kendoist starting fencing

[AGLkenshi]

I've been doing kendo for about 2 years (2nd kyu), and due to unfortunate circumstances (going to college where there isn't a kendo dojo) I'm thinking of starting fencing. So this question goes out to those who are experienced or knowledgable in both schools of swordsmanship.

which of the 3 weapons systems (epee, foil, saber) would benefit the most from my experience and training with kendo?

right now from what ive read epee appeals to me the most. I prefer the caution and strategic mind-games it utilizes and the target area. saber is way too quick and i haven't formed much of an opinion either way on foil. Its interesting though, as kendo is primarily concerned with offense and epee is the more defensive system than the other 2.

[Kozushi]

You will enjoy epee the most, since it is a bit heavier than the other swords. The biggest difference between Kendo and Fencing, I think, isn't a big difference in style or stance, but a difference in the weight of the swords used. Muscular upper-body/back strength plays a big role in Kendo, but very little in Fencing. So, epee is for you.

[mystic_kendoka]

when fencing with epee or saber, wat weapons are used? blunt weapons tht look like their counterparts?

[emitbrownne]

[QUOTE=AGLkenshi]which of the 3 weapons systems (epee, foil, saber) would benefit the most from my experience and training with kendo?
QUOTE]

Go for Sabre.. your footwork stance can stay similar to your normal chudan kamae. I fenced with the rear foot L-bar style and parrallel and found parrallel more comfortable, and quicker (lunges are not as good, but your back and forth movements are quicker)..

The Salle I was with encouraged my sabre work, and even kept my kiai.. (it may be frowned on in competition)

The cutting movement of ther sabre may feel more natural to a kendoka rather than the twitchy thrusts of an epee or foil.

I liked sabre.. but your best bet is to try all three and see what feels the best.

[Charlie]

Well, you will probably have to start with foil regardless. Then you can try out the other two and see which you like best. Personally, I - and I only have a tiny bit of experience - like plain ol' vanilla foil fencing. Fencing's cool. Like kendo, do what your instructor(s) tell you. As Musashi said, the teacher is the needle and the student is the thread. Google Tiger Mori, he was a famous kendo and western fencing master.

Hope Old Warrior sees this, as he's an ol' vet of the piste.

BTW, I do not think kendo relies much at all on upper body strength, maybe back strength a little.

[Hai_hai]

which of the 3 weapons systems (epee, foil, saber) would benefit the most from my experience and training with kendo?
None. I would suggest that you check out a practice.
Western fencing and kendo are like comparing apples to oranges. Western fencing requires a lot of leg strength. The same amount of hand-eye coordination as kendo. Your left hand (if you are right-handed) will play a lot less importance than your right hand.

Modern electrical fencing is a sport and is very fun when you get good.

[Old Warrior]

[QUOTE=Charlie]Well, you will probably have to start with foil regardless. Then you can try out the other two and see which you like best. Personally, I - and I only have a tiny bit of experience - like plain ol' vanilla foil fencing. Fencing's cool. Like kendo, do what your instructor(s) tell you. As Musashi said, the teacher is the needle and the student is the thread. Google Tiger Mori, he was a famous kendo and western fencing master.

Actually, I began and ended as an epeeist, although I fenced foil when there were no epeeists around. The reason I disliked foil was the "right of way rule". This means that if your opponent starts an attack, you cannot initiate your own attack, until you first parry or cause a break inthe opponent's action. Thus, I could be immensely faster, buti f my oponent started an action I could not attack into his attack and score. Epee has no such rules and thewhole body is a target.

The carry over benefit from fencing to kendo is mastery of distance and timing and the ability to "feel" the adversary's body movement before you "see" it. Another plus is being used to the feel of combat and the need to remain calm and relaxed, poised for action.

Lastly, the constant repetition of basic movements required to learn kendo is "old hat" for me. Imagine the amount of practice it takes to be able to hit a spot on your opponents hand, the size of a quarter, 8 times out of 10, while it is being moved about, at the end of a fast lunge, using a 3' piece of steel 1/8" wide at the end. You get used to practicing things that most people would consider absurd and so I am never bored with Kendo class.

[Kozushi]

Musashi believed that the sword should be used one-handed. In crowded situations he would use both swords, but in one-on-one fights he used his katana only. Modern Kendo was not invented yet at Musashi's time, and he of course didn't do Fencing, but Fencing (a no armour, single-handed style) is closer to his method than modern Kendo is.

