Modern Sabre Fencing: What's Going On.

Here's how to watch a modern sabre match and understand what's going on, in enough depth that you can heckle and throw stuff at the TV when the ref gets it wrong. That's where the real fun is in sport!
0:48 Part 1: The Basic Rules
3:06 Part 2: Getting Priority
7:12 Part 3: Traps!
10:28 Part 4: Some Friendly Advice
Writing, video and voice-over by Frances Chow.
Music:
Intro: "Vitamin C" - Can
Part 1: "Entree" - Klischee
Part 2: "Delight" - Jamie Berry
Part 3: "Apache" - The Incredible Bongo Band
Part 4: "Bunni Groove" - Chinese Man
If you want to learn sabre, visit us at sydneysabre.com and we'll get you playing the coolest game in the world. Total beginners and international visitors all super welcome!
Want to watch some more sabre? Here's some matches we love:
Dershwitz v Kim Junho, World Champs 2018 • 2018 Wuxi World Champi...
Anstett v Gu, Moscow Grand Prix 2017 • Video
Montano v Szilagyi, Seoul Grand Prix 2017 • FE M S Individual Seou...
Hartung v Kim, Moscow Grand Prix 2016 • FE M S Individual Mosc...
Korea v Hungary, World Champs 2017 • Video

[@sydneysabrecentre]

IMPORTANT UPDATE: There are suddenly many people in the comments who are VERY UPSET that games have rules and that people playing a game aren't actually trying to kill each other. Strong opinions are being shared on how this dilutes the moral and aesthetic purity of The Noble Art Of The Sword. To these people I say, good news! Sydney Sabre head coach Dr John Bradstock Chow has discussed your concerns, some of which he shares to some extent, at considerable length in his new book "Make The Cut: Sabre Fencing For Adults". It is available on our website and ships worldwide. You should read it.

[@berryb745]

Yeah, we get that they aren’t trying to kill each other, but all you are doing is literally trying to strike someone first without flinching, regardless if they get hit first or not or regardless if the counter attack would have taken off half their head, as long as you don’t flinch and smack him with the side of your sword, but hey, you take a second to analyze the situation you loose. any other sport you have to beat your opponent, these rules are just weird.

[@evki8612]

@@berryb745 cope

[@musicaltarrasque]

@To Moon I think people are upset less at rules and such, it is just that in a real duel, usually whomever strikes first will win the duel, as it doesn't take much to kill/put out of the fight. If both fighters struck simultaneously they would both lose, that is what people are getting at when they say the rules don't make sense. Its like nvl, it is rewarding attacking even when you would be hit as well, which would not be the case in a real duel. Because injury is not really a risk in modern fencing, you get this, whomever struck first wins, yet it doesn't really represent what a duel would really have been.

[@HirnsOnPoint]

Amazin Host comment :')

[@SN00PICUS]

@To Moon Modern fencing has turned into tag with a blunted needle. If you were actually involved in the evolution of modern dueling or even classical fencing you would know about the technology being utilized to grade strikes, but you're just another internet pretender.

[@leiladekwatro3147]

I love how even the players themselves arent sure who won and both just assume that they won and goes " Y E S"

[@azmibricks]

Thats why this sport is not doing so well as the other sports.

[@lucreziarempicci8165]

Most of the time they know whose point it is, they are just trying to convince the referee

[@617Snappin]

@@azmibricks bro what? your saying people don't like fencing because of that? they're just trying to convince the ref that they got the point

[@shadow50011]

@@617Snappin People like fencing, they don’t like sabre because it’s like two lunatics swinging at each other who half the time aren’t even sure who got the hit.

[@617Snappin]

@@shadow50011 nah the attacks are just really fast and its not just idiots swinging swords at each other, i say this as a sabre fencer

[@jwgmail]

She forgot the rule of how you have to pull your mask faster, then look at the director and pump your fist harder than your opponent.

[@sydneysabrecentre]

"she"

[@copycatthemime6600]

@@sydneysabrecentre Arent you a girl?

[@Epic501]

I'm not sure how she could possibly be offended by that.

