Weapon Change????

[Cyranox11]

Heita All
OK, here is the deal, I have been fencing for 6 years now, (including an 18 month injury lay off). I have only been fencing REALLY seriously for just over 18 months and have been concentrating on foil for the last 2 years (although I fence sabre a lot and the occassional epee competition). I am FINALLY starting to get somewhere in foil. However, I have fenced 2 epee competitions in the last month and I did very well against some tough competition. In fact I did relatively better than I do in foil (given the standard of competition in foil vs epee competitions as well as a straight comparison).
So I am considering switching weapons, to epee. I know that 2 competitions mean very little in the grand scheme and that they may have been slightly lucky results (I don't necessarily say they were, but they may have been).
I am also really enjoying certain aspects of epee and there is a better chance of me getting to fence internationally at epee than at foil.
I am planning on talking to my coaches about this but I thought some advice might be nice.
Regards
Cyrano

[Oor Wullie]

You should be wary of changing just like that. Sometimes going in to an Epee competition and fencing Foil is enough to through the Epeeists off and get a result. If you switch weapons and start to train Epee, you might find that your results degenerate, as has happened to some people I know!

I don't think taking up Epee because it is easier to get to the top is a very good reason for changing. Ultimately, you should only change over if you enjoy Epee more than Foil!

[Cyranox11]

Hi
Thanks Wullie.
No I also dont think that it is a good enoughb reason to change. And its not so much that it is easier to get to the top, it is just that as a foilist I have NO chance of fencing internationally. My country will send 8 epeeists overseas before they send 1 foilist and I would like to at least have a HOPE of fencing internationally one day. Also, the foilists who have gone overseas get their butts kicked inside out by the oposition whereas our epeeists do ta least win the odd bout internationally. This is because of the lack of quality opposition and presidents in foil here. I also realise that fencing foil is often enough to throw the epeeists off.
In anyh case, I will chat to the coaches about it and see.
Thanks for the advice.
Regards
C

[Bugaboo]

Ya know, I was thinking...
("Uh-oh! He's been thinking! RUN!!!")

Anyway. I was thinking about how so many people promote the idea that you shouldn't change weapons ONLY if it seems easier, or ONLY if you think it will help you win. You should only switch to another weapon if you truly like that weapon.

Why?

Suppose a guy simply likes winning more than losing? That should be motivation enough. It's not like he's pledged a sacred union with his sword to use it only when he *likes* the stupid thing. He may not love his natural ability to counter-attack with an epee, for example, and may actually "enjoy" the priority chess play of foil more, even though he sucks and has sucked for five years.

If he thinks he can win with an epee, who are we to tell him to stay away from the weapon?

---------------------

"Question everything."

[Cyranox11]

Hi
SORTED!
Chatted with the coach and I am sticking with foil f0or at least another 6 months PHEW thats a weight of the ole head!
Thanks for the advice all and Bug, thanks for the different perspective!
Later Cyrano