should be on the same side as the wires/groove.

Welcome to the forum.

[Go? Fencing?]

*innocent look* If you're unsure, you could always go with a French grip.

[JackOfHearts]

I would go with Italian. Is it possible to snap a pic and post it here?

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I would go with Italian. Is it possible to snap a pic and post it here?

Italian is for classical fencing losers. You don't want to be one of them.

Put your thumb close to the bell guard, parrarel to the wire, with your thumbnail facing up.

[occasionalfencer]

Ask your coach. If you don't have a coach who knows the right way to hold an epee, get one before you start fencing.

[Fencergrl]

Welcome back to fencing and to the forum.

Why not find a fencing club in your area? Not only will this give you a place to practice, but someone there will be able to help you with your equipment.

[sjpfencer220]

I'm not from Allentown, but I'm from near Philadelphia too and I know there are a couple clubs in Philadelphia, you can go to the USFA website and click on new to fencing, then from the drop down menu "find a club", then click on the picture of Pennsylvania and look in a Philadelphia division club (I go to FAP). To hold the grip you want to match up your thumb with the wires inside the pad in the guard. The blade should also be pointing slightly down, with the name of the manufacturer facing down, opposide of where you put your thumb (that's the best I can say withough a picture-sorry) anyway, I hope it helps, and welcome.

[Riathene]

I realize that this is an electric fencing based site but you might wanna watch what you say. I'm one of those 'classical losers' and I refuse to fence electric for my own reasons. Classical fencing produces far more masters than electric...just keep that in mind.

Italian is for classical fencing losers. You don't want to be one of them.

Put your thumb close to the bell guard, parrarel to the wire, with your thumbnail facing up.

[farginStinkinBastage]

Salut. Riathene, you should begin an entirely new thread on this subject! I concur by the way...

[JackOfHearts]

I'm not exactly what you'd call a "classical" fencer. I just prefer the italian grip, and I fence electric with it as well. I don't really get what the big deal is anyways, it's just a handle. What you should be more worried about is the person holding it.

[mrbiggs]

Classical fencing produces far more masters than electric...

hahahahahahahahahahahaha



Self-defined masters. In terms of absolute athleticism, and in terms of being able to score a touch the most quickly and effectively, sport fencing has far more "masters." I'd like to see any classical fencer stand up to Sanzo, or even any decent sport fencer in a bout, even using their rules.

[Katman]

Welcome back to fencing. We brought the ol' classical vs. modern fencing argument right into your thread! For shaaaaaame.

[farginStinkinBastage]

I agree with Mr. Biggs, but that opens a whole can of worms concerning the growing consensus that sport fencing is evolving in the wrong direction. There has been much discussion at home and abroad (as seen in the USFA mag) about sabre being televised and the lack of technique/strategy ... just two fencers bolting at one another, balls out, to get a touch. I recently watched the championships on the FIE site, and saw the very same thing.

To be clear, my definition of "classical fencing" is still sport fencing ... but when we relied on referees, not score machines and blockage times. I believe we all begin learning the sport on a solid, classic foundation. Unfortunately, we then find out that, in competition, the combination of technology, well-intentioned but ill-designed rules and gymanstics seem to over-power good form and strategy.

Thoughts?

[RebelFencer]

I realize that this is an electric fencing based site but you might wanna watch what you say. I'm one of those 'classical losers' and I refuse to fence electric for my own reasons. Classical fencing produces far more masters than electric...just keep that in mind.

HAHA. Wow. Maybe masters of stripside fellatio.

[RebelFencer]

To be clear, my definition of "classical fencing" is still sport fencing ... but when we relied on referees, not score machines and blockage times. I believe we all begin learning the sport on a solid, classic foundation. Unfortunately, we then find out that, in competition, the combination of technology, well-intentioned but ill-designed rules and gymanstics seem to over-power good form and strategy.

Thoughts?

I have to say I disagree with you. While there are some people who manage minor success with doing crazy, outlandish things...without good form or strategy they will never get anywhere. It's all still there, but since it's moving so much faster than when it was dry you have to be able to hold your game together under more strenuous conditions.

[farginStinkinBastage]

Have you seen the championships ... both Olympics and various others? I see neither good form nor distance control. However, in most cases, I will conceed to your point that without strategy a fencer probably won't get very far.

I see a copious amount of corps-a-corps, counter-attacks without regard to the opponent's weapon (ie, lock out the machine first), and no matter which weapon is used ... most everyone uses sabre defensive actions to compensate for the wicked flexibility in foils and epees.

Now, I'm talking about these high level, national and internal events. Local tournaments tend to show more competent execution of fencing principles. It has been suggested that the Olympic/Junior Olympic training is to blame for this ... they are concerned only with getting the touch as quick as possible .. not actually fencing.

[RebelFencer]

And usually the best and most efficient way to get those points is through good fencing. If you don't see goot form or distance control watching World and Olympic championships then you must be blind to be perfectly blunt.

[farginStinkinBastage]

Differences of opinion are always welcomed, though I don't resort to "well I'm right, and you're wrong" conclusions. I refer you to the last few issues of the USFA mag. I'm not alone in this thinking.

Still, watch the sabre championships on the FIE site and honestly tell me what you think. I will admit that the epee and foil bouts are far better.

[rcmatthews]

good lord, how many times do we have to listen to the sabre is just two guys running at each other bit. Lets go back to the good old days when we had a jury and could really run at each other. I especially like the part about hitting your opponent hard so that everyone knows you hit them. I bet that was really fun.

By the way, farginStinkinBastage, i think you are an idiot.