08-22-2006, 10:07 AM
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#1 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15
| I really want to fence but I haven't even touched a foil before.
I am a complete newbie to this forum (I registered yesterday) as well as to fencing. However, I am very excited about starting my first class, which begins Sept. 19th.  Before that date, I am eager to learn any and all facts about fencing. In fact, I did not even know there were fencing boots before I got on this site!   So could someone please clue me in a little? As I said, I am very excited about the prospect, but I don't know a thing!!
Thanks,
Me
P. S. Which grip is the best for beginners, pistol or french? I will be renting my equipment until I can find some within my budget. I am right-handed, if that makes any difference. | 
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08-22-2006, 10:27 AM
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#2 | | Curmudgeon-in-Chief
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Somewhere in your nightmares!
Posts: 22,862
| Best? A sabre grip.
Seriously, it all depends. There are two camps on the French grip issue.
There are fencing shoes, but not fencing boots, AFAIK.
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Use the Shift key, people! Keyboard manufacturers everywhere are ineffably saddened when you ignore what they made just for you!
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08-22-2006, 10:32 AM
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#3 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15
| Shoes. Sorry. What does AFAIK mean?  | |
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08-22-2006, 10:35 AM
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#4 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15
| And what is the difference between a foil, an epee, and a sabre? | |
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08-22-2006, 10:44 AM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: London
Posts: 1,216
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by Just Me P. S. Which grip is the best for beginners, pistol or french? I will be renting my equipment until I can find some within my budget. I am right-handed, if that makes any difference. | Different coaches will have different preferences in regard to this issue -- you should ask your coach (or whoever your contact for the class is) about this.
If they don't care, you might want to go for the pistol grip, since you'll want to use a pistol grip eventually, if you're going to stick with foil. | |
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08-22-2006, 10:55 AM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,629
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by Just Me And what is the difference between a foil, an epee, and a sabre? | Take a look Here for a general introduction to fencing, and the weapons.
Also, this page on the Main Fencing Net site lists a number of articles geared towards the new fencer.
Here are Fencing FAQ's culled from usenet.
Good luck!
--Philistine | |
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08-22-2006, 11:19 AM
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#7 | | Bitter young coach
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area
Posts: 4,501
| Hi, welcome to fencing! It's great that you're so enthused. As far as fencing boots... I'm pretty sure we don't use those in modern fencing.
I would wait a bit before purchasing any gear; as much as we all hope you're going to stay with fencing for the rest of your life, it sucks for people to waste money on something they get bored with after a month or two.
If you want to learn any and all facts about fencing, fencing.net is the right place to go. There are good articles written, including stuff for beginners. THe people here are pretty helpful and nice, just be sure you learn to make use of the search function! It is your friend.
Happy fencing!
__________________
"If I were ever to challenge you to a duel, your best bet would be battle axes in a very dark basement." Misquoted from The Prisoner
"Technical excellence is the antecedant of tactical creativity." - Nat Goodhartz
But those things which belong neither to God nor to Caeser, feeleth free to writeth them off, for yea, they are deductable.
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08-22-2006, 12:13 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ask.
Posts: 479
| Hi-top fencing shoes == fencing boots.
I just bought a pair of (end of line) Adidas Equipment 2000 "boots" last week.
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"First, second, third, dead f***in' last." - Greg Glassman
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08-22-2006, 12:19 PM
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#9 | | The Judge
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,079
| afaik = as far as i know | |
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08-22-2006, 05:11 PM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Houma,Louisiana USA
Posts: 165
| Newbie
Welcome to FND Enjoy your stay and Be good forever!
WordRider Yeaah!
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"Steel true/blade straight"
~Inscription on the gravestone of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,by Robert Louis Stevenson~
"If you can't hit your friends with swords,who can you hit?"
-The University of Calgary Fencing Club 2002-
"Ye have feared the sword;and I will bring a sword upon you,saith the Lord God." Ez.11:8 B.C.
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08-22-2006, 05:17 PM
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#11 | | Bitter young coach
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area
Posts: 4,501
| Terrance, do you contribute anything? All I ever see you do is paste a preprepared response on introduction threads and sign it with something like 'espritusaberTerrance' or now your new one. Oh, and there were some short and indecipherable threads about some sports games, and one about horses. Seriously, dude; you're welcome on the forum, but please try and contribute something rather than just repeating the same damn things over and over.
__________________
"If I were ever to challenge you to a duel, your best bet would be battle axes in a very dark basement." Misquoted from The Prisoner
"Technical excellence is the antecedant of tactical creativity." - Nat Goodhartz
But those things which belong neither to God nor to Caeser, feeleth free to writeth them off, for yea, they are deductable.