[@marguskiis7711]

Lol

[@marguskiis7711]

Exactly

[@spetsnatzlegion3366]

I like how they always do simultaneous fist pumps to the judge after each round

[@617Snappin]

they're trying to convince the ref that they got the point

[@sorenkair]

I feel stupid just watching them do it.

[@tungstenzephyr]

Basically just like in soccer or other sports where when the ball goes over any line, both teams raise their hands to say "Alright, our point/ball/whatever" ... I wouldn't be able to take it as a ref tbh...

[@felixvlack9818]

As a foil fencer its nice to see that there are actual rules to this blade. I always thought you just got the touch by screaming louder at the ref.

[@icolor7215]

i mean kinda

[@rambi8250]

I mean 70% of the time armatures in wabre just run at each other and hit each other on the head

[@shaggyrumplenutz1610]

Saberists do have a reputation for being sort of special.

[@andrewholt7075]

Interesting that they have chosen (in the day and age of precision frame by frame replay) to not judge the attack frame by frame, but to view the flow in real time. I like this.

[@sydneysabrecentre]

It's about momentum and acceleration. These are things that human eyeballs in real time judge are pretty good at judging.

[@mekafinchi]

I started fencing with Sabre but switched to foil after a while. A while ago I stopped fencing entirely because my club was too competitive for me. Now I want to return because my old coach opened a more casual club, and cause I’m seeing this

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Do iiiiiiiiiit Sabre is joy.

[@violinplayer3518]

I am back after 37 years ⚡

[@abomarsyr103]

Ok

[@paulterl4563]

What do you like more in it than sabre? Thank you very much.

[@mekafinchi]

@@paulterl4563 Hard to say. More than anything I just took to it better. I think the pacing is a big part of it, as sabre is so much faster and more aggressive. I like the slower, more tactical pace of foil.

[@danielcurtis170]

I fully expect this comment will be lost in time and never read, but as a sabre fencer I want to say 1) this video has been really helpful in teaching friends and family what is going on in my bouts and 2) whoever runs the Sydney Sabre youtube page has an incredible amount of patience to reply wittily to so many people who know nothing about the sport without going insane.

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Aww, thank you

[@jefftitterington7600]

Not buried that far, guv!

[@TKVirusman]

This really really weird seeming tradition of celebrating really hard and instantly so it looks like you meant to win is absolutely hilarious xD

[@itzmewolfie1826]

this is the defention of "when you fall but you act like you were doing pushup" 😂

[@naughtyfencer6971]

dat aussie accent :D Finally this day has come! We can hear Frances' voice and don't stop the video for text reading. Sometimes it was given too much text for a very short amount of time. I don't know about the others, but as for me, for a not-native English-reader, I couldn't read those sentences that fast in English. Thanks, Sydney Sabre, keep prospering and enlightening people about this spectacular sport!

[@notaword1136]

Honestly, I never actually learned the rules of the game until now, but the drama and speed of it makes it one of my favorites come time for the Olympics

[@joeregan156]

I feel like all televised fencing should use that green checkmark in the top right corner. It is way easier on the eye then the tiny flashing lights.

[@Liberty4Ever]

I took an introductory fencing class in college because classes beyond 18 hours are free for full time students. I remember very little about the sport other than I enjoyed it with no intention to seriously compete. It was a good way to blow off some tension. This was a great reintroduction to sabre. Love the video format. Even at half speed, high resolution and full screen, it was too fast for my old eyes to catch.

[@Ken-fh4jc]

They had it at Penn State where I went but it was impossible to get into.

[@somerandomguy2991]

Oh man, this brings back so many memories from when I was in the local fencing club. Good times.

[@ForbidnOne]

This is it! I saw this video I saw around 2 or 3 years back that planted the seed! I couldn't take up fencing at the time thanks to COVID, but it always stayed in the back of my mind. Tomorrow is my 4th session, and I'm currently fencing Épée, but I've got my eye set on Sabre when the coach returns. I'm loving the experience so far, thanks for the spectacular video.

[@joshfotheringham90]

Hands up if you're the type of person on a random youtube rabbit hole but this presenter held your attention long enough to be interested :D

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Awwwwww that's so sweet

[@GeoWhiz287]

Hilarious and informative!! I don't know when I've had this much fun watching a fencing video. I think I'll show it to my beginners! Thanks!

