Uh, Which Weapon Should I Compete With?

[chinbeard]

I started fencing in January, and I love it. My club teaches classes for all three weapons, and I've been taking them all. The problem is, I like ALL of them equally. There's a competition coming up towards the end of May, and I'd like to compete in it. I haven't bought any electric stuff yet, because I thought I'd definitely like one more than the others pretty soon, but I'm not even leaning towards any one weapon. If I had enough money, I'd buy 6 weapons, 2 lames, and another mask, and compete in all three events. But I'm not rich yet, so that's not an option.

Sabre can be eliminated right off the bat, only because it is way more expensive than the other two, especially since I just bought a FIE foil/epee mask.

That leaves foil and epee. I know that traditionally, people fence foil for the first year or so. Should I do this, or is such advice outdated and misguided?

[mrbiggs]

I don't know about outdated and misguided, but it's unnecessary. You should do what you like best.

That being said, it is true that it's generally easier to switch to either of the other weapons from foil, so if you're undecided, that might be a good option.

Or you could ask your coach to point you in the right direction based on how you seem to fence.

[AlphaFire X5]

I was in a similar situation recently, and I found that fencing all three events made me EXTREMELY exhausted, and I was just mediocre in all three, rather than half-decent in one. When I fenced one event, rather than two or three, I did far better than if I did more than one.

And really, when you look into ALL the costs, including blade replacement and weapon cost, etc, all the weapons really come out equal in terms of price. Epees are expensive and need fixing fairly regularly, but you don't have to worry about lames failing or anything like that. With saber, there is a high initial cost with lames and stuff, but weapons are dirt cheap, easy to fix, and the only replacement parts you really need are blades, and those are only $30. Foil is in between the two.

After looking into what I enjoyed best, what I could be best in, and what I was built for, it was an easy choice for me. Saber. I had bought an FIE foil/epee mask too, and I use it as a dry/practice mask now for drills and the like. You might be able to trade yours for a saber mask, or return it, or something.

[p1nkp4nther]

I agree with AlphaFire X5, sabre is expensive to start off with, but fantastically easy and cheap after that (unless you have to buy Allstar replacement visors ).

It helps to have a non-sabre mask to use for dry fencing and lessons - it extends the lifetime of your sabre mask. Also, this may seem extreme but I "accidentally" ended up having two lames, but it actually works out great. One I use for practice while saving the other for competition. The one I save still looks pretty good after 2 years, I don't have to worry about it failing weapon's check

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

I'm a foil guy, and I've been doing foil exclusively for 20 years. There are things I really like and appreciate about foil. That being said, I have seen new fencers progress through the ranks and get better at epee much faster than the other two weapons. Also, there's something to be said for not having to worrry about the right-of-way conventions of foil and sabre.

Personally, I wouldn't switch. If I were just starting out, however, I would seriously consider epee. After that, I would go with foil, then sabre. And my point of view is worth AT LEAST what you paid for it.

[TBean]

If you cannot identify the weapon you like best, fence the weapon you are suited for. Your coaches will be able to help you with this. They know what your tendencies are and can direct you to the weapon that best fits. They will also look at you and think what characteristics help a fencer in each weapon because your road is a bit tougher in epee if you are 5'6" tall and a grown man - just saying. If you like to counterattack all the time, perhaps not foil. Although they tell me with the new timings not so much of a problem - but you get the idea.

If all else fails, fence foil for awhile longer. Invest in a good basic uniform and spend a little less on peripherals until you decide what you are going to fence longterm.

[Hobbes]

I am going to be that other guy, who suggests fencing in all three anyways...

When I started I owned basic epee gear, but I wanted to try the other weapons. I went to good people in my club and surrounding clubs and told them what was up, and often I was allowed to borrow some gear. Heck, the only reason Saber did not become my main was because of the price. If you like them all, give 'em a try. Ask your coach if he knows anyone who would be willing to help you out. Back in the day i "rented" gear from a guy I knew from another club at a tournament. Beg, borrow, and rent (we don't steal because that is wrong!).

just a couple cents

[Peach]

Sabre is not that expensive after the initial outlay--I'll agree with others on that. I don't have to spend nearly as much on weapons and repairs as foilists and epeeists.

