Switch Fencing?

[freerider258]

hey all,
I am a lefty epeeist and for my highschool season next year my coach asked me to fence varsity foil just because the other foilist aren't that good, and he likes my work ethic in epee and since i picked up epee really quickly, he thinks I can do the same for foil. So...
I was considering fencing foil righty. Yes, righty. I am a lefty. But you should know this.
I am ambidextrous human being. I throw with my right hand (I've been playing baseball all my life) but I write with my left hand. Don't ask me why I fence lefty, it just felt most comfortable with me. Since my right arm is more powerful than my left, and since I've been fencing lefty, my right leg is very strong, I thought it would be good to fence righty so it wouldn't throw off my epee. This would be a hug advantage being a switch fencer because I could fence some people righty and then some people lefty. I've been practicing it and it feel a tad bit akward, but I can really feel myself improving each time I do it.

I just want to know your thoughts about this, if it is a good idea, bad idea, or so-so. Tell me what you think!
Thanks

[trafl926]

I know someone who sorta does that, epee with right(dominant) hand and foil with the left.

Im not sure if he is ambidextrous, I don't think he is. There is a clear difference between his skill level in the two weapons. He is a B in epee and unrated in foil. He actually does do much better when he fences right handed foil.

Although again, do what you think feels good. If you can fence well with your right hand, then do it.

[TBean]

Due to injury I will often fence with my off-hand to rest my right arm. I have a noticable skill difference but am still surprised at how much I actually accomplish with my left-hand.

Try it and see is all I can suggest and do what is comfortable. Left-handers do have an advantage, why are you looking to give that up?

[Sinestra]

I've had people suggest to me that I switch to being a righty due to a current injury in my left arm, but as it's more or less chronic and non-debilitating, I've just kept on fencing lefty. I know a few coaches who do the ambidextrous fencing with decent success, but can't really think of any fencers I've met or heard of who've been any good at the switch.

[notalent]

I've had people suggest to me that I switch to being a righty due to a current injury in my left arm, but as it's more or less chronic and non-debilitating, I've just kept on fencing lefty. I know a few coaches who do the ambidextrous fencing with decent success, but can't really think of any fencers I've met or heard of who've been any good at the switch.

Jason Rodgers won quite a few tournaments fencing right handed while recovering from a broken left wrist. His distance and sense of timing remained at the high level, and that swwmingly was all he needed.
I am a natural lefty but have parents that wanted a righty. I learned to fence righthanded, mostly because the college I learned at was short on lefthanded gear. I picked up epee after years of sabre. I found my point control better left handed and found that it helped my footwork with fleches aswell. It wasn't awkward for me, it may an easy thing for you aswell. Invest in back zip jacket.

[remise]

I have two lames and a back-zip jacket. I also have a back-close plastron that has two arms. I have always fenced righty/lefty. I am known to start a tournament fencing left-handed and go into DE's fencing right-handed. Or vice-versa. It depends on my opponents.

You can fence one bout right-handed and another bout left-handed, but you can't switch in the middle of a bout unless you are really injured.

[Mr Epee]

I possess the memory capabilities of an elephant on caffine.

You're welcome.

[LordShout]

I've switched from right to lefty to keep fencing during recover from a hand injury (promptly injured my left hand to but thats another barrel of fish). I noticed a huge drop in skill, I could see what I wanted to do, and had the right parts but couldn't do it. Within 2 or 3 weeks that started to go away and I was nearly as good at some things with my left hand.

The hardest part (for me) was maintaining control of the footwork. It definetly helped me fence lefties once I went back to being right handed, as well as improved nearly every aspect of my fencing game. I highly approve of every fencer spending at least one month a year fencing with their offhand.

[freerider258]

I possess the memory capabilities of an elephant on caffine.

You're welcome.

You deserve a big Thank You!!!

I think being a switch fencer would be pretty cool. Pretty sneaky too ha ha!

[Purple Fencer]

You deserve a big Thank You!!!

I think being a switch fencer would be pretty cool. Pretty sneaky too ha ha!

I had a teammate who switched all the time (Notalent remembers him....Freewind)

Sometimes he'd fence foil right and epee left on the same day.

one time I saw him go left in pool and right in DE in the same event....the look on the face of one of his DE opponents -- who had been in his pool) was priceless!

[freerider258]

I had a teammate who switched all the time (Notalent remembers him....Freewind)

Sometimes he'd fence foil right and epee left on the same day.

one time I saw him go left in pool and right in DE in the same event....the look on the face of one of his DE opponents -- who had been in his pool) was priceless!

Or the look on your teammates face when you beat him in foil lefty, switch arms, and beat him right. Since my boys Vars. foil won't be picking up a weapon until next season, I really want to be able to beat them with both hands. They'll have no excuse for losing and I'll be laughing so hard lol