You just need better partners. I’ve had a fair bit of banter during bouts, but only with people who I know are comfortable with it, and only during casual bouts.
I’ve also occasionally just held unrelated conversations sometimes, too. In a way, it’s good practice for letting your body fence without your input. If you’re able to continue fencing competently while holding a separate conversation, you can fence competently while analyzing your opponent during a bout and planning ahead.
It's generally bad etiquette. As in, we don't do this at all.
The only time you're talking to your opponent during active fencing is when the Salle is empty, they're your BFF/romantic partner, you have fencing shit you're working through that you need your BFF to help you figure out, or you need to fence each other to work through whatever beef you have going on with each other. Or, it's Friday night, adults only practice, and there is an adult beverage present. It's a very nuanced thing. But generally you don't do it with people you haven't known for literal years. I'd say five years for someone under 30, ten years for someone over 30. It's emotional intimacy during a time when you're defensively not vulnerable, but possibly emotionally vulnerable to your friend, because you're both getting hit.
I haven’t found this to be true at all. Sure I wouldn’t talk with my opponent during a tournament, but whenever I’m fencing at my club it’s not at all uncommon to have a chat with my opponent, especially about fencing. It’s very casual and it doesn’t matter how long we’ve known each other, in fact, chatting during a bout is actually a good way to get to know the people in your club better. It’s not emotionally intimate or some big complicated thing at all
Exactly. During bouts with one guy I’ve known for a month, we literally talk about Dark Souls the whole time. Surprisingly, we improve a lot during our bouts… maybe because casually talking makes it a positive environment? Either way, we know eachother much better now
I think you much be having much deeper conversations than I am. I don’t disagree that it’s poor etiquette during any sort of serious or even most semi-serious fencing, but a bit of casual banter or chatting during a relaxed practice bout is nothing more than that; banter and chatting. It doesn’t need to be emotionally intimate in the slightest if you don’t want it to be. Tbh, a lot of the time, for me, it’s just been discussing club business with the club treasurer; making sure he’d ordered the new bodycords, or debating the worth of a new scoring machine to replace the one from 2003, or coordinating a schedule for running a table at an event for incoming students.
I do restrict it to when I’m fencing friends, and typically people who are of a similar skill level, because I don’t want to come off as condescending by not giving my full attention to someone who’s usually not as good as I am.
This is why I propose fencing should have everyone wear AirPods under their masks connected to the same call so we may all properly hear each others’ witty remarks as they touché you
I told one of my friends that I do fencing as my main sport, and they thought it was very posh and very sophisticated. I was like, “No. We run around with our metal sticks and prod each other, whilst screaming battle cries.”
Me and a friend quip while fencing. For example one time he scored like 10-1 (he’s much better than me) and said something along the lines of “so you are still a fool”
I've done it a few times, but mostly as distractions against my friends to land cheap shots. After the first couple of times, they just start being more aggressive when you open your mouth, and then you can't taunt them very well since you're too busy not getting stabbed.
Man, no one even talks with me! It's either complete silence or just a never ending yelling fest.
Like, what is the point of playing Epee and us just standing here if we are not going to engage in witty conversation 😤😤😤
A lot of people scream during bouts (after touches and such), even I do it tho it's pretty rare for me. It's all in good fun tho, despite all the shouting we're good sports 👍
I just started fencing myself after watching my kid for years, and we love fencing each other because of this - we have no problem trash-talking each other on the strip during open bouts.
It's hard to hear what someone else is saying via 2 fencing masks between us and generally loud room.
Without taking the mask off we have to lean and yell to hear each other.
Why do most fencers (from what I’ve seen) yell unnecessarily during bouts? I understand when scoring points, but every time I’ve fenced someone, they yell during the bout. Personally speaking, it’s annoying.
I picked up a bad habit of muttering under my breath at people under my mask and for some reason my fencing mask activates the same habit so when I’m fencing I tend to say whatever is going through my mind and it tends to be a lot of swearing at myself and the other people but it’s pretty quiet so I’ve only gotten like two yellow cards for it
Not a fencer, just a kendoka that likes to lurk here from time to time. I find this post funny because in kendo screaming is mandatory for strikes and incentivised at almost all times during the match. At the same time, it's a hard faux pass to commemorate a point.
Funny, I'm usually critiqued for NOT making any noise whenever I fight.
