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Slims · 05-14-2008, 06:58 AM

Ok,

The director doesn't have a body cord, it's the blade for his weapon (he is resting his hands on it). I don't see anybody wearing breast plates, and the director is probably the only one wearing a jacket because he is the only one who has one. Also, the foils being used are dry weapons (you can see the rubber tip on the ends).

I would like to think that I am neither a pussy nor a moron, but I do fence foil. As a matter of fact, I won my 'C' in a dry foil tournament some years ago (They have a big one in NC every year). I always preferred (and was better at) Epee, but foil was great practice as it forced bigger, more dynamic moves and fast exchanges.

The people in the photos are fencing while holding onto walkers. Do you really think it would be smart to give them a heavier, stiffer weapon? Or one where the chief aim is to slash the shit out of your opponent?

I after I graduated college, I stayed on as a coach for a while. I was taught Foil first, but we were almost exclusively an Epee club by that point, and we chose to let people jump straight into their weapon of choice. It caused a lot of problems as we were continually trying to correct bad habits. Our epee fencers also had a very difficult time transitioning to foil or sabre, though those who learned foil first transitioned quickly over to either epee or sabre.

Another note: Foil fencing evolved as a way to teach people how to survive duels, as opposed to just winning them. Think how often you get simultaneous lights in epee. People would duel and both parties would get injured or killed. Foil, along with right of way, was designed to teach people not to jump onto their opponents blade. Of course, foil has it's problems as well (simple blade contact should not equal a parry), but it came about for very good reasons.

05-14-2008, 06:58 AM	#8 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	Ok, The director doesn't have a body cord, it's the blade for his weapon (he is resting his hands on it). I don't see anybody wearing breast plates, and the director is probably the only one wearing a jacket because he is the only one who has one. Also, the foils being used are dry weapons (you can see the rubber tip on the ends). I would like to think that I am neither a pussy nor a moron, but I do fence foil. As a matter of fact, I won my 'C' in a dry foil tournament some years ago (They have a big one in NC every year). I always preferred (and was better at) Epee, but foil was great practice as it forced bigger, more dynamic moves and fast exchanges. The people in the photos are fencing while holding onto walkers. Do you really think it would be smart to give them a heavier, stiffer weapon? Or one where the chief aim is to slash the shit out of your opponent? I after I graduated college, I stayed on as a coach for a while. I was taught Foil first, but we were almost exclusively an Epee club by that point, and we chose to let people jump straight into their weapon of choice. It caused a lot of problems as we were continually trying to correct bad habits. Our epee fencers also had a very difficult time transitioning to foil or sabre, though those who learned foil first transitioned quickly over to either epee or sabre. Another note: Foil fencing evolved as a way to teach people how to survive duels, as opposed to just winning them. Think how often you get simultaneous lights in epee. People would duel and both parties would get injured or killed. Foil, along with right of way, was designed to teach people not to jump onto their opponents blade. Of course, foil has it's problems as well (simple blade contact should not equal a parry), but it came about for very good reasons. __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence Last edited by Slims; 05-14-2008 at 07:03 AM..