Flicking to the hand in epee

[apaul]

I'm trying to gain a more consistent flick to the hand. As a former foilist, my flick uses my whole arm, exposing the bottom of my hand for counter-attack.

Any suggestions on practicing the flick to the hand? Should I just flick at the top of a tennis ball? Any specific exercises that worked for you?

[Gav]

Don't flick!

The kind of flick that you are attempting is plain wrong an experienced Epeeist is going to destroy every time. Try to 'aid' the point over the bell by imagining that you are trying to touch with your thumb. A good excerise is to 'click' your fingers and then try and do the same action while fencing, this will create a flick at the point which will help you hit with the point and accuracy.

Don't worry too much about hitting the hand - at 1st anyway - that comes with time. Worry more about your footwork and staying at the appropriate distance.

[thyme_daniels]

when i flick in epee, i try to extend as if i am going for a hand touch normally, but then i just slightly flick my wrist up and let it arc back down. i hope soemone else can explain it better than i can, but this is how i'd put it into words. :-)

[a517dogg]

extend, have an angle like to go around the bell instead of over the top, and then just lower your point and if you are moving forward with the point it will dip down and touch.

[Artisan]

My coach, during a lesson explained that the counter attack to the wrist "...is soft and light like a kiss, to be followed immediately with a firm parry and even stronger repost"

[haggis]

apaul

At epee, the best i.e. most effective time to hit with a flick is whenyour opponent's hand is moving laterally. For example, when he's trying to collect your blade or reacting to a pressure by you. This reduces the risk in the flick that Gav mentioned. If you want to flick at epee, you've got to do it at the right time.

Also the technique is different from a foil-type flick. The wrist breaks briefly to lift the point and then the wrist accelerates forwards and down towards target (with the thumb pushing down and the little finger pulling to generate the point speed). The underside of your hand will be slightly exposed during early part of this but if your distance is right it'll be out of range of your opponent and if you've set the hit up so that your opponent's blade is moving sideways during this you won't be at risk.

As to where you flick - inside, outside or top of the wrist are all good. If the target opens up even a little, you can hit it with a flick. Artisan's also right. Don't flick and then do nothing. If your flick doesn't hit (and believe me, plenty won't) something a bit more industrial will probably be needed immediately afterwards.

Good luck

Haggis

[earlie]

Flick a little with the end of your epee, I am talking about that electris switch on the end of the blade of your epee-sword, for it has a small, spring-loaded pee-pee, that gets depressed and makes lights light up, over a seven-hundred-and-fifty-gramm (grem) FORCE of about eight newtons causes a light to go on, a buzzer to buzz, and an OPPONENT to break wind in a fit of fear, frustration and anger. The method of flick performance is a rotational inglow of the hand-wrist unit, and wee it werks.

[achilleus]

Originally posted by Artisan
My coach, during a lesson explained that the counter attack to the wrist "...is soft and light like a kiss, to be followed immediately with a firm parry and even stronger repost"

Unfortunately that's exactly what happens to me when I go in for a kiss...

[BugabooX]

Quick - someone ask Edew. He knows everything.

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!

Why do I start thinking about Zelda´s avatar???

(And why don´t smilies don´t seem to work?)
have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[pammie003]

I find that the best hand hits are the ones where you're aiming for the forearm and hit the hand, pretty much accidentally on the way by... Doesn't happen too often, but, man is it fun.

[Drew42]

Ah, serendipity in fencing. The unexpected times when what you intend to do really happens!

[magma]

thanks]

[remise]

I love it when folks attempt to flick me. It's an automatic point for me. Since I am rather small for an epee fencer, one of the first thing I learned (literally spent months learning) is how to kill a flick and how to score instantly afterwards.

Please, PLEASE flick me.....especially when I am behind in the DE's.

[magma]

what do you do?

[veeco]

Originally posted by magma
[if wrong don't scream, just explain it, thanks]

YOU ARE SO WRONG!!!!

[veeco]

Originally posted by magma
the flick to the hand, is something that i have tried, but it doesn't work, when discussing this with my instructor, it was explained to me that flicking to hand doesn't always work for several reasons, and to go for the thrust,

Sound advice from your coach. There are very few epee fencers who can use flicks appropriately and most importantly with a good scoring percentage. The reason for this is that flicking in epee opens up your hand or arm, as you load up for the flick, and even if ever so slightly, it gives an opening for your opponent.

Also as you said the epee blade is stiffer, therefore it's harder to control the point during the flick and put it into the right place at the right target.

And finally angulated shots let you hit the same targets with more accuracy and chance to hit the right spot. Also, angulated shots have the benefit that you don't need to "load" them so it's harder to benefit from any opening created at this time, and angulated shots allow one to easily change and parry by opposition whereas flicks cannot be stopped in the middle.

[a517dogg]

stiffer epee blade makes it easier to flick, you know where the point is going exactly. at least for me. i can't flick with a foil.

[remise]

Its like what Veeco said. I spend months literally learning how to "kill" a flick because like he said in his response, most epee fencers don't have it right, and they open up A LOT to set up. We're talking about split second timing here......the big thing to learn is what to look for and then learn to do the split second reaction to it. It really does work.

[Gav]

There is no 'right or wrong' when we discuss flicking to the hand. If it doesn't work for you don't do it, if it does then why not? It's important to remember that what is being discussed here is <b>specifically</b> not the absurd flicking action beloved of so many Foilists. It doesn't work in Epee - conversely it does in Foil. The question asked is not, 'to flick or not to flick' (please god not <i>THAT</i> again). Apaul's question is how to adapt the flicking action to Epee.