10-22-2007, 01:02 PM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SOTX Division. Also usually found here ->
Posts: 2,427
| I'm starting saber. And.. erm. Uh. I need some help.
I haven't been at my club for a few weeks, but when I go back, I know my coach is starting me on saber. I've watched it a bit before, but never fenced it. So basically, I have no idea whatsoever how most of it works. I know that the footwork is similar to foil, right?
Anyway, I was wondering if someone could explain a bit of the basics to me, so I can know a little and be semi-prepared when I start. (I don't need 28613048620160164 replies. 2 or 3 will do just fine -D)
__________________ ...and his favorite was 'Carpe Diem'.
(But all things must come to an end.)
"Speak softly and carry a big stick!" - Teddy Roosevelt | 
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10-22-2007, 01:25 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edinburgh, UK
Posts: 333
| Sabre footwork is similar to foil footwork but cross-stepping forward is not allowed, its a yellow card offence.
You can hit anywhere above the waist, with both the edge and point.
Priority is from when the attack starts by the extending of the arm. wikipedia's page on sabre fencing
Sorry can't think of anything else at the moment.
Asprin
__________________
Asprin
Blackadder :But I thought we were fighting with swords.
Wellington : Swords! What do you think this is, the middle ages? Only girls fight with swords these days. | |
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10-22-2007, 01:26 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Illinois
Posts: 494
| Mmmm. Basic as in target area is everything above the waist, score with any part of the blade basic?
Good footwork is key. Footwork is less halting in saber than foil. Dynamic footwork in saber, including keeping your balance when you "turn the corner", is also pretty important to a greater extent than foil.
Beyond that, I'll let the more august sabreurs/sabreuses comment further. | |
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10-22-2007, 01:38 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SOTX Division. Also usually found here ->
Posts: 2,427
| Well, I already knew target areas and how you could hit with the side of the blade.
But I had no idea about the crossovers. I mean things like that. Common rules and things that don't apply in foil.
__________________ ...and his favorite was 'Carpe Diem'.
(But all things must come to an end.)
"Speak softly and carry a big stick!" - Teddy Roosevelt | |
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10-22-2007, 01:45 PM
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#5 | | Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 10,151
| Read the rulebook. Further advice sent in PM. | |
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10-22-2007, 01:49 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SOTX Division. Also usually found here ->
Posts: 2,427
| I guess rules are always a good start. But that's always pretty boring, which is why I preferred to hear it from a person.
__________________ ...and his favorite was 'Carpe Diem'.
(But all things must come to an end.)
"Speak softly and carry a big stick!" - Teddy Roosevelt | |
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10-22-2007, 02:37 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 376
| Main differences in footwork are that crossing over is no allowed, as already stated, and that the attack is considered over when the front foot arrives in lunge. In other words, if you haven't hit by then, you've missed your attack.
Because of these two basic differences the actual style of footwork employed by sabre fencers becomes very different from that of foil fencers. | |
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10-22-2007, 03:00 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SOTX Division. Also usually found here ->
Posts: 2,427
| Okay, yeah. That helps the way I think of it a bit.
__________________ ...and his favorite was 'Carpe Diem'.
(But all things must come to an end.)
"Speak softly and carry a big stick!" - Teddy Roosevelt | |
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10-22-2007, 04:05 PM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Coast
Posts: 2,402
| One other thing that seems to be called more frequently in saber than foil: the "premiere attack: no" phenomenom.
If you begin to extend in reasonable attack range, and your front foot hits the floor (without the blade hitting your opponent), your attack is over, and, even with an immediate remise...your opponent will generally be given a wide lattitude to riposte. Even if it appears your opponent was merely counter-attacking into you.
Saber also seems to reward aggression. Most points only take a second or two for a score...so it's much faster developing than foil or epee.
Plus, you get to whack people. And scream.
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"Fraud is the creation of trust. And then: its betrayal."
William Black, Ph.D.
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10-22-2007, 04:06 PM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: At work, lurking the fnet forums
Posts: 172
| Charge; swing; yell. (/useless attempt at humor)
I also notice more attacks into preparation in sabre (due to lockout time on the box, I think, and the more mobile style). Really need to protect the arm and make sure your parries are solid/precise.
