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Trog · 01-30-2003, 03:11 AM

what exactly does this grip look like?

Tony

Pikkewyn · 01-30-2003, 03:31 PM

Go to www.negrini.com, their grips section names various styles of orthopedic or pistol grip, including one they call Spanish.

meph · 01-30-2003, 03:37 PM

looks like a french with a prong on the top where the thumb and forefinger would meet and another where the forefinger grips on the bottom! Not to be confused with a spanish off-set which is similar without the pommel!

Sam

135711 · 01-30-2003, 07:23 PM

I also used french grips for a while, I use visconti grips now, but, I do like to use a french grip in practice once in a while, I believe it keeps the arm strong, if used correctly,and that's the difficulty. when fencing someone much stronger, the tendancy is to grip tighter and it eventually looks like you're holding onto a club. i saw a pretty strong female fencer lose a bout because of her french grip, i offered her a pistol, but she declined. the belgium grips are good, but the visconti pistol is my preferred grip. the saborists use a 'french' grip, and don't seem to have a problem, so, maybe it's all in the training. foilists and epeeists all begin their training with 'traditional' french grips, maybe we should just dump them all and start with pistol grips.

a517dogg · 01-31-2003, 01:10 AM

ben solomon, a junior epee fencer, uses french grip... when i fenced him, he let it roll around in his fingers alot, not gripping it tight at all.
he also doesn't post that much, strange

veeco · 01-31-2003, 03:46 AM

I've fenced Ben when he was around at a training camp, and the way he fences with his French is really interesting. The fact that he doesn't grip his grip too tight is really good and that would be the proper way to hold a French if one did not post it actually. But the thing is that every one who uses a French nowadays would post it.

He does post his grip every once in a while, but it's true that he will choke on it for most of the time. OTOH, he is also a pretty tall fella, and has very long arms, so he probably doesn't need the extra reach that much anyway...

At that camp we were doing some drills involving disengages, and he had some of the tightest and fastest ones along all the people there (and there were some pretty good people at this camp)

a517dogg · 01-31-2003, 01:24 PM

yeah i could never grab his blade

he also has one of the strongest beats ive ever fenced against, even though he has a french. most of the people i fence with french grip have weak beats... how does he put so much power on it?

Aoife · 01-31-2003, 02:29 PM

Yay! The French grips came through the other day.... just got to wait for the right blades now. Had a hold of the grip by itself and it seemed okay, still use thumb and forefinger as manipulators, so I hope I'll be okay with it (if not, I can always change back).

Quote:

foilists and epeeists all begin their training with 'traditional' french grips, maybe we should just dump them all and start with pistol grips.

I just started fencing foil, and we all started with pistol grip. *shrugs* Don't know why though, it's been three months since the club started up and we've just got some French grips in.

earlie · 01-31-2003, 07:29 PM

French grip? Well, yes - there is a move in gay fencing which involves intimate holding and often gets called french gripping, can't be painful, or oncumfortable, can be a joy to an involved spectator and it is a tickle or two, hard it is not allowed, moderate it is allowed.

Sabress · 02-06-2003, 12:23 AM

Don't diss the old french grip!!! Please! Even though I like the pistol grip (I own and fence with an American and Belgian grip, respectively) I also use a french grip because it gives me WAY more point control, keeps my stance in check so it's harder for me to flick, and is often generally more comfortable (for me). But seriously, go your own way, use what makes you feel comfortable....

earlie · 02-07-2003, 06:50 PM

Intimant grips the french way, intimate gripping the french way, french grips, go french, buddy, go french.

pammie003 · 02-08-2003, 07:20 AM

I always seem to have trouble hanging on to a french grip against a fencer who uses a lot of strength (try convincing them that this isn't good in the long run - they only comprehend that it works right now). I practice with it sometimes, helps me keep my actions small, but in competition, I always go with the pistol grip.

Sabress · 02-09-2003, 03:35 AM

Quote:

I always seem to have trouble hanging on to a french grip against a fencer who uses a lot of strength (try convincing them that this isn't good in the long run [/b]

Thats the thing, Fencing isn't about strength, it's about speed, agility and balance (to name a few). I agree, it's hard for people like some Newbies and some really really beefy muscled people to comprehend.

Mulligan · 02-14-2003, 08:46 PM

Spanish Offset (the legal version) or Cetrulo grip

mitsui_no_miko · 02-14-2003, 11:46 PM

I'm a beginner. I used to do foil (pistol grip) and then all of a sudden my coach transferred me to epee (belgian grip). It feels kinda weird, but it's ok once you get used to it.

Aoife · 02-20-2003, 08:20 AM

I finally fenced for the first time using a French grip yesterday.

I found that I could make movements of the sword with much smaller arm/wrist movements. I liked that. Some power was gone from my attack- but you only need 500gms in foil don't you?

I'm not certain which I prefer. I like them both. I got to put the sword (dry) together, which was wonderful. I might go back to pistol tonight just for a closer comparison.

pammie003 · 02-20-2003, 01:13 PM

Quote:

I finally fenced for the first time using a French grip yesterday[...]I might go back to pistol tonight just for a closer comparison.

Seems like a good idea to me. What you use depends very much on which grip feels right for you.

Sabress · 02-21-2003, 01:38 AM

Car'n the french grip!!!! *cheers*

The0ne · 02-21-2003, 10:12 AM

French grips in foil. . .
Shudder! =)
Truely if you can fence with a french grip, bully to you, but it is a fact that in American tournaments at least french grips are never seen in the top 8 of any FOIL tournament. . .
Epee is a different matter

-The0ne

btw, my ex-teammate is teammates with Ben Soloman, and he not only rocks in Epee, but is a nice person to boot!

Sabress · 02-22-2003, 03:58 AM

You shudder TheOne, at french grip? Have you ever used a french grip before? You say 'at least french grips are never seen in the top 8 of any FOIL tournament. . .' like it's a relief. So, there goes the question, have you ever been priveliged enough to use french grip?