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08-22-2006, 05:22 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles/San Francisco
Posts: 2,005
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by RITFencing Terrance, do you contribute anything? All I ever see you do is paste a preprepared response on introduction threads and sign it with something like 'espritusaberTerrance' or now your new one. Oh, and there were some short and indecipherable threads about some sports games, and one about horses. Seriously, dude; you're welcome on the forum, but please try and contribute something rather than just repeating the same damn things over and over. | Maybe he gets paid to greet people. 
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A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of.
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08-22-2006, 05:36 PM
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#13 | | Bitter young coach
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area
Posts: 4,501
| Oh, and Happy Birthday.
__________________
"If I were ever to challenge you to a duel, your best bet would be battle axes in a very dark basement." Misquoted from The Prisoner
"Technical excellence is the antecedant of tactical creativity." - Nat Goodhartz
But those things which belong neither to God nor to Caeser, feeleth free to writeth them off, for yea, they are deductable.
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08-22-2006, 07:01 PM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006 Location: Here
Posts: 2,120
| Welcome to the forum and to fencing Just Me!!!!!
The first thing you need to know: Epee is better than foil! 
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Originally Posted by IHateMrPotatohead I can't think of anything to put down there! |  | |
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08-22-2006, 08:35 PM
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#15 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
| I was a newbie a couple years ago, and I still remember how surprised I was that the Olympic Sport of fencing looks NOTHING like a Zorro movie. Then I found out how fun it was, so....
1) Keep an open mind. Don't listen to people who tell you "oh, you should fence saber/foil/epee it's the best." They are all great, just different. Spend 6 months just absorbing the information-because there's a lot, and it'll probably take a while to understand it-and soon you'll find out which of those weapons suits your personality. I would wait until you have a measure of proficiency on your weapon of choice before picking up another weapon. Some coaches will insist you spend a lot of time on foil before picking up another weapon. If this is so, then learn foil. You have years of fencing ahead of you to learn the other weapons, and this is not a sport you can master in a short amount of time.
2) Find a supportive environment. A good coach is imperative, and if you have options, try to find one that suits your learning style. If you have options on the clubs, find one that not only has good fencers, but also people that are respectful to each other and fence with good sportsman-like conduct. It the people are rude to you, find another club. You will spend A LOT OF TIME THERE and you will want to not only become a good fencer, but you want to have fun and be supported by your fellow fencers.
3) Expect LOTS OF BRUISES at first. Arnica gel is good for this. Your legs will hurt too. You will feel like you have two left feet. All of these are normal for beginners.
4) When you're starting to compete, don't feel badly if you lose. A lot. Some of the best fencers I know said they came in last for years. People learn at their own pace. Just keep pickin'. | |
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08-23-2006, 04:51 AM
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#16 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posts: 387
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by IHateMrPotatohead Welcome to the forum and to fencing Just Me!!!!!
The first thing you need to know: Epee is better than foil! | Epee is better. Period.
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Curse you evil Pots & Pans Man!
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08-23-2006, 08:08 AM
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#17 | | Curmudgeon-in-Chief
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Somewhere in your nightmares!
Posts: 22,862
| Typical epee "eloquence".
__________________
Use the Shift key, people! Keyboard manufacturers everywhere are ineffably saddened when you ignore what they made just for you!
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08-23-2006, 08:18 AM
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#18 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15
| We need to find out who likes what! When I signed up for this class, it said we would be using mostly foil, with a bit of epee and sabre.  Seems as if the popular vote is epee, though.
-Me | |
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08-23-2006, 08:46 AM
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#19 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006 Location: Here
Posts: 2,120
| Well, yes an no. As much as I prefer epee, it's definitely not for everyone. (Neither are the other two though!) The vast majority of beginner classes in the US start you with foil. Relax and have fun! Decide later what you want to do!
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Originally Posted by IHateMrPotatohead I can't think of anything to put down there! | | |
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08-26-2006, 12:26 AM
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#20 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: California
Posts: 968
| Welcome to the forum.
Ignore everyone who says foil isn't the best.
It is. Seriously, not only is it an awesome weapon, but it also comes in handy when factoring.
First Outter Inner Last.
..oh that and most people say its the midway and combines elements of the other 2 weapons.
As far as grips go, I'd agree with ask your coach, most fencer's i've heard of use french grips for the first 6 months-year to help build dexterity. But your coach might take a different stance. | |
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