[@KingBeef726]

This is by far one of the best videos I've seen on this! I just started taking interest in this, and this video was very informative and incredibly entertaining. Keep up the good work!

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Thank you so much!

[@pdxfencing1201]

Such a wonderful, fun and clear explanation of saber fencing. Great examples, truly a timeless video - here it is 2023 and we are still showing this video as one of the best to show saber. Thanks so much Sydney Sabre!!

[@rb2157]

Thank you! My nephew's started fencing sabre, and this is going to help me make more sense of video he sends me after competitions.

[@zyzybaluba3000]

Brilliant! Best explanation of sabre I've seen. Ever.

[@jacobdavian651]

This is a fairly good representation of why I gave up competitive sabre. They changed the gear to make every so very light and fast and whippy that it doesn't even look like fencing any more - then they put the 0.17s rule in and a whoooole lot of time spent training defensive technique just got thrown out the window. What used to be a solid parry riposte now has the opponent's blade bend around your own, brush the very edge of your lame, get a light, and then if you aren't wielding a blade that weighs next to nothing, chances are the timer will cut out and your riposte won't register - despite being entirely legal. It used to be beautiful to watch and it's just turned into a classless mess.

[@user-zb6gt7og9q]

Completely this, and with their shameless celebration trying to trick the refree into awarding them points really ticks me off for some reason. This is also why I dropped watching the entire branch of fencing and stick with kendo instead. Some say traditions hamper progress, but in Kendo's case, it actually preserves the beauty of swordsports and eliminates shameless celebration also. Perhaps fencing needs to be dropped from the olympics and have HEMA replace it instead, because getting hit with actual heavy steel will deter you from blindly flailing metal antennae and counting on judge's decision awarding points

[@kyoukan91]

@@user-zb6gt7og9q HEMA is a much better representation of actual sword fighting. Especially because you can move laterally... A massive deal in a sword fight.

[@gabrielp9646]

@Jacob Davian - No offense... But it sounds like it was too fast, complicated and technical for you, and you just weren´t good enough to compete on that level.

[@jacobdavian651]

@@gabrielp9646 Always funny how someone starting a comment with "No offense" is always looking to be straight out offensive. Sorry, dude, but fighting trolls isn't as fun as it used to be either.

[@w2quick]

@@gabrielp9646 No offense... But it sounds like being a reasonable person was too hard and complicated for you and you just couldn't stop yourself from saying something stupid

[@thepardigon178]

I am loving this channel, I started on foil fencing and did it for a few years. After I got the opportunity to try saber once, I fell in love with it, but never was able to find a club that did it near me. Still kind of sad about it but it's great to see others doing it regardless!

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Dude even I don't have a club rn :(

[@alexmorales9065]

Thank you for the vid! I was just looking it up because I've been interested in the sport for some time now. Keep it up, cheers!

[@sydneysabrecentre]

I hope we pushed you over the edge!

[@archerdakorbit3730]

This is perfect, and I can feel that much work what is in this video! Thank you

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Thank you so much! This was me pushing the absolute raggedy edge of what the abandonware version of Windows Movie Maker is capable of ^_^

[@xjankox]

Thank you very much for this! :) Excellent video :)

[@markmckinney9821]

It is very complicated but you killed this video and made me a fan. Awesome job!!! You freaking rock!!!

[@liamdownes1475]

That was fantastic, thanks. I used to do a bit of casual sabre reffing years ago but since I came back to it fairly recently I'm very rusty. This was just what I needed to up my fairness :)

[@russwarhammergateway152]

Nicely organised and well presented, bravo!

[@sandsmine]

there is no circling. it's all one lunge. another combat sport stripped down over the years by sporting bodies until it is reduced to this.

[@cahallo5964]

it fucking sucks lol

[@ominith1]

yeah, taken from a duel where death is very possible to this ... it's sorta disappointing. not advocating for no safety, but going from protecting yourself from death and killing your opponent to let me strike my opponent while also getting hit ... just sorta mehh.

[@undeniablySomeGuy]

just watch HEMA if you don't wanna watch sabre

[@cahallo5964]

@@undeniablySomeGuy But Polish Sabre is one of my favourite why wouldn't I watch it?

