Starting on-guard position??

[tallntender]

Why is it that the epeeists in general are world-class at dirty looks and eye-rolls? I swear the most entertaining episodes (nationally) between ref and fencer I've ever watched have been in epee bouts.

Peach, this is because (unlike foil and sabre fencers) epeeists are not accustomed to "bad" calls that don't go their way. As a result, when epeeists believe themselves the victims of bad calls, they have a hard time shrugging them off.

Foil and sabre fencers argue briefly with a referee, then the usually quit. Once they've gone beyond an eyeroll or glare, epeeists argue unremittingly.

[KD5MDK]

Whereas you specialize in that over-the-eyeglasses, teacherly, "Come now, don't be silly" look.

It justifies the visor mask.
Although I've found her to be much more vocal than that.

[parrythis]

The whole point of an "en garde" position is to have a positional advantage. Traditionally, most foilists have believed guard 6 confers the best advantage; that's why it's the standard. But if I happen to like some other guard position, that ought to be up to me.

Sometimes, I'll come en garde in 4, just to mess with my opponent's head. When they look at me it looks like they're facing a lefty. Doesn't work on very experienced fencers and absolute newbies, but there are a few that it will confuse.