[Hai_hai]

Musashi believed that the sword should be used one-handed. In crowded situations he would use both swords, but in one-on-one fights he used his katana only. Modern Kendo was not invented yet at Musashi's time, and he of course didn't do Fencing, but Fencing (a no armour, single-handed style) is closer to his method than modern Kendo is.
That's not surprising. The Chinese have had used one-handed technique before the samurai era. There's more control and flexibility, less overall power though compared to a two-hand job.

[Charlie]

Sorry, back up a second. Where are you getting this info on Musashi? Musashi's school of swordsmanship is alive and well and one of its members posts here and at e-budo. His comments would seem to contradict yours, Kozushi, I'm sorry to say. I also don't think it is backed up by Go Rin No Sho, if that's what you were thinking.

[kenshin13]

Finally! Something I can post about! I did fencing for 2 years at the international saber training site where I talked to Mariel Zagunis! Anyways, I really didnt try them all out, but I have to say saber is mostly for newbies who havent done fencing, I think it's great because it's the all around sword and in epee you get to hit the legs (that'd hurt! theres no protection down there!) . And foil, well, foil is way too fast with too little target. I'd say go with the sabre. All around, good protection for the hand, pretty big target range, and if your in Oregon, the best place to be if you wanna fence is here! O ya and also Ed Korfanty trained with me too, hehe I love bragging (just kidding). Ok so boiling it down to the basics:

Foil: Really fast, small target (just the torso) and with a weak little sword.

Epee: Really heavy and clunky for just one hand, no knuckle protection, but ironicly more defensive. big target (whole body) which would hurt to much for me ( I'm a weakling)

Saber: Ding Ding Ding! You hit the jackpot! All around best sword, best target range (torso and head, sounds little but it makes a big difference, trust me) and at a good speed.

P.S. If you didn't know, Mariel Zagunis won her first Gold this year. Ed Korfanty was her coach.

[AGLkenshi]

thanks for the tips!

so it seems like epee overlaps with kendo with the zanshin and se-men aspects (good form, pressing with your spirit, reading your opponent) but is defense oriented whereas saber overlaps with kendo with the cutting aspect, the emphasis on aggressive attack and speed.

i saw saber on the olympics the other day, and it seemed like it was mostly two guys running at eachother and slashing, and one person getting the point, taking about a second per bout? then again, i haven't seen a lot of other olympic fencing so are all the weapons like this? i prefer the deceptively "slower" pace of kendo, waiting just out of reach of tsoku-ito (sp??) for a perfect opportunity for a strike.

also, if i were to start, would it be beneficial to start as a lefty? (im a righty) the reason i'm thinking this would help my kendo ability, seeing as though all the cuts focus with the left hand. the only problem is, that reverses my stance opposite of kamae. in kendo at least, i feel like my left has become more coordinated simply because my sensei yells at me that im bashing with my right every practice :)

it would be pretty cool to develop a nice thrust with a left that could carry over to a dead-accurrate tsuki :)

[kenshin13]

thanks for the tips!

so it seems like epee overlaps with kendo with the zanshin and se-men aspects (good form, pressing with your spirit, reading your opponent) but is defense oriented whereas saber overlaps with kendo with the cutting aspect, the emphasis on aggressive attack and speed.

i saw saber on the olympics the other day, and it seemed like it was mostly two guys running at eachother and slashing, and one person getting the point, taking about a second per bout? then again, i haven't seen a lot of other olympic fencing so are all the weapons like this? i prefer the deceptively "slower" pace of kendo, waiting just out of reach of tsoku-ito (sp??) for a perfect opportunity for a strike.

also, if i were to start, would it be beneficial to start as a lefty? (im a righty) the reason i'm thinking this would help my kendo ability, seeing as though all the cuts focus with the left hand. the only problem is, that reverses my stance opposite of kamae. in kendo at least, i feel like my left has become more coordinated simply because my sensei yells at me that im bashing with my right every practice :)

it would be pretty cool to develop a nice thrust with a left that could carry over to a dead-accurrate tsuki :)
Yah I think it would be good to start as a lefty. Hehe you could catch all the others off guard and totally wack em! (laughs). Good plan. O and I dont think there's like any slow pace in fencing at all. That's what makes it really fun in bouts.

