New foil fencer

[megamanxxx]

Hello, I've been fencing in chicago in a begginers fencing class for about five weeks, next week is my last . I have a ton of questions, probably a lot have already been answered sorry. I had my first bout today against the instructors assistant, he just stood there so I tried to close the gap by cross stepping. What should I do if my opponent is just standing there? My instructor said I was jumping around too much and that my swordplay was the equivalent to swinging a 2X4. In my defence I thought I was whithin the assistants range so I tried to beat his blade away to lunge at him, unfortunately I swang at air. The instructor made us go back to the starting point. I cross step charged again and was able to beat and lunge into in his chest. The instructor started instructing on what the judge would do if you hit the leg or another non-point area. We bouted again but his swordplay was better than mine. So here are my questions

1. I've been practising my footwork a lot but I can't really practice the swordplay without an actual blade, is there some way of practicing it?
2. How does saluting work in a judge match?
3. What's the best way of starting a match, I don't like charging in just to clear the gap?
4.Can you argue a judges ruling in a match?
5. Does anyone know a good place to buy equipment, the instructor is chargin 399$ for a complete set with bag but that's just too pricy.

Thanks for listening to my long rant, any help or tips would be appreciated.

[wheeringa]

The answer to all those problems is simple...













...fence epee

[Inquartata]

Right, because

1. You don't need to practice to do epee.
2. You don't have to salute when you do epee.
3. You don't have to start in epee. ( Just standing there is sufficient. )
4. There are no referees in epee.
5. You don't need equipment in epee, you just stand on the strip naked and barehanded.

Now, about that medication again...

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by megamanxxx

1. I've been practising my footwork a lot but I can't really practice the swordplay without an actual blade, is there some way of practicing it?

Really, you are better off practicing the footwork at this stage. You cannot do it enough. There used to be salles where you weren't allowed to do anything else for your first few months of instruction.

2. How does saluting work in a judge match?

There's no set protocol. Commonly, stand facing your opponent, mask in your offhand. Bring the guard of your weapon up to about neck level, extend the tip toward your opponent. Do the same to the referee. Some also salute the audience.

Slacking off at any or all of these stages is common. You'll see a bend of the arm that brings the weapon up to about waist level and a vague shake toward the opponent, then the mask goes on. You'll see sharp, crisp, complicated, almost Grand salutes. And everything in between. A perfunctory effort seems enough for most people.

3. What's the best way of starting a match, I don't like charging in just to clear the gap?

Each opponent is different. It depends. ( And you're better off taking advice from a foilist on this one; sabre is a different animal. )

4.Can you argue a judges ruling in a match?

Officially? Only if they apply a rule incorrectly. Their impression of what happened is indisputable.

Well, you CAN challenge it, but you'll lose, and be penalized for an unjustified appeal.

Informal argument is common, but depends on the individual referee's tolerance for it. Some will brook no chit chat at all. And they can enforce it if they choose.

5. Does anyone know a good place to buy equipment, the instructor is chargin 399$ for a complete set with bag but that's just too pricy.

Try Absolute Fencing, Blue Gauntlet or the Fencing Post. Or for that matter

http://shop.fencing.net/Fencing_Starter_Kits_s/2.htm

[HDG]

Originally Posted by megamanxxx

3. What's the best way of starting a match, I don't like charging in just to clear the gap?

Don't rush, and don't be afraid of some open space. Use this period to feel out your opponent; take a lunge and see how he or she responds. Make a few vaguely threatening advances and watch the reaction. Make a few retreats and see what the reaction is, but be ready with a parry riposte for all of these in case the reaction is an attack!

Get a feel for the speed of their footwork and bladework, and a realistic sense of your own in comparison.

Just a couple of ideas. The important things is that there is more than just constant, unrelenting attacks into the same line everytime the command to fence is given...

[OROD]

Welcome to foil!

Other than "just keep practicing" and stuff like that, the advice I'd give is to get a camera that can capture video and tape yourself fencing. Then later you can see what you're doing, what's not working, and where your perceptions are different from what's actually going on. Also, get some DVDs of world championships/olympics and try to apply what you see to your fencing.

Good luck.

[tubbyFencer]

First off Welcome to the Realm of Foil..

You indicated that U have been working on your footwork which is the building blocks towards keeping distance and breaking the distance/tempo of your opponent. Learn to take small slow steps when advancing or retreating, establish your right-of-way (ROW) -> extend your hand. Next work on changing the tempo of your steps, more like dancing.. slow slow, quick quick.. remember U are only changing speed at this juncture not the length of your stride. If timed correctly, you would be able to break the distance between yourself and the opponent. Once attained, U need to decide on your attack, do not hesitate at this point. Judge distance, lunging is not always necessary, if U are close enough, just poke

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by megamanxxx

1. I've been practising my footwork a lot but I can't really practice the swordplay without an actual blade, is there some way of practicing it?
2. How does saluting work in a judge match?
3. What's the best way of starting a match, I don't like charging in just to clear the gap?
4.Can you argue a judges ruling in a match?
5. Does anyone know a good place to buy equipment, the instructor is chargin 399$ for a complete set with bag but that's just too pricy.

Thanks for listening to my long rant, any help or tips would be appreciated.

1) washing car, painting fence, sanding deck
2) slap belly, lift one leg up in the air, then stomp it down on the ground.
3) start with your warrior scream going through your fencing kata.
4) yes, judges love to argue with noobs. Start your argument with "I'm sure you're not as dumb as you look, but"
5) Just make you're own equipment. A piece of wood with an empty yogurt cup makes a damn fine practice foil. Make your mask out of mom's pasta strainer, some duct tape, and a lobster bib from Red Lobster. Carry it all in a big black garbage bag. You can even write "Allstar" on the bag.

[Invictious]

1) Get a meter stick and well..don't break it.

2) Thump your chest 8 times, growl really loud, stomp the floor with left then right leg loudly, evil stare, grunt.

3) Say 'start'

4) Begin with 'Look, I know you are are actually smarter than you look, but'

5) Go to the asylums and ask for the jackets, get a small rubbish bin, poke a few small holes and use as helmet, use meter stick as foil, get sneakers as shoes and jeans as protective pant.s