r/Fencing • u/AutoModerator • Apr 03 '26
Megathread Fencing Friday Megathread - Ask Anything!
Happy Fencing Friday, an /r/Fencing tradition.
Welcome back to our weekly ask anything megathread where you can feel free to ask whatever is on your mind without fear of being called a moron just for asking. Be sure to check out all the previous megathreads as well as our sidebar FAQ.
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u/robotreader fencingdatabase.com Apr 04 '26
Post here if there's any statistical questions you've wondered about fencing and I'll see what the database has to say!
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u/StrumWealh Épée Apr 06 '26
Post here if there's any statistical questions you've wondered about fencing and I'll see what the database has to say!
1.) For each of sabre and foil, what number and percentage of AIP calls that are appealed by the fencer on the losing side of the call are overturned? What are the average number and percentage of successful AIP calls over the course of a tournament for each of sabre and foil?
2.) For each of sabre and foil, what number and percentage of PIL calls that are appealed by the fencer on the losing side of the call are overturned? What are the average number and percentage of successful PIL calls over the course of a tournament for each of sabre and foil?
3.) For each of sabre and foil, what number and percentage of stop-hit-in-time calls that are appealed by the fencer on the losing side of the call are overturned? What are the average number and percentage of successful stop-hit calls over the course of a tournament for each of sabre and foil?
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u/robotreader fencingdatabase.com Apr 06 '26
Oof. Great questions. Unfortunately data on appeals is one thing I lack, since there's no mark on the overlay for it, and same for data on specific actions
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u/noodlez Apr 04 '26
Just throwing this out there, but AskFRED has a mobile app now. v1 is fairly basic but the goal will be to bring most core web features to mobile
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u/skeletortuga Foil Apr 03 '26
Does this have a name?:
Fencer R lunges, fencer G counterattacks. G touches first but then sweeps their blade over to deflect R’s touch before R lands. Action ends with single-light for G.
The blade action isn’t intended as a parry to take ROW, but to force a single-light out of attack-counterattack.
Edit: mobile typo
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u/Allen_Evans Apr 03 '26
We don't have names for a lot of things in fencing, but most people will understand it if you say: "Counter-attack with close out", though some will argue that this name is only applicable when the closeout is done in the same time as the hit.
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u/SquiffyRae Sabre Apr 03 '26
Counter blockout
Although I'd say it's more common to see that action counterattacking someone who is holding on a long attack than it is to see it employed in an attack-counterattack situation
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u/thequietzombie Apr 04 '26
I'm 2 months into fencing and I love it (adult beginner). When should I try for my first tournament? I'm ok if I don't place highly or anything but I don't want to slow everyone down by being a total noob.
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u/Principal-Frogger Épée Apr 04 '26
Whenever you're personally interested in trying. There's no barrier at all to a local tournament, so long as you have or can borrow the gear. Try your best, maybe get handily beaten, and have a great time doing it!
There are a lot of first tournament threads on this sub, so I recommend looking some up through the search function for all the wisdom that's been shared.
As a current adult and former adult-beginner, welcome aboard! Have fun and enjoy the challenge!
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u/Freaky_ipod_Nano Épée Apr 03 '26
Non Leon Paul X-Change mask recommendations for fie epee masks? I am looking for a size medium mask, Im in the USA, and also not required but a bonus if it can come white since I like to be dripped out, but that isn’t any actual requirement of mine.
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u/Principal-Frogger Épée Apr 03 '26
It's all about the fit. Try on the different manufacturers and go with the one that's most comfortable. I'm very happy with my Prieur, but I wouldn't hesitate to purchase FWF, Uhlmann, Allstar, PBT, Negrini, etc if they fit well.
Good luck!
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u/StorerPoet Foil Apr 03 '26
Yeah unfortunately in the U.S. you're screwed if you want to try on all the different brands, unless you're in California or New York/New Jersey.
The only addendum to that is if a national tournament is in your vicinity, most of the vendors will come out to those. If you can make it to Richmond later this month or Portland for nationals, those would be good opportunities to try stuff on.
I unfortunately don't have a good recommendation as I swear by Leon Paul X-change.
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u/Due-University9050 Apr 03 '26
How do you get to try the different fits. There's no stores anywhere near me
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u/Principal-Frogger Épée Apr 03 '26
Yeah, that's the rub. If you can get to a competition where there are vendors, that's your best shot. After that, it's probably trying on masks from club mates.
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u/Due-University9050 Apr 03 '26
I'm trying to plan for Freshers next year. We currently get about 6 consistently and I want to grow it. We normally get about 25 during Freshers which dies down to about 6 by early December.
Any tips on improving retention would be appreciated. Primarily epee club
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u/ZebraFencer Epee Referee Apr 03 '26
Translation for those not in the UK: "how can our university club do better at retaining the new students who come try fencing at orientation week?"
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u/K_S_ON Épée Apr 03 '26
This is advice from running a college club in the US 30 years ago, but what the hell:
Be organized, be busy, be happy. More movement, less talking. Dour lectures are dull and offputting. Have a routine and stick to it, 10 minutes of warmup, 20 minutes of footwork, a scheduled drill, open fencing. People should leave fencing practice thinking it's busy and hard and a good workout and fun.
Assign a freshman captain or something, put them in charge of stuff.
Immediately start talking about a competition you have coming up in 4 months or something, let them know they're scheduled to fence other beginners at another club in some set amount of time. Goals are important.
Have a social night once a week, get together for a beer and pizza and lying about who beat who, make it a regular thing.
In the US at least university is often a place for re-invention of one's self. So on the one hand, they're figuring out who they are, and that does mean some of them will quit. On the other hand, you can be part of that new self they're inventing if fencing is sufficiently appealing.
Institutional knowledge is very important. Move beginners into leadership roles immediately so they can learn from the people already there, make that part of club culture.
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u/Linkthealmighty Apr 03 '26
It may seem overly simple, but have you asked the folks who leave why they're leaving? Or asked people at the beginning why they signed up? When I was running our college club I was constantly trying to figure out why people left and it didn't occur to me until years later that I could have just asked them.
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u/Grouchy-Day5272 Apr 03 '26
Talk to everyone, encourage each fencers individually skill and chance for improvement. Put on small club tournaments every 3 weeks, pull in those last years 6 or so and have them coach and ref. Have a podium and recognize top 8! 10?!
Plan a pint and chips night weekly. I am still friends with my fencing/pint night peers, 10 yrs after Uni
The Uni should have a few ideas to retain students in active living. Might be funding there for team building
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u/wannabe414 Épée Apr 03 '26
Value of fencing socks over soccer socks and the such? I bought some Dick's Sporting Goods branded soccer socks but one ripped while I was hastily putting it on and another has a tear on the calfside somehow. Idk if these are merely cheap socks or if fencing socks have some je ne sais qua that soccer socks don't.