[Neil Gendzwill]

i saw saber on the olympics the other day, and it seemed like it was mostly two guys running at eachother and slashing, and one person getting the point, taking about a second per bout?
From my understanding of the state of sabre these days, that's an accurate summary.

i prefer the deceptively "slower" pace of kendo, waiting just out of reach of tsoku-ito (sp??) for a perfect opportunity for a strike.
Not going to happen with any of the weapons. From my limited understanding of it, you may prefer epee.

[Hai_hai]

i haven't seen a lot of other olympic fencing so are all the weapons like this? No, epee and foil have more actions via parries and counter-attacks so the bouts last longer.


also, if i were to start, would it be beneficial to start as a lefty? (im a righty)
Yes and no. Lefties have a certain advantage over righties mentally. You generally want to go with your strong side.


it would be pretty cool to develop a nice thrust with a left that could carry over to a dead-accurrate tsuki
You can have accurate tsuki via practice at home.

[Mr.Tvola]

There was a duel between sabre olympic champion and 7th dan Kendoist in Poland in the 70s ... I thing I had a picture somewhere...

[DCPan]

There was a duel between sabre olympic champion and 7th dan Kendoist in Poland in the 70s ... I thing I had a picture somewhere...

Was it the match with the late Ando Kozo sensei.

[Mr.Tvola]

Yes it is.

here is the picture

http://www.kendo.pl/2-kalendarium/fotmiesiaca/Ando_Zablock.jpg

I was declared a draw...

Famous and rich in events was the year 1976. First of all, it was the year of unprecedented bout between Polish Olympic champion, Wojciech Zabłocki (saber) and Professor Kozo Ando from Waseda Daigaku (kendo). Bout was called draw, and both styles proved incompatible

(source www.kendo.pl)

[moetl]

i saw saber on the olympics the other day, and it seemed like it was mostly two guys running at eachother and slashing, and one person getting the point, taking about a second per bout?yes, that was my impression too. it was really disappointing IMO. i fenced too for about 2 years (foil) and what i particularly like about foil is/was the "right of way rule". IMO this rule changes "running at eachother and slashing" into fencing.

i'm not so sure if starting with your left hand is wise, for your motor function of your left hand is not well developed and you will probably have problems with aiming, but you can definitely give it a try.

[ben]

...Muscular upper-body/back strength plays a big role in Kendo, but very little in Fencing...

Although this true superficially, if someone read this and thought you meant, "it is important in kendo to have a strong upper body", or even "upper body strength is more important than lower body strength", they would be being led astray IMHO. 90% of beginners need to be educated NOT to rely on their upper body in kendo. I won't go on, but had to step in because someone might see your "Japanese" handle and think you were an authority.

Apologies for thread drift.

b

[Kozushi]

Yes, for beginners the calves are particularly important in kendo.
Staying on your toes is critical.
However, upper-body coordination and strength are worth a full 50% of kendo. In Fencing, upper-body strength is of almost negligible importance. I'd say that Fencing is 90% leg strength.
There is no doubt that Kendo is a better way to develop a shapely body.
If you said that 'upper body strength' is not important in Kendo, then that would be a little bit silly.

[Neil Gendzwill]

If you said that 'upper body strength' is not important in Kendo, then that would be a little bit silly.
"A little bit silly" would be pretty much every post you've made so far, Kozushi. Upper body strength is useful in kendo, but not necessary.

[AGLkenshi]

the whole "right of way" thing seems pretty counter-intuitive to kendo. Especially when we're trained in de-kote and ai-men etc to wait for the opponents first movement and strike before they do. Could you imagine hitting a solid de-kote and then getting told the other guy hit men and you had to block it first because of right of way? although i can see how it would make fencing much more interesting, with more strategic swordwork.

In fact, i wonder what kendo would be like if it had the same rule. it would make a world of difference.

anyway, thats why to me epee seems more similiar conceptually to kendo, whereas saber may seem more physically related.

[kenshin13]

the whole "right of way" thing seems pretty counter-intuitive to kendo. Especially when we're trained in de-kote and ai-men etc to wait for the opponents first movement and strike before they do. Could you imagine hitting a solid de-kote and then getting told the other guy hit men and you had to block it first because of right of way? although i can see how it would make fencing much more interesting, with more strategic swordwork.

In fact, i wonder what kendo would be like if it had the same rule. it would make a world of difference.

anyway, thats why to me epee seems more similiar conceptually to kendo, whereas saber may seem more physically related.None of the Fencing ....hmmm....i geuss "styles" have alot in common about the philosophy of kendo. I still suggest sabre, but do what u want to do. I suggest not even doing fencing at all if your gonna do kendo afterwards.