[@juleksz.5785]

@@undeniablySomeGuy That's not even sabre by definition

[@kingofmilfgaard7604]

Man I know literally nothing about these sports but just like fighting there is something so enchanting about watching people do them, the display of skill is such that even someone like me who doesn't know the sport can appreciate it

[@accs2492]

Amazing video. Exactly what I was looking for. Can't wait to start sabre

[@thestuffmonster9856]

I think this is the best guide on (sabre) fencing I’ve seen yet. Thanks for making it!

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Cheers! It was a long time in the making...

[@thegreatpearloftheclamkin9814]

But no mention about how to end them rightly. *Tosses pommel in disgust*

[@defenstrator4660]

While this was informative I don’t know how anyone could call this “Sabre”. This is clearly two people with metal snippy sticks trying to play tag.

[@shaggyrumplenutz1610]

I agree

[@gladman9634]

I mean that's literally all of fighting

[@penorboi9371]

@@gladman9634 Real fighting has a sense of actual danger and risk... this is just glorified stick tag xD

[@gladman9634]

@@penorboi9371 but we weren't talking about risk, my point is that all sort of fighting is in essence a game of tag, doesn't matter if it's ''real'' or not

[@sybo59]

@@gladman9634 That’s only true of the striking arts. It’s a real stretch to compare the control of wrestling, throws of judo and submissions of BJJ to tag.

[@wandakowalski7063]

Thanks for this … it was fun! I’ve just started sabre. I’m an older person. It goes so fast but its oh so fun even if I don’t know what I’m doing! One day, I’ll be able to watch and see what’s happening. Then I’ll be really, really old!

[@yurineri2227]

Thanks for the video, it was really helpful and I loved reading about the rules

[@davidapkhaidze5071]

the last thing i could expect in fencing tutorial - the Can! what a pleasant surprise! :)

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Glad to make your day better x

[@Glen87]

Very well narrated. Sabre still isn't the same without Junghwan tho..

[@sydneysabrecentre]

I know :(

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Update: Luckily he heard you!

[@allenevans6951]

You people are awesome. Thanks!

[@JonathanFont]

Thank you for the great video! My friends and I use pool noodles on golf club shafts and fight for fun, but that is the closest to saber fighting I have gotten... It is great fun to watch, so quick!

[@inscrutablemungus4143]

This is completely a matter of taste: I think the perfect balance in a sport is when attacking is just slightly easier than defending. That way, you see a large range of playstyles, while keeping the contest dynamic and entertaining. Saber makes attacking way too easy IMO. Epee's the other extreme with defending being a lot easier. Foil's the perfect balance for my money. ROW gives you enough of an incentive to attack that you can't just turtle behind a small advantage, but it's not so overpowering that most exchanges devolve into doubles at the line.

[@nicoleliu9505]

very clear and easy to follow, sending it to all of my friend right now so they can get into watching sabre as well! :)

[@sydneysabrecentre]

yesssss share the love

[@nicki1128]

OMG thanks, just started and this helped a lot

[@sydneysabrecentre]

This is what I want to hear

[@peterchin3909]

This was an awesome production! Very informative and clever script..Make more please!

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Do you have any idea how long this friggin thing took....

[@machinech183]

Clearly the solution to this issue is put an edge on those things take off the silly padding and the person still standing after 1-minute wins

[@GabrielAlves-ow4ux]

@@flukedogwalker3016 i don´t get it, are you being serious or these are some kind of story, or something? because I searched for "accidental beheading at a Olympic sabre match in the 1920" and I found nothing.

[@aljoschalong625]

@@flukedogwalker3016 Hm, sounds not very likely. Unless I see any sources I'd say it's a myth.

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Whoa what a badass, I'm intimidated

[@eldenwood6491]

@@sydneysabrecentre ur funny lmao

[@victor22550]

@@GabrielAlves-ow4ux you can't find it because it wasn't an accident 🤣

[@TurulHEMA]

Great video! I still hope HEMA never employs the right of way rule, but at least I understand its function in modern fencing a bit more.

