French grip in epee

[gesk]

Hi I would like to find out who here uses the french grip in epee.
Thanks.

-gesk

[Psi Shadowdark]

I

[damianip]

Moi aussi.

Paolo

[Pho]

Use a french, but bend the handle down. Pommel it most of the time.

Eric

[veeco]

Anch'io.

After all, there are more Italians on the italian team who use French than French on the French team... ;-)

[damianip]

Originally posted by veeco
Anch'io.

After all, there are more Italians on the italian team who use French than French on the French team... ;-)

Veeco,

Is that still true?

Right now, I can only think of Milanoli on the Italian team(Randazzo and Mazzoni have retired).

The French now have Jeannet and Lucenay (at least).

Paolo

[latenight]

Me too.

I post it.

I don't do a lot of Epee, though.

[MikeHarm]

I prefer using the french grip in epee also, but I don't like posting at all. It takes away the protection of your hand the guard offers and reduces your leverage which is unacceptable for me. I think its better to use your feet if you need to steal an extra inch on your lunge or so by sliding the back foot up as needed during your footwork as its less obvious.

I have seen people clean house at tourneys before by posting against people who only did stop thrusts for their defense however so I can see why people like to do it.

Originally posted by latenight
Me too.

I post it.

I don't do a lot of Epee, though.

[veeco]

Originally posted by damianip
Veeco,

Is that still true?

Right now, I can only think of Milanoli on the Italian team(Randazzo and Mazzoni have retired).

The French now have Jeannet and Lucenay (at least).

Paolo

You're right. I was under the assumption that Randazzo was still fencing... Still though, in general in the Italian team there has been a long time use of the French grip, the French team has been more inconsistent...

[Falling Cow]

I use a french grip with epee as well. At first I used a pistol grip, but after a few months of exclusive french foil fencing (not by choice) the pistol grip felt unbarably chopy.

What is posting? I'm afraid my fencing education is a little spotty, I haven't had a coach in four years. Is it when you grip the sword way down on the pommel? I haven't tried that yet. My distance isn't usually precise enough for it to matter.

[latenight]

yup.

[SäbelFechter]

Another french grip user here. I'm used to a non-pistol-type grip with sabre and figured it was the way to go. Also, I have to admit I partly went with french because it looks more like the grip on a real sword.

Those look like some nice epee bruises on your arm in your avatar photo, Damianip!

[venus_demilo]

I as well use a french grip, but lately I am having problems with had strength and at times I can not do a simple bind.

[MikeHarm]

using a wriststrap will help, and its legal in competition according to the FOC. Theres also a lot of exercises you can do to strengthen your hands such as using exerputty, an eagle claw exerciser, fingertip pushups, jars of water exercises etc. Don't worry, your hand strength isn't set in stone.

I'd also give a close look at the technique you're using for your bind, it might be that you weren't doing it correctly to begin with but were muscling through it with the help of your pistol grip without realizing there was a problem until now.

[veeco]

Using a wrist strap with a French grip is classified as illegal in the USFencing FAQ (on their website)

[MikeHarm]

Sorry.. I was thrown off by that email from the FOC that was posted on here saying it was legal. :-) I don't really need a wriststrap with my french grip anymore so no biggie I suppose.
Glad its cleared up.

[Psi Shadowdark]

really? i thought wrist strap with itailan grip was ok, why not for french?

[PainFence]

Martingales, straps that secure the grip to the hand or wrist, are not dis-allowed as far as I know. The major disadvantage (and why I stopped using one with my Italian foil) was the hinderance to in-fighting.

With a orthopedic or pistol grip, I am not sure they would give any advantage.

[Psi Shadowdark]

thx for thr clarifiacation

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by PainFence
Martingales, straps that secure the grip to the hand or wrist, are not dis-allowed as far as I know. The major disadvantage (and why I stopped using one with my Italian foil) was the hinderance to in-fighting.

With a orthopedic or pistol grip, I am not sure they would give any advantage.

True, Martingales are legal with Italian grips, but not French:

Originally found on USFA's FAQ site:
The use of a strap to assist in holding the weapon has caused some confusion. If one has a legal orthopedic grip (including the Italian grip), one may use a strap. If one is using a French grip, one may not use a strap.

-m