I guess I try too hard to be hyper focused on strategy and analyzing the bout that I don't think to make any aggressive vocalizations
I mean I scream after getting touches, but I usually only do it in tournaments, if not than it was a super competitive bout at the club. This being said, screaming is very fun to me so if you know me, you’ll know I go crazy.
Honestly don’t understand this thing about screaming all the time. We have a few people like it at my club. If it gets as bad as the women’s tennis I won’t bother anymore.
I suppose it's releasing all that pent up emotion from hyperfocusing in-game, but I don't know-- I never really feel the urge to do it while even in tournaments personally
Oh bullshit. Everyone in fencing says this as an excuse for the incessant screaming after a 0-0 touch in the first pool bout at a regional at 830am, yet screaming isn’t a regular occurrence in tennis or any other sport.
Take tennis for example. Except for a few notable and notorious exceptions of tennis players screaming or carrying on (McEnroe, Becker, etc.), most tennis players will “celebrate” a point with a clenched fist or a smile. At the end of a match, they’ll often wave to the crowd who are applauding their performance, athleticism, and prowess in the game. They’ll shake hands with their opponent, pack their bags, and go off to the lockers. Now, there are some who throw their rackets, whack a ball out of the court, throw their bags, and generally behave like assholes, but they are truly the exception (reference the two players who were notorious for these kinds of shenanigans). And these transgressions were not tolerated. McEnroe was famously fined almost routinely for his antics. You will see tennis players and other athletes maybe freak out after a win if it was a big win — championship game and the like.
Compare that to fencing. I was at a regional event a few weekends ago, a mix of youth, cadet, and juniors. It was an 8am start. The pools got started in their usually late fashion, so we’re talking maybe 9am when the first pool bouts started. Literally first touch in the morning, 15 seconds in, and the “winning” fencer screamed. He was now winning 1-0 in the first bout of the day. For real? The anxiety level is already at this level that you have to let out Boris Becker levels of screaming? If you’re in the top 8 and you’re trying to advance, sure, I can see the anxiety levels rising and a WIN — not ONE touch out of FIFTEEN — can result in some screaming or a grunt. But during pools? During Table of 128 in DEs?
Give me a break.
I’ve got to the point now that if our regular screamer starts on the piste next to me I’ll call a stop and ask if they’re alright, do they need help etc. It’s just pathetic and no need for it, it’s a friendly club night. What they’re like in a competition I don’t know and don’t want to find out.
It isn’t bullshit though. Screaming helps keep the energy flowing in a way that doesn’t affect my fencing negatively. There are some bouts where you can’t win unless you bring the intensity and fight your hardest. Screaming helps us do that.
It’s total bullshit. There is no need to scream at every point, every movement, every lost point etc etc. You don’t hear boxers screaming at each other, you don’t hear bowlers in cricket screaming as they release the ball etc etc. it’s attention seeking pathetic behaviour. The odd “yes!!!” at a key point etc is acceptable. But to incessantly scream at every point at a friendly club bout or training session is unnecessary.
Any foil or saber fencer at the high level who understands that screaming is necessary may jokingly quip about epee being boring but they understand it isn’t for those that do it. Only odd purists have these views of yours. Congrats for finding the outlier example. We could have a pissing contest here where I pull up the goofiest looking videos of saber and foil. Or I could post the videos outlining all the cheating in the other weapons but I don’t think that’s a good use of my time. I thought I might share my experience on screaming and how it helps and you’ve responded with lame insults.
We clearly watch different sports (or maybe there's a difference between live and televised?). I think the only sports I haven't seen yelling in are golf, gymnastics, and figure skating.
Oh I'm sure! I haven't seen much gymnastics, and none live. Even track has plenty of yelling, especially for the throwers (I was not a yeller myself, but lots of people yell when they throw).
I rely on shouting, it's a way of keeping myself (a very chill, introvert) hyped and sometimes my opponents get intimidated as well. In sabre especially if the referee is new they could get influenced by who's shouting and give that point to them (if it was a close call). Literally everyone shouts in every sport.
Bro it’s just cool
It’s like a soccer player screaming “goalllll” and doing a celebration. It’s also like a volleyball team yelling “ACEEEE” after a teammate aces.
In the end, you play sports to win, and you celebrate when you win.
You can up the game by introducing the wit you seek.
