Fencing Utility

[travelcard]

I am very new to fencing and so please don't jump on me if you find this question completely absurd but I seen this on the internet and was wondering if fencing skills would transfer in a situation.
It may be good to view this before reading on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDZWotBO9zg

Although fencing or swordfighting is pretty much a dead martial art (only a sport now), if a fencer found themselves in a situation where they had a machete and someone with little or no skill was attacking them with a machete, would their fencing skill be useful?

I thought of this as I seen the video on youtube and wondered what fencers would think of the technique used.

As I said, I am new and I am really sorry if this question or subject offends anyone.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Fencing is better preparation for a "real" swordfight than sitting on the couch.

Someone in a swordfight with some fencing experience is probably better than no fencing/swordfighting experience.

That said, when it comes to "sports or activities that include holding a long stick that might help you when someone attacks you with a sharp sword-like object"..... fencing beats out javelin and high jump, and not much else.

[Mr.MightyMouse]

Couple of years ago, on an extremely posh golf course, some psycho came after me with a driver over whose turn it was, oddly enough I did not feel threatened, the calmness I'd attribute to fencing.

[erooMynohtnA]

I have maintained that fencing isn't useful in any type of fight. However, if you're using something that's pretty much a sword, yeah, I guess fencing would most likely help. In fact, fencing is probably better practice than that half-speed machete dance they were doing.

However, for that type of thing, eskrima is probably your best bet.

[KD5MDK]

Depending on how a machete throws, it might not beat out javelin.
Certainly not the 440m hurdles, which is the best combat training most people can get.

[whtouche]

Couple of years ago, on an extremely posh golf course, some psycho came after me with a driver over whose turn it was, oddly enough I did not feel threatened, the calmness I'd attribute to fencing.

How'd you feel when you woke up in the hospital?

[Lady Quindecim]

As MP inferred, any activity that develops good reflexes, fitness, sense of balance, will be an advantage in any sort of ... wait... why am I even answering this post?

pffft.

[Allen Evans]

While the video is listed as "Haitian Machete Fighting" it appears to be a highly ritualized form of combat to me, especially considering how much the participants are working from engagement and the stylized and often precariously balanced footwork patterns.

So, probably any sort of sylized psuedo-combat system, including fencing, would have some utility here.

[swordwench]

As MP inferred, any activity that develops good reflexes, fitness, sense of balance, will be an advantage in any sort of ... wait... why am I even answering this post?

pffft.

Actually, I believe that MP implied. You inferred. Just sayin'.

[oiuyt]

Certainly not the 440m hurdles, which is the best combat training most people can get.

Steeplechase or Parkour, perhaps?

-B

[Degenmeister]

I think that basic fencing skills can provide an advantage in some situations of self defense. Such skills as point control, well executed feints and thrusts, and well coordinated footwork, coupled with a sturdy umbrella or walking stick, can be very effective in keeping rowdy and drunken undergraduates at bay.

[Inquartata]

Or process servers ( who will probably follow the poking of drunken undergraduates with a stick, should Daddy find out ).

[BenTheEMOP]

For what it's worth, I think MP and Mr. Mighty Mouse have it right.

The distance and timing sense could help you. Though one time I fenced a guy who was keeping a set distance, but it was bad distance for epee. He was too close. I found out later he was a Tae Kwan Do black belt, and I think he was fencing at a distance that might work better in TKD tournaments.

Staying calm as someone comes after you and observing an opponent would probably be more valuable. Whenever I hear anyone talk about fencing and the real world, they usually talk about psychological benefits. I heard a police detective describe questioning suspects and witness as being like a fencing match. I also heard a manager who was dealing with a bad employee talk about it like a fencing bout.

[Mr.MightyMouse]

How'd you feel when you woke up in the hospital?

The Gentleman in question missed me twice, them came somewhat to his senses
with urging of his kids.
Shortly thereafter they were escorted off the course.

[Dev]

Good fencers that train a lot generally develop good, strong, explosive leg muscles. This can be highly useful in successful combat techniques like turning around and sprinting the hell away from the psychopath with the sword.

[catwood1]

good fencers that train a lot generally develop good, strong, explosive leg muscles. This can be highly useful in successful combat techniques like turning around and sprinting the hell away from the psychopath with the sword.

qfmft...

[Emfuser]

A reasonably competent, trained fencer would see a solid advantage vs. someone untrained. They would be able to exercise better control over themselves in terms of balance and distance control, and would have significantly more inherent comfort in using a weapon like that.

[migopod]

A reasonably competent, trained fencer would see a solid advantage vs. someone untrained. They would be able to exercise better control over themselves in terms of balance and distance control, and would have significantly more inherent comfort in using a weapon like that.

At the same time, a good number of duels were won by someone with no skill or training against competent swordsmen. Think about how it can be difficult to fence a total noob, since when you have an expectation that someone with a sword will behave in certain ways when presented with feints and invites, but if they lack even the most basic skills and training they will completely miss the normal cues and may just impale you with their eyes closed.

[Emfuser]

At the same time, a good number of duels were won by someone with no skill or training against competent swordsmen. Think about how it can be difficult to fence a total noob, since when you have an expectation that someone with a sword will behave in certain ways when presented with feints and invites, but if they lack even the most basic skills and training they will completely miss the normal cues and may just impale you with their eyes closed.

You will note how I used particular language to describe advantage, rather than just making absolute statements like "the fencer would definitely win."

[catwood1]

And if you are going to, for some reason, engage in a real sword fight, I don't think a fencer would have an advantage.

A heavy sword would behave so differently from a fencing weapon, that I fail to see any correlation in skills. If you try and fence with a heavy sword, its just not gonna work. A fencer might be more likely to try and perform a fencing action thats not a good action with a real sword.

A fencer would have a strong advantage in terms of understanding of distance though.