Importance of height in Epee

[Aeric]

How important is it, really?

I heard that it does give a slight advantage.

But then again, the blades are the same length, so if they can hit your wrist, you can hit their wrist. And also, smaller people tend to have a lower center of gravity and a better balance to allow a quicker change of movement.

Does this balance out, or are us moderately short people always going to be on the low end of the totem pole (no pun intended), or what? Are there any special strategies to use and what techniques to avoid when fencing giants?

[klauver]

I am 6' 2" and height has helped me tremendously against poor to nominal fencers. However, you are correct that the epeeist with great point control can get to my wrist and forearm as quickly as I can. But it seems many epeeist want to rely on binds and in many cases I can jump slightly back and lean forward to touch them before they can reach me.

[achilleus]

Originally posted by Aeric
How important is it, really?

I heard that it does give a slight advantage.

But then again, the blades are the same length, so if they can hit your wrist, you can hit their wrist. And also, smaller people tend to have a lower center of gravity and a better balance to allow a quicker change of movement.

Does this balance out, or are us moderately short people always going to be on the low end of the totem pole (no pun intended), or what? Are there any special strategies to use and what techniques to avoid when fencing giants?

It's an advantage. Especially when you fence the tall fencers that are fast and can move. But it's not the end all be all.

[Lemberg]

Like klauver said, the height advantage is most deciding at the beginner level and a little bit past that. On a more competitive level it all depends on your speed, technique and point control.

[Artisan]

Originally posted by klauver
I am 6' 2" and height has helped me tremendously against poor to nominal fencers. ..... But it seems many epeeist want to rely on binds and in many cases I can jump slightly back and lean forward to touch them before they can reach me.

Which is why height DOES have its advantages. Weapons are the same length, so the distance to primary (hand, arm) target is the same, but the rest of target is farther away against a tall opponent. What would be doubles are then often singles for the tall guy.

Also Speed is an advangage.
Experience is an advantage.
Better coaching is an advantage.
Fitness is an advantage.
Intelligence is an advantage.

Height is but one of many characteristics...

[BrianH]

As Artisan says: "Also Speed is an advangage.
Experience is an advantage.
Better coaching is an advantage.
Fitness is an advantage.
Intelligence is an advantage.

Height is but one of many characteristics..."

Which I agree with, and amend to include:

Ability to use tactics and strategy effectively (not the same thing as intelligence), Sense of distance, Technique, Timing, Strength, Flexibility, Focus and Concentration, Ability to relax.

What has kept many of us happily fencing for twenty or more years is that, as some of our abilities decline, others may take their place and allow us to occasionally beat you kids. Always fence to your strengths and your opponent's weaknesses (assuming you can recognize them, of course).

BH

[C.J.]

It's sort of like how it is in basketball. Is height an absolute necessity in basketball? No. Can a short person become a great basketball player? Yes, and many have. Are most of the great basketball players tall? Yes. Is height an absolute necessity in epee? No. Can a short person become a great epeeist? Yes, and many have. Are most of the great epeeists tall? Yes.

[Artisan]

Now the right handed left handed thing....Is left handedness an advantage in fencing? I've heard it said that although lefties represent 10% of the general population, at the highest levels of fencing lefties are 50%.

I suspect that if this is true, it is because lefties fence righties 90% of the time but righties fence lefties only 10 % of the time, so are therfore less familiar. Just watch two lefties fence sometime - the both look confused!

[Inquartata]

That's my take on it as well. One of my biggest weaknesses is that, outside of tournaments, I get to practice against left-handers exactly zero percent of the time: there are none in my club...

[klauver]

To me it depends on the weapon, lefties bother me a lot more in foil and saber but very little in epee. In foil and saber I have many more built in reflexes that cause me problems, in epee I am always looking for targets of opportunity and don't depend on as many parry reposts etc.

[Victor]

What's considered "tall?" ... Obviously, there's the simple comparison between any two fencers -- one is likely taller than the other by some degree. But I'm asking about some sort of numerical average here. Is 6' tall? Are you not considered tall until you reach 6'5"?

[bjacobs]

I'm an epee convert from years of sabre, and 5' 6" on a good day, so I consider most epee fencers tall. I'll second what some here have said: height is an advantage, but need not be a decisive one. I've found height more important in epee than sabre. When fencing someone a good deal taller than you in epee, you must be better than them technically or more gifted in another physical attribute by the same margin that they're taller than you. Personally, I count on my footwork to even things out.

[noodle]

we sure talk about this subject a lot
<a href="http://www.fencing101.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9766">1</a>/<a href="http://www.fencing101.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8231">2</a>/<a href="http://www.fencing101.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6834">3</a>/<a href="http://www.fencing101.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4880">4</a>/<a href="http://www.fencing101.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1881">5</a>/<a href="http://www.fencing101.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3008">6</a>

[Artisan]

Craig: I nominate Noodle for the board archivist / historian position.

[leon730]

Height can be an advantage - however, without good form it is useless. If your technique is sloppy height just presents a bigger target for your opponent.

Now being lefty - THAT is an advantage! I've taken advantage of the very sloppiness I speak of from fencers not guarding their arm properly. I would estimate 50% of my touches were on the right arm of my opponents.

[Katman]

My club had a huge amount of lefties (more than 3) for the longest time. Currently we only have 2 (or maybe 3; cowpaste, I'm lookin' at you ), but most of the team is rather apt at fencing lefties. When you see a lefty in your weapon while fencing at the club, go fence him/her/it if you can and get some practice in.

[Victor]

Nothing worse than a tall, left-handed fencer with combat precognition and stun rays that shoot from his eyes. Now THAT's an advantage that's hard to compensate for.

... It's not impossible, mind you. Just hard. Requires lots of training and practice.

[Andromeda]

From my personal experience, I have found that both short and tall people have their own advantages in Epee. It is often hard for me (relitivly tall lady) to adjust to people who are significantly shorter then myself, I tend to over shoot, and whatnot... But I have the advantage of a longer reach... I think it all balances out, as long as you know how to use your advantages and protect yourself from your disadvantages in a specific blade then all is good.

And oh man! Those tall, left handed epeeists with the stun rays coming from their eyes! They are such a nightmare to fence against! We have one in club....

[epeecurian]

I had to fence lots of very good, tall epeeists, over 6 feet, while I'm average height, about 5'6. It's sort of difficult, but, especially in the first few seconds of the bout you have to make yourself keep distance. All you see is a giant gawk and you want to run them down, they look really awkward sometimes, but you can't attack at first until you watch, that's been my strategy against very tall people. Sometimes what I do also is check to see what classifications the competetors have before I get too brave. They didn't get A's for standing there so, bring up the fighting spirit and you'll stand a chance. I did earn 4 points against a couple of rated epeeists in the past. She got the last point because I didn't pay attention.

Recent observations: I noticed that some fencers look down while they're fencing, not looking at the opponent. It doesn't mean you should be staring into the mask, but I get the best results when I hold a posture that is strong without being tense and keeping the angle of your mask in opposition to the angle of the opponents' mask. It's like taking a good photograph, if you use even the cheapest camera, but stand with your elbows out and open your eyes up for the shot you take some good pictures. I think it's also related to intellegence, but mine is normal, so I have to sort of train myself to do these things until they become more ingrained.