[@thestuffmonster9856]

Turul HEMA I never thought I’d see you here. Pretty sure Slovak Vor rule is basically a slightly modified RoW, and RoW is beneficial for HEMA fencers in that it teaches you do defend yourself and take the Vor (to an extent). This is why HEMA culture in the nordic leagues is way different than that in Slovakia, Poland, and Czech Republic. Olympic fencing can actually provide HEMA fencers a great sense of distance and timing. While I don’t agree with RoW in tournament rulesets, I still hold the controversial opinion that yes, increased competition, athleticism, and sport is good for HEMA. Just look at the difference between Swordfish 2011 and 2018 finals. Anyways, I think both Olympic and Historical fencing are really underrated and I’d like to see them grow, especially the latter. Keep it up with your videos!

[@TurulHEMA]

@@thestuffmonster9856 Hey, good to hear from ya! I definitely see what you are saying and agree that there is a lot to learn from Olympic fencing. Personally, I believe that a concept of RoW is superior to a hard rule-set on RoW. For example, an aggressive fencer forcing their opponent into a defensive position due to footwork and powerful strikes that contest center-line and provide cover to themselves VS someone acting defensively in situation X or Y because of rule A or B. While a lot of fencers enter the fight with the former mindset (imho) a few don't which spoils it for everyone as we now scramble to create the perfect set of rules to promote the type of fencing we want to see. A set of rules I don't think even exists =/

[@sydneysabrecentre]

@@thestuffmonster9856 thanks man, will do.

[@thegreatpearloftheclamkin9814]

I don't understand why you don't understand. The principle of defending against an attack exists in HEMA and there have been similar attempts to measure and score successful protection. HEMA is not as restrictive (or liberating) as an all or nothing right-of-way, but it's not a foreign idea. Fencing is, or at least should be, a fundamental part of HEMA after all.

[@TurulHEMA]

@@thegreatpearloftheclamkin9814 I am not sure if you read my reply to TheStuffmonster or not. Honestly, I am hesitant to reply to a salty statement like "I don't understand why you don't understand" as it comes across as argumentative. To clarify, it is my opinion that the concept of right of way is very beneficial in promoting good fencing. What I do not like nor wish to see is hard rules, or universal rules within the sport of HEMA. People often change their fencing to match the rules, and use the rules as part of their strategy to win. Unless a rule has to do with safety, I generally don't care for it.

[@olgahereijgers6777]

This is the third time watching this, it's amazing, I don't get tired of it

[@tothbertalan4225]

Elképesztő! Nagyon jó lett

[@sunraiii]

Please make a compilation of some fights explaining the techniques used and meme the heck out of it. This was super entertaining and I want more!

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Sadly I'm too old to know any memes :(

[@koacado]

@@sydneysabrecentre No need to know any you seem pretty good at making them yourself :) liked this video a lot

[@rjlesch]

Fantastic. Thank you.

[@sydneysabrecentre]

You're super welcome. Share the love!

[@mandeepsingh-yl5nz]

very good work, super video thank you so much

[@deemon710]

Okay. I finally kiiiiinda understand it a little more. Thanks!

[@duncanread4442]

That was a fab video. Deserved more than just a thumbs up. :-)

[@andrewimms7676]

Well done - captured it nicely ;-)

[@garyb2392]

This was wonderful! TY!

[@DruSolis]

How to score in fencing - "Pointy end goes into the other guy." -Mask of Zorro

[@sailorm79]

So it's wiggle wiggle, rip off helmet, wiggle wiggle rip off helmet, stare at ref. Got it!

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Look forward to seeing you at the next Olympics :)

[@mekafinchi]

I love how friendly and nice this and the editing is

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Thank you!

[@thomasduthie]

Never cared about this, you made it interesting! Thank you.

[@TsiSiFa]

I'm sure someone else has asked, but I'd love to see a video on how the rules have changed and evolved over time!

[@clement3818]

this is much cooler than team epee after watching a video on how passivity rule had to be introduced to force players to duel properly

[@taemien9219]

Seems every sport eventually needs one of those rules. From boxing to UFC, to even American Football (playclock) and even Basketball (shotclock).

[@Ratkill]

Absolutely mesmerizing sport. The only thing that kind of irks my pleb self about high level combat sports is the immediate disengage and judge staring. Same thing in taekwondo tournaments etc. Very immersion breaking. Just when I seem to be really getting into it, and the classical and military history seems to shine through in the movements and atmosphere, they rip off their helmits and fist pump the air!