[DCPan]

the whole "right of way" thing seems pretty counter-intuitive to kendo.

My exposure to fencing was very limited.

However, IMHO, while the "rule" of "right of way" seems counter-intuitive to kendo, what the rule is teaching one to recognize is not.

FWIW.

[Old Warrior]

"However, IMHO, while the "rule" of "right of way" seems counter-intuitive to kendo, what the rule is teaching one to recognize is not."

And that is: defend first, then attack.

Right wrong or indifferent - that is not the kendo philosophy I have been taught. I hated the "right of way rule" because it would lead to debates over points. I showed up to fence, not to argue who initiated the action first or whether or not the initial movement was an attack or preparation, etc. etc. So, I fenced epee where I could attack into your attack, pick off your wrist as you advanced and even adopt a stance where my point was directed at your groin. Epee is all about "killing" your opponent before he can "kill" you.

[DCPan]

"However, IMHO, while the "rule" of "right of way" seems counter-intuitive to kendo, what the rule is teaching one to recognize is not."

And that is: defend first, then attack.


OK, like I said, I'm not a fencer.

However, I was under the impression that the whole point of "right of way" is recognizing "who has the advantage".

Theorectically speaking, when everything else is equal, the person who extends his arm first has the tactical advantage in a thrusting attack, should both choose to strike at a similar moment.

So, the lesson I've taken away from my minimal exposure in fencing is recognizing who has the advantage and responding "appropriately". Alternatively, you could say that practicing the "right of way" teaches you to recognize when the opponent has committed himself to an attack.

Whereas in foil-fencing, the "appropriate" response is reposte then counter-attack, kendo has a different view of what are appropriate responses.

It was my impression that the new fencing students always start from foil, even if they intend to focus on sabre or epee later. I would like to believe that the "right of way" has an educational function and is teaching you something that you could carry into sabre and epee, even when that artifical training restriction no longer exists.

Even if I interpreted the "motive" of "right of way" incorrectly, it is my personal belief that I did gain from it.

Sincerely,

[Old Warrior]

"However, I was under the impression that the whole point of "right of way" is recognizing "who has the advantage"."

Not really, because many people, in fencing, as well as kendo, seek to provoke an attack. In kendo, you could cut do or kote, in response. In foil, you would have to parry first.

"Alternatively, you could say that practicing the "right of way" teaches you to recognize when the opponent has committed himself to an attack."

Again, not really. Fencing is sometimes called "physical chess". We often practiced attacks of the 3rd intention, or more. In other words, I might extend my hand to provoke a thrust to my wrist; intending to parry in four position (across my body to 9 o'clock), wait for the opponent to go back to six (about 2 o'clock), and then bind his blade and go for a lunge to the chest. The mix of movement and timing creates a situation way way beyond the average fencer's capacity to understand.

"It was my impression that the new fencing students always start from foil, even if they intend to focus on sabre or epee later."

This was true, but it is changing over time. I started and ended as an epee fencer. As a big guy, foil requires substantially better footwork to close the distance than I felt I possessed. My personal strengths lie elswhere.

"I would like to believe that the "right of way" has an educational function and is teaching you something that you could carry into sabre and epee, even when that artifical training restriction no longer exists."

The foil is lighter so kids always start with it. I believe the foil mindset hinders fencing epee. An epee fencer needs a killer mindset, it is not so much a game of following rules to get a touch.

"Even if I interpreted the "motive" of "right of way" incorrectly, it is my personal belief that I did gain from it."

I'm sure you did. The discussion provokes helpful thought.

[Nanbanjin]

"However, I was under the impression that the whole point of "right of way" is recognizing "who has the advantage"."

Not really, because many people, in fencing, as well as kendo, seek to provoke an attack. In kendo, you could cut do or kote, in response. In foil, you would have to parry first.

"Alternatively, you could say that practicing the "right of way" teaches you to recognize when the opponent has committed himself to an attack."

Again, not really. Fencing is sometimes called "physical chess". We often practiced attacks of the 3rd intention, or more. In other words, I might extend my hand to provoke a thrust to my wrist; intending to parry in four position (across my body to 9 o'clock), wait for the opponent to go back to six (about 2 o'clock), and then bind his blade and go for a lunge to the chest. The mix of movement and timing creates a situation way way beyond the average fencer's capacity to understand.

"It was my impression that the new fencing students always start from foil, even if they intend to focus on sabre or epee later."