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My fencing philosophy = quantity over quality. Eliminate the rest periods! Fence all three weapons! 15 touches for Vet DE's!
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10-22-2007, 04:07 PM
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#11 | | Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 10,151
| I haven't noticed very many foil or epee fencers feeling particularly inhibited from screaming, at least in the relevent age group here.*
* Actually, I suppose some feel constrained to shriek.
Last edited by KD5MDK; 10-22-2007 at 04:10 PM.
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10-22-2007, 04:11 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003 Location: California
Posts: 136
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Asprin  You can hit anywhere above the waist, with both the edge and point.
Asprin | Not the hands, not the hands!!!!
...not that I follow my own advice...lol | |
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10-22-2007, 04:12 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SOTX Division. Also usually found here ->
Posts: 2,427
| I've picked up the bad habit of yelling ocassionally. Again. I was doing it a few years ago, after being around a friend of mine that has a particularly fierce banshee yell, and forced myself to stop when I moved and changed clubs, because no one at the new club did it and it seemed obnoxious. But then, I was in town for a few months last year, and somehow I started doing it again. Go figure.
__________________ ...and his favorite was 'Carpe Diem'.
(But all things must come to an end.)
"Speak softly and carry a big stick!" - Teddy Roosevelt | |
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10-22-2007, 05:03 PM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 634
| Don't be a lumberjack- that is, don't go in swinging like you're trying to cut down a tree. It's not the 80s, the entire world doesn't have to know you hit in order for you to get the touch. It's inefficient wasting of movement, and you'll piss off a lot fewer of your clubmates if you don't clobber them.
By the way, don't worry about the yelling. You'll have WAY more bad habits in sabre to worry about than if you scream or not.
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Out Of The Ashes
Last edited by Welted 24/7; 10-22-2007 at 11:40 PM.
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10-22-2007, 05:07 PM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SOTX Division. Also usually found here ->
Posts: 2,427
| Okay. No swashbuckling.
__________________ ...and his favorite was 'Carpe Diem'.
(But all things must come to an end.)
"Speak softly and carry a big stick!" - Teddy Roosevelt | |
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10-22-2007, 05:31 PM
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#16 | | Posting Hound
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lylat System
Posts: 13,068
| Why fence sabre? I thought we were foil buddies!?
__________________ VOTE FOR SPORTS KID OF THE YEAR: The Fencer, DUH. I'm Neinteen, and I approve of this message. | |
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10-22-2007, 05:34 PM
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#17 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SOTX Division. Also usually found here ->
Posts: 2,427
| WE ARE WE ARE ;-; Foil is the ultimate weapon!!!!
Please refer all teary and/or screamy inquiries to my CRAZY COACH, okay?
His idea. Because secretly, saber scares me a little. And nothing really scares me.
__________________ ...and his favorite was 'Carpe Diem'.
(But all things must come to an end.)
"Speak softly and carry a big stick!" - Teddy Roosevelt | |
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10-22-2007, 05:45 PM
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#18 | | Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 10,151
| Reffing epee scares George K. It should scare you too. | |
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10-22-2007, 06:58 PM
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#19 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1,094
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Got_Fenced_In His idea. Because secretly, saber scares me a little. And nothing really scares me. | THE BIGGEST problem with beginners in sabre is that they're afraid to get hit. They'll back up rather than attack, and even when persauded into taking a few steps forward, will stop and back up given the slightest aggressive movement on the opponent's side.
Don't be the typical beginner. I see you've fenced before, so you shouldn't be afraid of getting hit. It actually hurts less in sabre than foil, because no one is trying to impale you. Be aggressive, don't give up the RoW for anything except a failed attack. Be aggressive on defense too. Look for the blade, counterattack, just don't run away and try to parry.
Stay aggressive, stay moving, never stop moving until the halt is called.
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Andrew
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10-22-2007, 07:07 PM
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#20 | | Posting Hound
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lylat System
Posts: 13,068
| Nice advice! Check your PMs too.
Goodluck GFI!
__________________ VOTE FOR SPORTS KID OF THE YEAR: The Fencer, DUH. I'm Neinteen, and I approve of this message. | |
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