Ambidextrousness

[drizzt_do_urden]

I'm relatively new to fencing and had a couple questions for anyone who would care to help me.

First, I've been fencing both right handed and left handed, and find I'm equally good (or rather, equally bad) either way. In other things, I tend to be left handed for finesse type activities - writing, painting, eating; while I am right handed for power type activities - throwing a ball, punching. Does anybody else hear fencing both left and right? And do you suggest I pick one side or the other, or continue working with both?

Next: What are the advantages and disadvantages of French grip vs. pistol grip? Nearly everybody I know uses pistol grip, but the fencing book I have (Art and Science of Fencing - Nick Evangelista) strongly recomends French grip. I've been learning on French grip and like it so far.

Lastly: I'm interested in finding out how much practice time other fencers here put in. Each week I usually get about 10 hours of solo practice, 3-4 hours of bouting and conventional exercises, and an hour or two of instruction.

Thanks much for any advice.

[Aoife]

Wow, that's a lot of practise time. I get two lessons of an hour each per week, and only during term-time. I do some footwork practise by myself around the house though.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of French grip vs. pistol grip?

That, friend, is a very dangerous question to ask

Simple answer: Go with whatever you prefer.

Does anybody else here fencing both left and right?

I have a friend who's just started fencing, who writes with her left hand, but fences with her right. Our coach keeps trying to get hre to swotch to left... but only because he wants to train up another left-handed fencer, as he's left-handed. I think the answer 'whatever you prefer' is best her too. Switch it around a bit, and see which you like best... or use both! I'd love to be abidextrous, but I'm rather hopeless with my left hand (I'm rather hopeless with my right to, but less noticibly so ).



I hope that helps... I'm certain one of the long-standing members can help more. They know everything. Stick around!

[Sildar]

Originally posted by drizzt_do_urden
In other things, I tend to be left handed for finesse type activities - writing, painting, eating; while I am right handed for power type activities - throwing a ball, punching. Does anybody else hear fencing both left and right? And do you suggest I pick one side or the other, or continue working with both?

Next: What are the advantages and disadvantages of French grip vs. pistol grip? Nearly everybody I know uses pistol grip, but the fencing book I have (Art and Science of Fencing - Nick Evangelista) strongly recomends French grip. I've been learning on French grip and like it so far.

Lastly: I'm interested in finding out how much practice time other fencers here put in. Each week I usually get about 10 hours of solo practice, 3-4 hours of bouting and conventional exercises, and an hour or two of instruction.

I'd say fence left handed. You need the accuracy more than power, especially later down the road. Being able to fence with either hand isn't a bad thing, but it's also highly unlikely to help you become a better fencer; it might be useful if you injure one arm or hand, but it's unlikely to make you any better with the weapon.

French grips can be used very effectively, and it's probably best to start with. If you can use a French grip, it's easy to learn to use any other kind of grip, but it's a lot more difficult to go from a pistol to a French. You may as well stick with it until you really start feeling the need to switch to something else.

I'd cut down on the personal practice, actually; don't substitute quantity for quality. In other words, if you do 100 good lunges, then start getting tired, then you do 100 bad lunges because you're worn out, you aren't any better than when you started. Be sure you're conditioning a good response before you drill it ad naseum.

Hope that helps,

Antone

[DHCJr]

I've had over 25 years of being inept with both hands in fencing. Like you, I do things left handed for dexterity and right for strength. I agree with the point above with going with the left for the same reason. But I would also suggest you do some work right handed. This is a sport that is very one sided. For example if you just do lunges from one side, you will build up only one sided. You don't see body builders working on one side. Since you are practicing as much as you are, about 1/4 to 1/3 try switching off, not necessarily seriously, but to even out your workouts.

I know a college fencer who was ambidextrous and fenced left-handed. He broke his wrist 1/3 of the way through the season and did better the last 2/3 right handed. He was on the #1 Team in the league and in the top 4, so it can be done.

[DJ Apostrophe]

I too was in the same situation (couldn't decide which hand to fence with). I ended up going lefty for several reasons... The footwork felt the same either way, so that didnt matter, but I felt like my fine motor skills (which suck anyway) were less bad (note, I didn't see better) with my left hand. And I figured my point control would be better left handed. I also enjoy the annoyance factor... I've heard many times "Oh, its one of you pesky lefties" or something similar... I find that amusing... plus if it gives me a mental edge, all the better. I've been fencing for about a year and a half now, and am very happy with my decision to persue it left-handed.
-w

[BugabooX]

First of all, make sure you've got at least a 13 Dexterity. Otherwise you can't legitimately have that particular feat.