This was true, but it is changing over time. I started and ended as an epee fencer. As a big guy, foil requires substantially better footwork to close the distance than I felt I possessed. My personal strengths lie elswhere.

"I would like to believe that the "right of way" has an educational function and is teaching you something that you could carry into sabre and epee, even when that artifical training restriction no longer exists."

The foil is lighter so kids always start with it. I believe the foil mindset hinders fencing epee. An epee fencer needs a killer mindset, it is not so much a game of following rules to get a touch.

"Even if I interpreted the "motive" of "right of way" incorrectly, it is my personal belief that I did gain from it."

I'm sure you did. The discussion provokes helpful thought.

Old Warrior,

Do you not know how to create quotes in vB code or do you know how and choose not to use them?

[Old Warrior]

Old Warrior,

Do you not know how to create quotes in vB code or do you know how and choose not to use them?

Let's see, I guess I'm not smart enough to figure it out.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I find the use of quotation marks makes your posts difficult to read. To use the quote feature without fiddling with the buttons in the post window, surround the quoted text with and , but put the "e" in.

[Old Warrior]

I find the use of quotation marks makes your posts difficult to read. To use the quote feature without fiddling with the buttons in the post window, surround the quoted text with and , but put the "e" in.

I humbly bow to the overwhelming teachings of the style police. I am "computer challenged", but will endeavor to improve. :smiley:

[AGLkenshi]

hahaha i started this exact same post in both kendo-world and a fencing forum.

the kendo forum thread has 30+ posts delving into the strategy of both arts and also the deeper inner philosophy of the japanese and the europeans.

the fencing forum thread degenereated into "epee sucks, saber rules" "they both suck, foil rules" etc and ended after 4 posts.

lol... goes to show you the differences between kendoists and fencers, no?

[DCPan]

You obviously have more fencing experience than I do.

I would, however, like to pursue this discussion a little more. :rolleyes:



Not really, because many people, in fencing, as well as kendo, seek to provoke an attack. In kendo, you could cut do or kote, in response. In foil, you would have to parry first.


In my mind, it sometimes takes artificial rules and restrictions to condition the appropriate response. If you recognize the attack, but didn't physically respond in an appropriate way, did you really physically recognize the situation?

I personally think the rule of "to parry first" is to simply teach one to recognize the attack first because things appear much faster in fencing, esp with a thrusting attack.



Again, not really. Fencing is sometimes called "physical chess". We often practiced attacks of the 3rd intention, or more. In other words, I might extend my hand to provoke a thrust to my wrist; intending to parry in four position (across my body to 9 o'clock), wait for the opponent to go back to six (about 2 o'clock), and then bind his blade and go for a lunge to the chest. The mix of movement and timing creates a situation way way beyond the average fencer's capacity to understand.


IMHO, that the difference between learning the basics compared to advanced applications.

Nor do we teach the kyus the omote and ura manifestation of your waza from your initial seme. (Actually, I've been told at a recent practice not to think about that until I'm at least yondan or so.)

What you say actually appear to support my hypothesis that Foil teaches you the basics.


This was true, but it is changing over time. I started and ended as an epee fencer. As a big guy, foil requires substantially better footwork to close the distance than I felt I possessed. My personal strengths lie elswhere.

Again, this would support the "basics" hypothesis.

Foil builds the foundation for footwork and the ability to recognize who has the initiative in the attack.



The foil is lighter so kids always start with it. I believe the foil mindset hinders fencing epee. An epee fencer needs a killer mindset, it is not so much a game of following rules to get a touch.


Don't you need to learn the scales before you play jazz?

I don't like Picasso's work. But I was amazed at his earlier classical pieces...which makes me wonder if I just don't have the artistic background to understand the play on the rules he used in his later works.

Similarly, I would be inclined to believe, from the teachings of my Fencing Coach (former Olympian) that those that start from Foil then moved on to Sabre or Epee has a different depth in their technique.


I'm sure you did. The discussion provokes helpful thought.

Have you read this book?

The Inner Game of Fencing (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1570282307/103-2595719-6183810?v=glance)

I was introduced to this book by a friend who did classical fencing (http://kabal.cfssda.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1).

It was amazing how much of what is it there reflected on my views about kendo, eventhough it is about fencing.

FWIW.

[hyuna]

However, I was under the impression that the whole point of "right of way" is recognizing "who has the advantage".

Not really, because many people, in fencing, as well as kendo, seek to provoke an attack. In kendo, you could cut do or kote, in response. In foil, you would have to parry first.

