Epee v. Sabre

[Xenoflame]

I need to make a decision between the two weapons really soon, so I can train exclusively in it. My goal is high level competition, so specialization is necessary. Tall, asian, relatively smart. Thanks!

[RITFencing]

Do whichever one you like; motivation is a huge factor, and honestly, there's no point in fencing if you don't love it. You say you want to pick one and stick with it, but if you're really having problems deciding, then give them both a shot. A little bit of time fencing sabre won't kill your epee game, or vice versa.

[KD5MDK]

Epee is pretty densely populated. I think sabre has more room to for people to advance.

[Redblade]

If you must ask, then you're probably best suited for sabre. Epeeists don't require feedback to do what they do.

[RoninX]

Are you switching from foil?

How long have you fenced?

Are you 6' tall or 6'8" tall?

How well do you move on the strip, is your footwork good?

Is your point control good? How would you describe your parries?

What does being asian have to do with it?

[bigdawg2121]

Dude Asians are all really quick duh ...then again that logic would also make him short....I would tend to say that the dense population of epee is not a good indicator that it's harder to move up in epee. In fact I would argue that men's saber is one of the harder weapons to make headway in. It's realtively hard to get an A or a B in saber and with few exceptions there aren't too many places that qualify as ratings factories (i.e. produce what most competitive fencers would call 'weak' As or Bs). It's a very small, very condensed field, that's not particulary easy to break into at all. Epee on the other hand is pretty certainly suffering from ratings inflation. That being said you're going to have to work about as hard at either to get to anything legitimately high-level. The other stuff just kind of matters for that majority of people that populate the bell curve as opposed to either fringe (i.e. recreationally competitive and elite international).

[TitanHawk]

Epee! I'm not at all biased.....

Anyway I assume that you have fenced both since your making a decision to specialize. Which do you prefer? If you haven't fenced both and want to choose one, spend some time in each.

V
choose epee!!!!!
^

[seven6ty]

Do you stand up straight?

If yes, then fence epee.

[RoninX]

Do you stand up straight?

If yes, then fence epee.

Please do. I love fencing people with no knee bend.

[seven6ty]

Dar, I was referring more to their back than their knees. I have yet to see a single currently competing sabrist who doesn't hunch over like Quasimoto.

Only people I've seen stand up straight and fence saber are older fellows from generations past, dunno what's up with that.

[sjpfencer220]

from the characteristics that you described, it seems like you are fitted for epee. However, it is whichever you like more and think you have a better chance in, so (you probably don't want to hear this) but its really up to you.

[yomi]

i'm asian except i'm really tiny and i fence sabre so i'd go with that

[KD5MDK]

In fact I would argue that men's saber is one of the harder weapons to make headway in. It's realtively hard to get an A or a B in saber and with few exceptions there aren't too many places that qualify as ratings factories (i.e. produce what most competitive fencers would call 'weak' As or Bs). It's a very small, very condensed field, that's not particulary easy to break into at all. Epee on the other hand is pretty certainly suffering from ratings inflation. That being said you're going to have to work about as hard at either to get to anything legitimately high-level. The other stuff just kind of matters for that majority of people that populate the bell curve as opposed to either fringe (i.e. recreationally competitive and elite international).

It's one of the harder weapons to make top 8 in, perhaps. However, I figure it's somewhat easier to make top 64 in, given that in ME you have at least one round of DEs before that.

[Fencergrl]

Comments regarding ratings, and the number of people fencing a weapon are only true if Xenoflame is American. His profile doesn't indicate his location, making it difficult to offer meaningful advice.

[KD5MDK]

Comments regarding ratings, and the number of people fencing a weapon are only true if Xenoflame is American. His profile doesn't indicate his location, making it difficult to offer meaningful advice.

However, he has posted another thread in this forum which is also on the front page, asking about Epee training opportunities in his location, which he gives as Manassas, Virginia.

[Fencergrl]

My bad.... didn't see the thread.

[erooMynohtnA]

Epee is cheaper. Plus, I think it's easier to get better faster. Also, I always see way more upsets of Cs beating As, Ds beating Cs, and so forth.

I recommend saber.

[Xenoflame]

Thanks for all the replies. To clarify:
-I'm 6' flat
-Being Asian means I have ninja reflexes. No, just kidding, don't know why I put that.
-My footwork is alright, I've been fencing sabre for a while.
-I've been practicing point control a lot
-My sabre parries are pretty solid, just learning the Epee ones
-I do stand up straight, lots of bend in knees. My coach drilled this into me.

I have electric equipment for both weapons, and it doesn't really matter to me how easy it is to get rated. I'd just like to master a single weapon and become as good as I can at it.

[OROD]

Do foil, you'll be happier.


.

[erooMynohtnA]

Do foil, you'll be happier.

I agree.