shankbone01 Says:

Nov 12, 2007 - um.....because epee has no right of way it makes fencing more realistic, and saber is more realistic for blade stabbing. foil derives from "practice" swordsmanship-- the blades are puny compared to epee blades and are far lighter than their predecessors. epee requires much more timing, distancing and strategy to take down an opponent.

theexcitablecookie Says:

Nov 24, 2007 - In response to shankbone's comments on epee, foil and Sabre; The foil was developed for practicing the rapier not the epee. Sabre is the only real combat weapon deriving from the oriental scimitar and being used as a cavalry weapon by the Hungarians. Epee is a dueling weapon and it is only your opinion that it requires more timing, distance and strategy. A wise man would not state his opinion as if it were fact.

GamblerInTheLeafs20 Says:

Dec 10, 2007 - gotta love 3:00 parry-repost! nicely done!

MacDragard Says:

Jan 12, 2008 - I'm guessing the guy on the right is the Hungarian. I can tell by the crazy footwork.

MacDragard Says:

Jan 12, 2008 - Uh, epée is not more realistic. In fact, it's even less realistic. It makes no sense for both fencers to be REWARDED for striking at the same time. In real life, if you strike first, there's very little chance that the opponent will strike back.

MacDragard Says:

Jan 12, 2008 - Also, epée requiring more distance? Please. Epée actually has the shortest distance out of the three, and requires the least amount of footwork. All epée really requires is good point control.

shankbone01 Says:

Jan 12, 2008 - it makes perfect sense for 2 points to be rewarded-- the whole idea that someone "hits" someone because they're some fraction of a second faster makes no difference at all. this fact, plus epee's freedom of full-body target makes distancing much more important because stupidly moving forward means a head or foot touch

shankbone01 Says:

Jan 12, 2008 - "in real life," people aren't even "touched" with swords anyway, and hypothetically if they were, being hit does not mean instant incapacitation. unless of course, YOU MacDragard are completely incapacitated after being hit.

MacDragard Says:

Jan 12, 2008 - Scoring a point indicates that you won. If both duelists strike each other at the same time, then they both lose. Even though the entire body is target in epée, the distance is still much closer than it is in sabre and even foil because epée is more of a bladework game than a footwork game.

MacDragard Says:

Jan 12, 2008 - Once you strike someone with a blade, and yes I do mean strike, chances are that person won't be able to strike back. I have to admit that electric sabre has made the rules more ridiculous. Before, you were required to hit with a significant amount of force.

theexcitablecookie Says:

Jan 19, 2008 - He is Szilagy, a Hungarian U20 Fencer who is currently ranked 9th in the world for his age group. He was previously ranked 4th but has now moved down. His opponent is the British Alex O'Connel who is currently ranked 8th in the same age group.

jiri1991 Says:

Jan 21, 2008 - i agree. i use sabre

wibba Says:

Jan 24, 2008 - Szilagy is playing so well lately. He was born in 1990! He just got the 3rd place in Istanbul, 01/19/2008...Well done, young man.

wibba Says:

Jan 24, 2008 - "stupidly moving forward"...hum...you don't play sabre...if you know how hard it is, you wouldn't say that. In sabre, jump forward and backward, forward and backward means a head touch. To all the epée fencers, don't criticize what you can't understand...the same to sabre and foil fencers.

wibba Says:

Jan 24, 2008 - That's right

wibba Says:

Jan 24, 2008 - I guess in real duels, the duelists had to stop after touching each other. Does it seems real? NO. "In real life" you would hit over and over again. That's why i hate when people say "this is real fencing, not that thing they do today". There were rules in real fencing. It's a way to make things work.

bgyklr Says:

Feb 2, 2008 - though the rules in sabre have been distorted so that the matches are not 'real duels', epee matches are basically the same as they ever were, even when real swords were used, due to the no priority rules and the one pound of pressure rule. if you got stabbed with a rapier, then even a non-fatal wound in an arm or leg left you in no position to continue duelling. the sabre, however, was based on the cavalry sword, so the idea was that moving at 30MPH on horseback, even a touch was deadly

Shogunmiyuchan Says:

Feb 28, 2008 - Alex O'Connell? Is he related to Matthew O'Connell? He was from Brentwood, and I remember fencing him several times in the Public Schools.

Dreyman2 Says:

Mar 24, 2008 - It think it would be more accurate to say "this is real SPORT fencing".

Dreyman2 Says:

Mar 24, 2008 - It think it would be more accurate to say "this is real SPORT fencing".

teamblackhawk4life Says:

Apr 10, 2008 - yeh Alex is his younger brother, they're my cousins...Both very good but Alex kept fencing when he went to Cambridge, Matt didn't

tobiasnixon Says:

May 2, 2008 - great bout. i kept thinking O'Connell would come back until i saw the red play length bar getting shorter. :D he is a great sabreur.

jemba112 Says:

May 24, 2008 - I thought it was funny when at the Oxford/Cambridge Varsity, O'Connell faced a guy who was clearly bricking it, but ended up walking into the most basic extended arm I've ever seen! God he was angry!

crazystu1 Says:

Jun 26, 2008 - Brentwood knobjockey

desolationangeluk Says:

Aug 9, 2008 - So pleased to see Alex competing in Beijing. Gareth Stafford-Bull would have been so proud, I just know he's up there looking down on him with a smile