Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

D'Artagnan1673 · 03-30-2002, 09:48 PM

Its the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life!!! I was reading my buddy Nick E's book and realized that I've been holding the french grip wrong for as long as I've fenced. You are suppost to have your thumb and index on the widest part of the grip, I've kept mine on the thinner of the two. I just know everyone will get a kick out of the fact that Mr. Rub it in Your Face Classical Nut has never properly fenced in his life!!!!

I'm getting ready to go to a little Mickey Mouse E & Under tournament in Houston next Sat. I'm skipping the Degall Memorial in Dallas since I've been out on injury for the past month. I was going to fence Epee, but I am way too rusty to stand a chance there. Foil comes more naturally since that is mostly what I've fenced. I hope everyone is having a nice Easter. I am spending mine wondering just what my coach has been doing for the past two years that he's never noticed I grip the foil wrong!!!! Ah, the shame of it!

swordsen · 03-31-2002, 01:17 AM

That last bit is a very good question. I check my students grip regularly.

MikeHarm · 03-31-2002, 05:37 AM

Not just your coach but anyone else fencing you should of noticed it. Are they all holding it wrong too?

D'Artagnan1673 · 03-31-2002, 05:45 AM

To be honest, I am not sure. There are only two "veteren" fencers who use a French grip at our club, myself being one. All of the beginers do as well. Since we haven't had a coach in a while, I've been helping to train the newbies. They all probably grip the weapon wrong since I am the one who showed them how!! Still, the problem is easy to correct. I air fenced a bit last night and found most every move was much easier to perform now that I am gripping the weapon correctly. I actually can feel the sentiment du fer!

Well, I learned an important lesson last night. Its embaressing to find out I've been doing it wrong all this time, but at least I can correct it now!

edew · 03-31-2002, 03:27 PM

I'm surprised you didn't hold it at the business end of it.

Purple Fencer · 03-31-2002, 04:22 PM

What's amazing is that no one (including the "esteemed" Mr. E) noticed that if you don't hold a French the right way, it don't quite fit int he hand right!

'Course, Evangelista probably thinks holding the grip so it fits in your hand is the same as using a well executed flick...the work of Satan.

There's a reason I don't read Fencer's Quarterly...and it's Nick.

D'Artagnan1673 · 03-31-2002, 08:58 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Purple Fencer:
What's amazing is that no one (including the "esteemed" Mr. E) noticed that if you don't hold a French the right way, it don't quite fit int he hand right!

'Course, Evangelista probably thinks holding the grip so it fits in your hand is the same as using a well executed flick...the work of Satan.

There's a reason I don't read Fencer's Quarterly...and it's Nick.<hr></blockquote>

Well, it seems that there is only moderate difference in feel with holding the weapon with the thumb & index on the thinner vs. the thicker sides of the grip. I've still fenced comfortably all this time doing it wrong. My thought is that if I fence well holding it wrong, how much better will I fence now that I am holding the grip right!

I'm confused about the 2nd parargaph in your post, what do you mean? Yes, Nick thinks that the flick is awful, but why should he think the same about holding the grip right. Does his teaching not revolve around the thought of doing things right (his right that is, since we live in a society that sees right and wrong as having a grey in-between)?

Peach · 04-01-2002, 02:08 AM

[quote]Originally posted by Purple Fencer:
There's a reason I don't read Fencer's Quarterly...and it's Nick.<hr></blockquote>

I found that thing so hard to read--they sent it to me for ages and I started putting it directly in the circular file. I save my "the governing body is the antichrist" ranting for work, not my hobbies.

Munqi · 04-01-2002, 03:41 AM

I'd like to point out that in the main forum, where it updates the last edited thread, and the poster's name it says:

Arh!!!!!!!!! I've been holding... (Peach)
04-01-2002 07:08 AM

and I've just realised that now it says that someone's been holding me.

Ooh er, missus.

Purple Fencer · 04-01-2002, 05:33 AM

[quote]Originally posted by D'Artagnan1673:

I'm confused about the 2nd parargaph in your post, what do you mean? Yes, Nick thinks that the flick is awful, but why should he think the same about holding the grip right. Does his teaching not revolve around the thought of doing things right (his right that is, since we live in a society that sees right and wrong as having a grey in-between)?<hr></blockquote>

It's just that, if he's been teaching it incorrectly al this time, there goes any shred of credibility in my mind. I mean, if a teacher can't figure the grip isn't fitting in the hand correctly...I get the impression from the FQ articles I HAVE have the displeasure if reading that he's never wrong, or won't admit when he is.

D'Artagnan1673 · 04-01-2002, 05:57 AM

Oh no, you misunderstood me, or rather I didn't explain myself. Nick has been teaching the proper way to hold the grip, I haven't been holding it right. It seems that I usually pass over the part about holding the foil since I thought I was holding it right. No, it seems that either my coach told me wrong or I somehow just started holding it like that. His book tells how to properly hold the foil.

Purple Fencer · 04-01-2002, 07:33 AM

*sigh* And it was such a GOOD rant!

BarryTice · 04-01-2002, 08:52 AM

Sam --

don't you hate it when a good bout of self-righteous indignation gets ruined? That usually kills my whole afternoon.

-- b.r.t.

D'Artagnan1673 · 04-01-2002, 10:12 AM

I am sorry, if I knew that it meant that much to you, I would have left you in your glee for a few days

Purple Fencer · 04-01-2002, 12:38 PM

to BOTH of you!

Heh. <img src="graemlins/jester.gif" border="0" alt="[Jester]" />

Inigo Montoya · 04-01-2002, 01:55 PM

You also have trouble wearing a feather to match your romantic style.

D'Artagnan1673 · 04-01-2002, 07:11 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Inigo Montoya:
You also have trouble wearing a feather to match your romantic style.

<hr></blockquote>

hm.... from Texas eh? I am wondering if this new person doesn't fence at my club.

I did have a bird lover bring a couple of flambouyant feathers to get me to put into my mask. From looking at the profile, I am sure I know who it is...... this is creepy.

<img src="graemlins/jester.gif" border="0" alt="[Jester]" />

Inigo Montoya · 04-02-2002, 08:48 AM

Just a humble admirer of grace and form

its_me_mango · 04-02-2002, 12:01 PM

<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[ 04-05-2002: Message edited by: its_me_mango ]

MikeHarm · 04-02-2002, 12:14 PM

I've heard rumors of people getting carpal tunnel syndrom from some of the pistol grips and Italian, but haven't heard of that happening from using a french grip yet. Do you know of people this happened to?