[@f-man3274]

better watch HEMA then

[@SPLiTBalling]

Watching sabre bouts always puts me on the edge of my seat but somehow also gives me the good laughs for a childish reason.

[@windstormugly]

Fencing instructor in sweden, mainly épée. Damn this video was just nice to watch.

[@weszily]

excellent “how to” video - cheers! 🥂

[@Saintbow]

My brother and I used to do this, but with hockey sticks, hockey gloves and our helmet. All the while trying to balance on this big tree that fell down during a storm. We ended up using our mom tomato stakes from her garden to fence with.

[@rffg781]

Wonderful and very clear.

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Thank you x

[@BloggsyMalone]

Brilliant!

[@AGenericFool]

Not sure if I misunderstood some things or if these ruels really seem very aribitrary, mostly because when an attack "looks like it was intended to hit" or if you "flow good enough" are very subjective when you get down into it. But certainly interesting and looking like a fun sports hobby.

[@cascadel2199]

best thing about sabre is that it makes us all rely solely on instinct, not thinking too much before we attack and simply just doing it and JUST MOVING. a perfect example for everyday life

[@onlygameplay134]

Well, if you fencing like that, you doing something seriously wrong...

[@cascadel2199]

@@onlygameplay134 well I actually am an epeeist and a foilist, I didn’t fence sabre much.

[@henrymccue2922]

whenever I fence sabre, I don't always know what i'm going to do, I just have an idea and my body does the rest. When that works out well, its the best feeling in the world.

[@sybo59]

@@onlygameplay134 Also doing something very wrong in life if just going by emotion (or “instinct”).

[@aljoschalong625]

I always admired the referees in fencing (saber and foil). I did fencing for many year, but never would have been able to referee. So I just did epee. Most straightforward: You hit (anywhere) you get a point.

[@youvebeenslain6085]

This is a great video, just... I have never watched a video of this before or ever been interested in it. So im not sure why it got suggested. But the narrator was extremely interesting and informative so i stuck around

[@mrjinkorea]

Congratulations Team Korea for winning the gold medal in men's team Sabre! 🥇🇰🇷

[@feelingcrafty]

Great job with this video. Saber mom here, 5 years in the sport and I´m still clueless!!

[@henrymob2651]

Ana Banana what’s with that horrible profile picture?

[@BAD_HOBO]

This looks mad fun

[@Galaxy-lj4bw]

Great Video! Good job ;)

[@jeronimo196]

Wow, this was a very good video that give me better understanding of the sport modern day fencing. I respect it less now. Before I assumed it had something to do with who would win an actual duel...

[@carljacobson7156]

Competitive Fencing is now simply a game of Tag using a stick - nothing that resembles classical fencing.

[@aljoschalong625]

In epee it's more like an actual duell. You can score everywhere and if you score first, it's your point.

[@AAARREUUUGHHHH]

@@carljacobson7156 This is SABRE. There are multiple varieties of fencing. Épée is literally sword duelling in its purest form. Ignorant fool.

[@SwordWieldingDuck]

@@AAARREUUUGHHHH still sucks in comparison to HEMA.

[@Shootskas]

Haha. I was thinking the same thing.

[@gakuyax]

7:32 theres a little spark when left got parried. love seeing that. even when sparring with my mates, we'd pause and talk about that awesome spark.

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Sparks are the best

[@krrrattt]

Started out as an epee fencer, ventured into foil, now sabre is becoming more and more attractive. I do like the drama :D Thanks for this great video. It really helps to understand what is happening!

[@sydneysabrecentre]

Drama is the best. This is why we'll super miss Kim :(

[@thegreatpearloftheclamkin9814]

Drama meaning what, all the screaming and shouting and pulling your mask off like an idiot? No. There's nothing there to be liked.

[@sydneysabrecentre]

@@thegreatpearloftheclamkin9814 Good drama is when someone is just so goddamn fired up they can't help it. I bloody love it. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug.

[@thegreatpearloftheclamkin9814]

@@sydneysabrecentre But there are ways to use adrenaline and then there's are ways to get lost in the rage. I dunno about higher levels, but I've seen people lose form and composure from the drama. Fencing is precise, refined, and disciplined, a combination of natural ferocity tempered by training. Now most fencers act like their sport isn't base on to-the-blood and to-the-blood duels.