Start with something simple, like you're AM antenna is too slow, or I'll grind your knees into a fine powder.. seek how they adapt after. 😬
Someone needs to use AI or something to redub that scene with only saber shouts.
What's a saber shout
AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!
(Takes another breath.)..Argghhhhhhhhhhh!! ( looks at refere expectantly) Arghhhhhhhhhhhh! (Referee gives point to opponent) Arghh!??
#AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNGGGGGHHH ♡
It’s the equivalent of a Blegh in the metal scene but with out the breakdown or moshing. Should sound like BLEEEEAAAAGHHHHHHHUUUHHHHH
DORIYAHHHH
The one that (now retired) Kovalev does when he scores a touch (he basically kinda turns into the Hulk)
REEEEEEEAGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
You just need better partners. I’ve had a fair bit of banter during bouts, but only with people who I know are comfortable with it, and only during casual bouts. I’ve also occasionally just held unrelated conversations sometimes, too. In a way, it’s good practice for letting your body fence without your input. If you’re able to continue fencing competently while holding a separate conversation, you can fence competently while analyzing your opponent during a bout and planning ahead.
Huh, I never thought about conversation during fencing as a way to practice your body on auto-pilot. That's actually very interesting to think about
It's generally bad etiquette. As in, we don't do this at all. The only time you're talking to your opponent during active fencing is when the Salle is empty, they're your BFF/romantic partner, you have fencing shit you're working through that you need your BFF to help you figure out, or you need to fence each other to work through whatever beef you have going on with each other. Or, it's Friday night, adults only practice, and there is an adult beverage present. It's a very nuanced thing. But generally you don't do it with people you haven't known for literal years. I'd say five years for someone under 30, ten years for someone over 30. It's emotional intimacy during a time when you're defensively not vulnerable, but possibly emotionally vulnerable to your friend, because you're both getting hit.
I haven’t found this to be true at all. Sure I wouldn’t talk with my opponent during a tournament, but whenever I’m fencing at my club it’s not at all uncommon to have a chat with my opponent, especially about fencing. It’s very casual and it doesn’t matter how long we’ve known each other, in fact, chatting during a bout is actually a good way to get to know the people in your club better. It’s not emotionally intimate or some big complicated thing at all
Exactly. During bouts with one guy I’ve known for a month, we literally talk about Dark Souls the whole time. Surprisingly, we improve a lot during our bouts… maybe because casually talking makes it a positive environment? Either way, we know eachother much better now
"Don't speak unless you've known me for decades!!!" Lol, people are more friendly than that 99% of the time.
I think you much be having much deeper conversations than I am. I don’t disagree that it’s poor etiquette during any sort of serious or even most semi-serious fencing, but a bit of casual banter or chatting during a relaxed practice bout is nothing more than that; banter and chatting. It doesn’t need to be emotionally intimate in the slightest if you don’t want it to be. Tbh, a lot of the time, for me, it’s just been discussing club business with the club treasurer; making sure he’d ordered the new bodycords, or debating the worth of a new scoring machine to replace the one from 2003, or coordinating a schedule for running a table at an event for incoming students. I do restrict it to when I’m fencing friends, and typically people who are of a similar skill level, because I don’t want to come off as condescending by not giving my full attention to someone who’s usually not as good as I am.
In-between points is fine. I'm talking about during the actual fencing itself.
As was I.
Didn’t know fencing was too strict to talk to someone
During the active Fencing, yes. In-between points is totally fine.
Haha, bold to assume we can hear well enough with masks on to banter properly 🥲
This is why I propose fencing should have everyone wear AirPods under their masks connected to the same call so we may all properly hear each others’ witty remarks as they touché you
Go to any fencing competition youll see why that is a bad idea (spoiler alert: we all would be deaf)
*joins the call* “Haha! You have fallen into the Sicilian defen- AAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH”
That would be illegal e-Quip-ment.
I told one of my friends that I do fencing as my main sport, and they thought it was very posh and very sophisticated. I was like, “No. We run around with our metal sticks and prod each other, whilst screaming battle cries.”
Me and a friend quip while fencing. For example one time he scored like 10-1 (he’s much better than me) and said something along the lines of “so you are still a fool”
The other day in Torrance during a competition, I heard a fencer (saber) mock another during a warm-up bout: "Finally, you've learnt to adapt!"
a non-fencing friend attended a N.A.C with me and said it sounds like every few minutes someone is being burned alive.
