Martial Art Fencers?

**arcon** · 07-23-2002 05:19 PM

How many of our fencers on this site have had any type of Martial Arts.
Do you think it has helped or hindered your performance in fencing?
Please give an explanation with your answer if you please.
thanks

the Arcon

**arcon** · 07-23-2002 11:14 PM

P.S.

do you ever find yourself covering target?

arcon

**Ken Mondschein** · 07-24-2002 12:58 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by arcon:
How many of our fencers on this site have had any type of Martial Arts.<hr /></blockquote>Fencing IS a martial art.

**MikeHarm** · 07-24-2002 01:43 PM

I studied Judo, Karate, and Aikdo a little. Went through some self defense courses, and had a lot of friends in various arts Wing Chun, Jiu Jitsu, Taijutsu etc. The fencing instructor at one of the clubs I attend, The One on One club was a TKD instructor in the past.

I think everyone has found themselves doing the target covering thing at one point or another at least when they started, I've gotten better at not doing it.

**servdragoon** · 07-24-2002 05:31 PM

I did Taijutsu for 4 years before i started fencing. In some ways it helped me and hindered me trying to learn to fence. It helped me because i was used to being hit, and used to drilling. It hindered me because i was trying to do fencing like taijutsu and it wouldnt always work that way. There were things i was told never to do while learning taijutsu that while learning fencing i had to do. For example, in taijutsu i was told to never land on the heel while doing a lunge becaue under slippery conditions like snow or rain, mud, your foot will slip out from under you. A double would be unacceptable in taijutsu because then i am either dead or injured along with my opponent.

**servdragoon** · 07-24-2002 05:38 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Ken Mondschein:

<hr /></blockquote>Fencing IS a martial art.[/QUOTE]This could be debated. To play the devil's advocate: Some would say fencing is a sport not an art since it is not in the nature of art to be confined in competitions.

[ 07-24-2002, 08:38 PM: Message edited by: servdragoon ]

**Sildar** · 07-24-2002 05:38 PM

Amen, Ken!

In terms of other marital arts, I did TKD, Wing Chun, and Jeet Kun Do. I suppose TKD helped my footwork, but that was years before taking up a blade so I wasn't much aware of it. The latter two did indeed improve my fencing, since they share so many concepts; controlling the centerline, concepts of timing such as stop hits and attacks in preparation, and pressure sensitivity are used in ways very similar to fencing, and influenced my training a great deal. And yes, Bruce Lee was majorly influenced by fencing when he created JKD, but many of the same or very similar concepts existed in Wing Chun so it wasn't an enormous leap...

**Sildar** · 07-24-2002 05:46 PM

servdragoon -

I think Ken was referring to the fact that there are still schools which teach the use of offhand parries and weapons, consider the probable effects of wounds, allow lateral movement, and try to simulate dueling training as closely as possible, who have no interest in the sport side of things. And no I don't mean the guys with the fake Shakespearean accents or stage combatants...

**Inquartata** · 07-24-2002 07:21 PM

I did judo for a few years; no crossover effects whatever.

To add to servdragoon's point---even if fencing is an art, it might also be argued that it's a very far cry from "martial" anymore...

**135711** · 07-24-2002 08:34 PM

any sport is probably going to help with fencing, like crossover training

[ 07-24-2002, 11:35 PM: Message edited by: 135711 ]

**reptile** · 07-26-2002 07:53 AM

I used to do Jiu Jitsu when i was a kid. The striking difference to fencing is that the fencing coach has a brain

But the fencing officials are just as horrible as i remember the ma officials, whom i found to be extremely to the macho right.
One might think the Jiu experience should have given me a good sense of balance for fencing, but it didn't.

**HilandDoug** · 07-26-2002 09:35 AM

My friend and former co-instructor Mike is a very highly rated black belt in Ishyin Ryu karate, and has been for many years. It definately makes his fencing look a little different. Even if he's been away for a while, he can step into a tournament and be a threat to "C" level fencers. He has a great combat mind.

**arcon** · 08-12-2002 02:40 PM

Hilandoug, can you discribe for me how your friends style looks different?

arcon

**craban** · 08-13-2002 03:02 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by servdragoon:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Ken Mondschein:

<hr /></blockquote>Fencing IS a martial art.<hr /></blockquote>This could be debated. To play the devil's advocate: Some would say fencing is a sport not an art since it is not in the nature of art to be confined in competitions.[/QUOTE]

Yeah! Boo! Yeah! Down with sport fencing! Ahem.

I know just enough judo, tae kwon do, boxing, fencing and wrestling to either get myself in serious trouble, or really hurt someone, or both, (probably at the same time)... On one level all of it is helpful, (it's good exercise if nothing else and the basic precepts will help you avoid real life trouble), but it can be annoying when the rules say you mustn't do something that your tactical mind is screaming would be a really good idea....

I find it interesting to note that Judo seems to be taking a similar path fencing took - allowing tournaments to dictate "how" the art is practiced and taught, disallowing things simply because they are not convienient or conducive to tournaments.

1 more thing: You imply that fencing cannot be used in life - I beg to differ. Even if you toss out the idea of how your body and mind are imporved, (thus improving your life), any fencer who isn't a scary opponent when armed with even a pencil has a lot of work to do.

**Link14** · 08-13-2002 04:00 PM

I've been studying Tai Chi for about a year and a half. I think it's helping to keep me grounded and not overbalancing on my attacks. Staying relaxed and being able to really focus on your opponent also seems to be helping.

**epeefencer74** · 08-13-2002 08:03 PM

I've done TKD, Taichi, and Baji fists in and around the same time I took up fencing. Taichi and Baji, both helped in developing a certian mental attitude that I found helpful in fencing. TKD hindered in the sense that I was blocking with my of hand for a while and I had this nagging urge to do a jumping back thrust when my opponent closed in for infighting. I was not the only one with this problem. In fact a friend of mine who is still active and competing in TKD did exactly that, a jumping back thrust, during one of her bouts. I've since dropped all three martial arts and just concentrated on fencing.

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