[@sydneysabrecentre]

@@thegreatpearloftheclamkin9814 Go watch Kim Junghwan.

[@ethanboy2005]

The thumbnail is fire! 🔥

[@ClergetMusic]

After studying HEMA, I cannot accept the amount of doubling in Olympic fencing. If you double, you’re both possibly dead in a duel. The object is to hit without being hit.

[@abijo5052]

Im not sure its possible not to accept something that happens, and will continue to happen because its a intrinsic part of the sport

[@ClergetMusic]

@@abijo5052 then there’s a problem with the sport.

[@abijo5052]

@@ClergetMusic why? You're working off a false assumption, that fencing should imitate a real duel. Do you also go to archery videos and say archery needs changing because if you were hunting the target would be moving? Or a football video and day the sport needs changing because who kicks a ball into a net in non sport life?

[@ClergetMusic]

@@abijo5052 you’re creating a straw man. I never said the sport needed changing.

[@abijo5052]

@@ClergetMusic nope. How is "there's a problem with the sport" different to "the sport needs changing". You've said fencing has a problem. That is saying there is something that needs to be fixed, or changed. Arguing otherwise is just mental gymnastics, which is pointless. Or if you disagree, care to explain to me how thinking a sport having a fundamental problem doesn't mean thinking that the problem needs to be fixed? The only alternative is that you think the sport is just flawed and can't be fixed, but that's hardly a better argument than saying it just needs to be changed

[@andreashauschild7757]

I took foil for 2 year when I was younger, it was fun. But I never truly understood how competition sabre had anything to do at all with real live sabers. Yes, there where light sabers in history, but 90 percent of all sabers used in real live where relative heavy cutting weapons.

[@cdgonepotatoes4219]

Polish sabre is quite the popular sword in HEMA fencing. In modern fencing the differences between epee, foil and sabre are mostly gonna affect how the blade bends around, but your guess as good as mine as to where the more practical differences are in the approach since given you only need to touch the opponent, wild erratic swinging is just bound to be inevitable.

[@latjolajban81]

@@cdgonepotatoes4219 Epee and foil do not score with just a touch. It needs to be a stab with the tip. However the blades are certainly very flexible. Still can't be a cut as with sabre.

[@victor22550]

@@cdgonepotatoes4219 if you try to do a wild and erratic swing your opponent will laugh at you and hit you without beating a sweat (if he is a fencer obviously). Also the three weapons of fencing are really different when it comes to how the whole weapon is made, they also have completely different length of blade and weight, the only similarity between the three is the handle of the épée and foil if you use a ergonomic (orthopedic for some) one.

[@guyrose6602]

I used to fence, a million years ago, when sabre was not plugged-in. And women could only do foil. Couldn't understand why then, and really happy that changed, because I definitely prefer watching women sabre. Cleaner, more flow, and so much less drama. Thanks for the primer, because the sport has changed, more so with sabre. Probably in the same way electrification changed foil and épée way back when.

[@hunczar]

kudos! what a lovely freakin' video

[@AH86ac]

Sabre is the most dynamic and entertaining discipline in fencing compared the other two disciplines, that’s why i like it

[@tiberiu_nicolae]

I can see how this could be strategic and physically challenging but honestly it's too far removed from the original spirit of real blades

[@7heTexanRebel]

As someone who has casually watched the occasional epee, foil, and sabre matches, I can't tell the difference between them. They all look like people tagging each other at blistering speed with the side of the point.

[@verybarebones]

It's a sport, cope.

[@ConkerBirdy]

Which is why HEMA is catching on so rapidly. Even classical fencing is more enjoyable to do than MOF.

[@JOhnDoe-nl4wj]

the original spirit was to stab people, i'd say it's normal for a sport NOT to poke holes into each other

[@agentj3627]

@@verybarebones You can give your negative opinion on a sport for specific caracteristics you don't personally like, cope.

[@zer_pp]

man, i've always looked at modern sabre fencing down but now i guess it's not that bad. It's still really flashy and fast for my tastes but it's now equal to military sabre sparring in my books thanks :)

[@geoffreyl_]

Thank you!