[parrythis]

Since you don't appear to have any inclination one way or the other, there is only one way to answer this question - with a Magic 8-Ball. Unfortunately, mine doesn't have a good answer to "Which weapon should I fence?" so I will ask three questions:

"Should I fence foil competitively?" - Reply hazy try again
"Should I fence epee competitively?" - It is certain
"Should I fence sabre competitively?" - My sources say no


So, there you have it - real answers delivered from a real Magic 8-Ball - and the 8-Ball never lies.

[AlphaFire X5]

Originally Posted by parrythis

"Should I fence foil competitively?" - Reply hazy try again
"Should I fence epee competitively?" - It is certain
"Should I fence sabre competitively?" - My sources say no

The 8-ball does not lie! You asked it if YOU should fence those weapons competitively. :P

I will use this magic 8 ball: http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ssanty/cgi-bin/eightball.cgi

I tried to link the pictures, but the [img] tags don't seem to work.

"Question: Should chinbeard fence foil competitively?"
No way!

"Question: Should chinbeard fence épeé competitively?"
Yes.

"Question: Should chinbeard fence saber competitively?"
Definitely.

So there you have it, you should fence épeé and saber competitively. However, if we still need to narrow this down to one weapon as your main weapon, we shall ask the Magic 8-Ball which one you are best suited for.

"Question: Is chinbeard best suited to fence épeé?"
Absolutely!

"Question: Is chinbeard best suited to fence saber?"
Definitely.

Again, two conflicting answers saying that you are equally built for both saber or épeé. Since we have determined that you are fairly balanced between the two already, we shall remove you from the equation.

"Question: Is épeé more fun than saber?"
No way!

And there you have it. Épeé is boring.

[ifencesabre]

You should fence with whichever weapon you are the best with!

[ifencesabre]

By the way the 8 ball does lie!!!!!! (LOL)

[chinbeard]

I'm 6' 0", 193lbs (10% bodyfat). Me girlfriend (who is not a coach and used to fence foil) said that sabre would suit me, but I think she said that only because it's more piratey than the other weapons, not because she knows alot about fencing.

[Nolano]

I asked MY 8ball what it thinks.

A little history on my 8ball. It's always right. Really.I was bored, last September. I asked it a few questions. From a while of this, I got the determination that I would get a girlfriend in November, she was someone I already knew, and that the relationship would last less than 6 months. All turned out to be true.

There are others, I like those examples.
"Would Chinbeard be best suited for epee?"
You may rely on it.

[chinbeard]

Originally Posted by Nolano

I asked MY 8ball what it thinks.

A little history on my 8ball. It's always right. Really.I was bored, last September. I asked it a few questions. From a while of this, I got the determination that I would get a girlfriend in November, she was someone I already knew, and that the relationship would last less than 6 months. All turned out to be true.

There are others, I like those examples.
"Would Chinbeard be best suited for epee?"
You may rely on it.

So medium-tallish people like me are better suited for epee?

Does foil require better blade work?

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by chinbeard

So medium-tallish people like me are better suited for epee?

Does foil require better blade work?

No and kind of.

The applications of bladework in the three weapons are different, but all require bladework. I think it's fair to say that bladework is most necessary in foil.

Keep in mind that bladework is very different in the three weapons as well. Epee bladework needs to be small and strong, so you actually get their point away and don't give your opponent target. Foil bladework has a bit more leeway in size, doesn't have to be as strong, and is used more often. I don't know anything about sabre bladework so I won't say anything more, but distance is much more important in sabre than parries, more so than in the other two weapons.

[FoilyDeath]

These are incredibly fast generalisations, which vary enormously. Stick with foil for the time being.

[bunbury]

Originally Posted by AlphaFire X5

And there you have it. Épeé is boring.

That's about all you need to know about fencing in a nutshell.

[p1nkp4nther]

Originally Posted by bunbury

Originally Posted by AlphaFire X5:
And there you have it. Épeé is boring.

That's about all you need to know about fencing in a nutshell.

AGREED.

mrbiggs:
I don't know anything about sabre bladework so I won't say anything more, but distance is much more important in sabre than parries, more so than in the other two weapons.

I think - to generalize a little more - that sabre ideally involves such sneaky bladework that it would seem absent.

[Tydive]

Do you want to be the tall guy on the team or the short one?

Seriously, ask your coach. I made the mistake of going sabre for my first few years even though my coach told me I belonged in Epee. After too many counter attacks to mention I did end up on the Epee squad and that is where I belong. Although if there was a Sabre option with Epee rules I would be all over that.