Declare your Style!!

[135711]

[ 05-22-2002: Message edited by: 135711 ]</p>

[D'Artagnan1673]

Well, chaps, I cannot deny that I am feeling my oats today. I won the tournament and claimed my "E" rating.

I must say that my style is perhaps hard to define. I would say that I mixed the two styles and have came up with my own. I naturally call it the Style D'Artagnan. I didn't always keep my hand in the traditional sixte, nor did it always stay in complete absence. My rear hand tended to stay down and my stance was slightly more boxer like. It didn't quite look modern, but it wasn't tight assed either. I found that I was able to change my style and technique to correspond to whomever I was fencing, a major factor in my victory.

Please don't think I am trying to bragg, I am just trying to analyze how I fenced to figure out how I managed to pull it off. If I was fencing a chap who had a lightning advance and small forearm profile, I found that it was best to keep him on the defence with lunges and feints to keep him from driving me into the ground. If I was against a more defencive fencer, I tried to make him commit and counter to the hand. I guess what I am trying to say is that I think that you must be able to master every stroke in epee fencing to be able to defeat whatever opponent you went up against.

I had a great time and enjoyed taling with Schlager7 and even met the mysterious Arcon, although I can't quite remember his real name or face , he was wearing a cloke and stayed in the shadows.

[bynadutch]

Arcon, I completely agree... it is a mix of the three that makes up most of our styles. You have to have a respect for the traditional/classical, while embracing the modern/sport... and knowing a bit of the historical without letting it consume you fanatically That doesn't hurt either.

[bynadutch]

Oh yeah, and congrats D'art... good job, keep it up.

[bynadutch]

Oh yeah, and congrats D'art... good job, keep it up.

[Gav]

I'd describe my style as... Left Handed

[shyHeidi]

Oh yeah, congratulations, V D'art. I fenced in a tournament on Saturday (though not one with ranking involved...) and got my butt kicked by a guy who was only fencing for 5 weeks!
My problem was that I couldn't adapt to his fencing style... The ironic part was that he is more like my style than anyone I've ever fenced... we're both extremely defensive... I kept expecting him to attack and so I'd air-parry and then advance (because I'm used to opponents retreating in anticipation of the riposte that I never do...) and I'd walk right into his blade when he was just standing there in en-garde... I think I lost 4 or 5 touches that way, literally... (it was a 10 point bout...) Oops for me. <img src="graemlins/dunce.gif" border="0" alt="[Dunce]" /> <img src="graemlins/blah.gif" border="0" alt="[Blah]" /> (pretend there are a few more toothy grin faces in here, it won't let me add any more)

...fun though.

... I have exceeded the maximum number of graemlins allowed. Aw, not again.

[ 05-20-2002: Message edited by: shyHeidi ]</p>

[reptile]

[quote]Originally posted by haggis:
<strong>I haven't read the discussion board for a couple of days but a find the number of responses gratifying and fascinating.

To D'Art

You weren't actually targeted but thanks for responding so fully.

For everyone else

The definitions I offered were necessarily loose, vague, imprecise, etc. and I'll happily apologise to anyone who feels they deserve it. Please try to remember that I post here for fun and healthy, stimulating debate

For ShyHeidi

You are probably right. Beginners can't declare their style (although others may try based on who coaches them). There is always the option of abstaining, although a quick look at your club-mates and where and if they compete can help to form an idea of where you're headed.

Haggis</strong><hr></blockquote>

by declaring ones style, one doesn’t declare to be a master of this style i guess. But after taking lessons and reading fencing literature you can tell whether you will be fie/hist/class or maybe something totally different. I am curious!

[Chris Umbs]

I started sport fencing in 8th grade. At that age, we were only allowed to do foil. Most of my classmates had started in 7th grade so they had a year of foil experience on me already. I switched to epee in the 9th grade so I’d be even with the rest of my class + the fact that I didn’t understand right of way then. Did epee till graduation. Since I didn’t go on to college, that put a crimp in my continuation of the sport. I spent another 2 years practicing with the Drew university team during their pre-season workouts and hitting the occasional USFA tournament.

Sport Fencing = 7 years in total.

Around this time, I met M. Crown and his students who were running a fencing booth at the NY (Oswego) renaissance fair. When his booth moved out I started fencing for the people who took it over and eventually ran my own booth at the NJ fair. For a long while, this was money hand over fist for me. When it stopped being worth the money, I turned my booth over to my students.

During this same time, I got involved with the SCA. There were no SCA teachers in my local area, so I became the local marshal/teacher. I never really learned anything in the SCA and just coasted on my epee skills. After awhile I had gained all the awards that I wanted and there were only a few folks who could make me really work (and most of them had as many years sport fencing as I had). I was getting bored. I wanted the discipline that I had when I was learning sport fencing from a qualified teacher. Fortunately, that’s when I found the Martinez Academy.

SCA and Ren fair fencing = 10 years.

It’s difficult to define classical and historical fencing since the different groups tend to have their own differences as well.

For me, classical fencing is a martial art. The object is to fence in such a way that the fencer would be safe facing an opponent with a sharp epee or sabre. Good form is practiced because that is the safest way to fence with sharps, not simply for the aesthetic sensibility (despite what SOME classical groups say). The reason that ‘good form’ is good is that it promotes safe fencing. While there are some rule differences between classical and sport (mostly involving right of way and what is a valid attack capable of causing a wound), it’s more a difference of attitude. For a classical fencer, the art is learned for the sake of learning the art and tournaments are used as an occasional check to make sure that your form is not too artificial and to place the fencer in a situation where something is ‘on the line’. Since we don’t actually duel, a tournament (usually single elimination – loose once and your day is over) is the only place where we can put some stress on the fencers. For modern fencers (warning-stereotype) the art is learned in order to win tournaments.

Historical fencing is also a martial art. For me, it’s like somebody learning kenjutsu – I’m not likely to have to defend myself with a sword, but the physical, mental and spiritual benefits are well worth having. Also there is some cross-over to street level defense. I’ve found that an unarmed version of my rapier and dagger style is actually more effective than any of the karate or kung-fu that I’ve learned. My primary weapons are rapier, smallsword, shortsword, sidesword, and longsword. All of these styles also include some wrestling and joint locks. Other historical fencers may spend more time on the wrestling.

Classical and Historical = 4 years

Chris

[haggis]

Gav

I could probably describe your style better than that... but won't <img src="graemlins/evild.gif" border="0" alt="[Evil]" />

Regards

Haggis

[KC]

Sport Sabre and Foil...

Have been known to take a few SCAers to school. I enjoy any bladed combat so the SCA was just another avenue for me... However where I live now there are no real swordsmen around.

Now I am spending my time teaching beginners the basics of sabre fencing. They are not ready for the art of it.

[D'Artagnan1673]

I found our local SCA to be a bit dull and too into fantasy. It just isn't worth traveling 35 mintues 1 way to fence with them.

[KC]

Here its far too many drunks for my taste and talk about politics...

[Gav]

Haggis

Ok I admit it I'm more cack-handed than left handed!