[@atcera8714]

Yes, the sport where you can't get hurt so you throw away the #1 rule of sabre fighting in real life which by the way if anyone is wondering is minimizing areas where you can be hit from the front a.k.a your hitbox

[@rollo1042]

You're complaining that a sport isn't enough like real life. No one sabre fences in real life. I haven't dueled my neighbor yet in my entire life. No one has challenged me at a restaurant. "Basketball is stupid, it doesn't simulate real life at all! When I put something in a bucket I just walk over and place it in! No one even blocks me! Unrealistic."

[@puckspirit2573]

nah, it looked dumb even before I knew these rules.. hema is so much more interesting to watch. Although, lately tournaments look more like olympic fencing, when both opponents just rush at each other, trying just to hit as fast as they can

[@theundead1600]

Watch a bunch of judo Jui Jitsu and a few sword history videos and end up here. Thank you now I have some ideas for my next Jui Jitsu matches

[@marc-andrerenaud1394]

Priority and the limited target selection is why I switched to Epee. So satisfying to get the point by stabbing the lower cuff of the leading arm while the opponent is still prepping the attack.

[@TheJushirou]

Epee is the fairest of three weapons. I was training for 8th years, never looked on sabre or foil because of judge having too much to say in terms of scoring points

[@moodydude6790]

Right now in my mid 20s, been doing fencing for 8 years. Focused on Sabre for a good while but then found it too complicated and focused on Epee in recent years. I'd love to get back into Sabre again but I feel my footwork is not that great. Been doing Kempo for the past 3 so years and agree with one of my Sensei's saying that I basically need to move my feet more. I just wonder how rapid one gets on his/her feet and legs; wether its is as simple as just letting it happen, as well as years of practice and exercise?

[@joeregan156]

I don't know if this is an option where your from but playing basketball seriously helps with those sorts of slides of footwork.

[@metalviking974]

Friendly advice from a fencer in all 3 disciplines: Start out with épée, then pick up foil and/or sabre

[@papiezowygeneratormowy8281]

The foil was invented to learn epee

[@metalviking974]

@@papiezowygeneratormowy8281 1) Not quite correct, it was invented to learn smallsword, modern épée is something completely different 2) That doesn't really matter, épée is quite a bit easier than foil, due to the larger contact area, slower speed and simpler rules

[@papiezowygeneratormowy8281]

@@metalviking974 thanks for the correction. (:

[@albertbresca8904]

i think start with foil... hard to understand right of way if you start with epee.... I found as a 3 weapon fencer.... foil... then epee ... then sabre (that way there was always someone to fence at the club)

[@eggchin9721]

?

[@anguishedcarpet]

as an mtg player this talk of losing and passing priority makes so much sense lmao

[@sydneysabrecentre]

underrated comment

[@ericdew2021]

Well done.

[@trappar_og]

I took years of fencing lessons and I feel it’s a disgrace what this sport has ended up looking like.

[@thatdude034]

The sport hasn't really changed at all the last century. don't really know what you're on about..

[@donvandamnjohnsonlongfella1239]

Jeff Way let's start an underground fencing club where we play for blood! Circle use the entire bar as your battle field. Throwing chairs and flipping over tables to distract and block your opponent is encouraged and if you can successful recite lines from the Princess Bride well drinking a beer and still holding your sword, you get extra points.

[@aljoschalong625]

@@donvandamnjohnsonlongfella1239 Sounds great. I'm in 😜

[@stellacortes2683]

@@donvandamnjohnsonlongfella1239 now that’s exactly what I want to do

[@myblacklab7]

@@donvandamnjohnsonlongfella1239 Where can I watch this? That sounds awesome. Please serve mead and oversized turkey legs.

[@LeatherCladVegan]

Honestly, this is not simpler than rocket science.

[@sydneysabrecentre]

I dunno man, I'm just a biologist. I always assumed rocket science was hard.

[@alessandrogiovannone3742]

This was both hilarious and extremely intelligible. There is hope for fencing as a mainstream sport

[@sydneysabrecentre]

There is if they put me in charge ;)

[@pauleugenio5914]

Y'all should do one of these for kendo. This was very informative on how to observe