That isn't exactly how I remember it, but it has been over 10 years since I last picked up a foil or a sabre, so maybe my memory is playing tricks on me?

The way I remember it is that Right of Way only matters when arbitrating a simultaneous touch. So, you don't have to parry first if you can evade the attack. That is exactly what we are doing when we move to attack nuki do or whatever in response to an incoming attack. It is a mechanic of the weapon style that makes it necessary to parry first -- a thrust with a foil is faster than a cut to men.

The theory behind Right of Way, as I recall, is that there are only three possible modes in an action -- nothing is happening, both sides are attacking precisely at the same time, or someone is attacking (controlling) and the other is reacting. In the first two, no point is awarded, just as is the case in kendo. The Right of Way rules are meant to deal with the third situation. If you accept the idea that control is related to physical threat, then the logic of Right of Way is not too hard to see. Fencer A initiates an attack, threatening B, thus controlling the action. Control is maintained until the attack fails (i.e. is withdrawn or is parried), so B takes control away from A by parrying or evading until A has to recover. B attacking into A's attack is a reaction and not "control" if, again, you buy into the idea that control of the action is equivalent to the physical threat. This is not any different, really, from the idea "win then cut."

Note that B attacking into A's attack is not the same thing as debana waza. The equivalent of debana waza in fencing is a stop cut, and scores by hitting your opponent during their preparation. This difference is mechanical and also might help to explain Right of Way. In fencing the preparation for a thrust is a simple extension of the arm and is a small amount of time compared to the time for the full attack (including lunge), whereas in kendo furikaburi is a much longer proportion of the entire attacking action. A fencing attack is good for the entire lunge because the point is on line once the arm is extended. In kendo, a hit is only good for a very small amount of time towards the very end of the movement because of the downward swing and the need to hit with the monouchi. So in fencing there is a short preparation followed by a long dangerous period, whereas in kendo there is a long preparation and initial strike followed by a short dangerous period. Thus, the meaning of stepping into an attack is really totally different.

The philosophical difference for kendo is that the threat is not physical, it is psychological, so the person who initiates an attack does not necessarily seize control of the action. Consider kendo no kata, for example: uchidachi initiates physical action in reaction to shidachi's seme. Once you throw away the idea that the physical act of putting the point on line seizes control of the action, Right of Way doesn't work any more.

This is how I remember learning Right of Way in the short time that I fenced, and from that frame of mind, it does not seem that different in spirit from things we learn in kendo. The mechanics are different, but they would have to be since a foil is nothing at all like a shinai.

[DCPan]

The theory behind Right of Way, as I recall, is ...

Thanks for clarifying!!! :wink:

[DCPan]

So, you don't have to parry first if you can evade the attack. That is exactly what we are doing when we move to attack nuki do or whatever in response to an incoming attack.

Another useful reference (http://www.slu.edu/organizations/tfs/menu.htm#classical).

The reason I'm really interested in this issue is because I think concept of right of way will help people distinguish between reacting vs. responding.

FWIW.

[JCooper]

I have been fencing for 6 years now and if you are starting up, you should start with foil to get a good base before moving on to another weapon. This will allow you to get a feel for the foot work and the concepts of right-of-way that will be used in sabre and epee. As for what weapon you choose is up to you. The foot work is the same in all three weapons, the only difference is the target areas and right-of-way mostly. My personal favorite weapon is still foil. I occasionally fence epee because most of the people at my club fence that weapon. As for sabre, I hate it becuase it is a cutting weapon instead of a point weapon and I just don't like it.

[JCooper]

Quote::

"Go for Sabre.. your footwork stance can stay similar to your normal chudan kamae. I fenced with the rear foot L-bar style and parrallel and found parrallel more comfortable, and quicker (lunges are not as good, but your back and forth movements are quicker)..

The Salle I was with encouraged my sabre work, and even kept my kiai.. (it may be frowned on in competition)

The cutting movement of ther sabre may feel more natural to a kendoka rather than the twitchy thrusts of an epee or foil.

I liked sabre.. but your best bet is to try all three and see what feels the best."


MY REPLY::
Your reasoning for fencing sabre because of foot work is really ill-advised since this stance can cause you to break your rear ankle or knee when lunging. Also recent rule changes prevent sabre fencers from crossing their feet and the traditional L stance is much quicker. I am also concerened that your fencing teacher allowed you to fence with this stance since it can cause serious injury.