If you're truly ambidextrous, the DM won't care which hand you use to slay your opponent.

[drizzt_do_urden]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. And you all replied so quickly. I had a couple specific comments:

Originally posted by Sildar


I'd cut down on the personal practice, actually; don't substitute quantity for quality. In other words, if you do 100 good lunges, then start getting tired, then you do 100 bad lunges because you're worn out, you aren't any better than when you started. Be sure you're conditioning a good response before you drill it ad naseum.

Hope that helps,

Antone [/b]

Antone,

Thank you for your advice. The solo pracitice time frames I mentioned only average less than an hour and a half each day. Seems like I should be doing more than that though. I do completely agree with you that quality is much more important than quantity. I should let you know a few additional things about my practice time frames: First, being such a beginner I'm more concerned with proper form than executing movements with the explosiveness I'll need later on, so I'm going very slowly, and hence, I don't get too fatigued. Also, I don't always do my daily fencing practice in one session. I'll often do two or more shorter sessions throughout the day as my schedule permits. As for doing 100 good lunges, I'm lucky at this point if I can do one good lunge. Thanks again.


BugabooX,

Your humor is dually noted and appreciated. I knew upon selecting my internet pseudonym that there had to be some fencers who would be familiar with the ambidextrous sword fighting character Drizzt Do'Urden from R.A. Salvatore's novels.

[Dav3ey]

I'm not convinced that "eating" is a finesse action. At least not from what I see around me here in the Big Apple!

[Aoife]

I'm not convinced that "eating" is a finesse action. At least not from what I see around me here in the Big Apple!

lol- I gues it all depends what, and where, you're eating. The greasy sppon cafe where I breakfasted in New York- not very 'finesse', but Hard Rock Cafe- people were a little more reserved... most people anyway.

[135711]

i can't believe after all those people went through you still feel you can insult new york, don't fence there anytime soon adolf!

[BugabooX]

Originally posted by drizzt_do_urden
... I knew upon selecting my internet pseudonym that there had to be some fencers who would be familiar with the ambidextrous sword fighting character Drizzt Do'Urden from R.A. Salvatore's novels.

Who?

[Dav3ey]

Originally posted by 135711
i can't believe after all those people went through you still feel you can insult new york, don't fence there anytime soon adolf!

You're not serious, right?

I doubt any NY'er would really feel insulted at what aoife or I wrote -- even if you said it to their faces. I can just hear it now:

"You people eat like slobs."

"Uh, yeah. Gimme your wallet."

And the "adolf" thing is, I think, a bit much.

Dav(Osama-eat-my-shorts)ey (from 3 blocks south of the WTC before, during and after)

[135711]

yes they would, they don't need 'oh gee let's all shake hands and make up, we know you really didn't mean it, after all what's 6,000 people, they all have greasy spoons'

[Dav3ey]

135711 --

I'm sorry that I made you uncomfortable. Honest and no joke.

Recently, lots of topics that were once innocuous and fair game for fun-poking have become painful spots for many of us.

We all heal at different rates -- and for many of us, some wounds may never heal. These feelings are, of course, entitled to sober consideration and if I've afforded you less than that then I apologize.

Your comrade in arms,
Dav3ey

[135711]

okay, you did very well in defending alfie; so, go and marry her, and you have my blessings.

i feel better, i just took a hot bath -

[Dav3ey]

[135711]

we're maniacs, i just realized it, i became completely bellicose, and over what, a ruined career? the loss of an apartment in a state that i loved? a fruitless job-hunt in an economically devasted area, defending a nut [still] who lives 1200 miles away, from a machiovelian, well, that's all i can say. I hope to see you guys from new york. the last time i fenced new yorkers was in 1983, they were very good fencers.








i don't want to spell correctly, i want it to evolve, like in england 1100.

[Inquartata]

Aaaaand....SCENE!

[Dav3ey]

Thanks. I'll be in my trailer if my agent calls.

[BugabooX]

[hijack]
So how about that snow?
[/hijack]