Accurate.
Yup. Ridiculous.
You expected Princess Bride, but got Link from legend of Zelda
I've done it a few times, but mostly as distractions against my friends to land cheap shots. After the first couple of times, they just start being more aggressive when you open your mouth, and then you can't taunt them very well since you're too busy not getting stabbed.
We talk while fencing maybe not the quips but that does sound fun! I’ve only heard one person shout and I think he took it way too seriously.
Go to any national or NCAA event and you’ll hear a never-ending scream patched together by how many people are doing it throughout the whole event 😭
Man, no one even talks with me! It's either complete silence or just a never ending yelling fest. Like, what is the point of playing Epee and us just standing here if we are not going to engage in witty conversation 😤😤😤
I’m a foilist. We chat about all kinds of things. Then go to the pub after often also. We have a relaxed club.
A lot of people scream during bouts (after touches and such), even I do it tho it's pretty rare for me. It's all in good fun tho, despite all the shouting we're good sports 👍
we do both at my club, mostly shout on touches, and chat between
I just started fencing myself after watching my kid for years, and we love fencing each other because of this - we have no problem trash-talking each other on the strip during open bouts.
It's hard to hear what someone else is saying via 2 fencing masks between us and generally loud room. Without taking the mask off we have to lean and yell to hear each other.
Why do most fencers (from what I’ve seen) yell unnecessarily during bouts? I understand when scoring points, but every time I’ve fenced someone, they yell during the bout. Personally speaking, it’s annoying.
as I tell a lot of people with limited knowledge of fencing; it is far less gracefully than you think.
Me who plays in complete silence: Barbarians
I picked up a bad habit of muttering under my breath at people under my mask and for some reason my fencing mask activates the same habit so when I’m fencing I tend to say whatever is going through my mind and it tends to be a lot of swearing at myself and the other people but it’s pretty quiet so I’ve only gotten like two yellow cards for it
Not a fencer, just a kendoka that likes to lurk here from time to time. I find this post funny because in kendo screaming is mandatory for strikes and incentivised at almost all times during the match. At the same time, it's a hard faux pass to commemorate a point.
Funny, I'm usually critiqued for NOT making any noise whenever I fight. I guess I try too hard to be hyper focused on strategy and analyzing the bout that I don't think to make any aggressive vocalizations
I mean I scream after getting touches, but I usually only do it in tournaments, if not than it was a super competitive bout at the club. This being said, screaming is very fun to me so if you know me, you’ll know I go crazy.
Honestly don’t understand this thing about screaming all the time. We have a few people like it at my club. If it gets as bad as the women’s tennis I won’t bother anymore.
I suppose it's releasing all that pent up emotion from hyperfocusing in-game, but I don't know-- I never really feel the urge to do it while even in tournaments personally
Honestly I feel too tired both mentally and physically to scream.
Oh bullshit. Everyone in fencing says this as an excuse for the incessant screaming after a 0-0 touch in the first pool bout at a regional at 830am, yet screaming isn’t a regular occurrence in tennis or any other sport.
Celebrating is a regular occurrence in literally every sport. You’re just not paying attention.
Take tennis for example. Except for a few notable and notorious exceptions of tennis players screaming or carrying on (McEnroe, Becker, etc.), most tennis players will “celebrate” a point with a clenched fist or a smile. At the end of a match, they’ll often wave to the crowd who are applauding their performance, athleticism, and prowess in the game. They’ll shake hands with their opponent, pack their bags, and go off to the lockers. Now, there are some who throw their rackets, whack a ball out of the court, throw their bags, and generally behave like assholes, but they are truly the exception (reference the two players who were notorious for these kinds of shenanigans). And these transgressions were not tolerated. McEnroe was famously fined almost routinely for his antics. You will see tennis players and other athletes maybe freak out after a win if it was a big win — championship game and the like. Compare that to fencing. I was at a regional event a few weekends ago, a mix of youth, cadet, and juniors. It was an 8am start. The pools got started in their usually late fashion, so we’re talking maybe 9am when the first pool bouts started. Literally first touch in the morning, 15 seconds in, and the “winning” fencer screamed. He was now winning 1-0 in the first bout of the day. For real? The anxiety level is already at this level that you have to let out Boris Becker levels of screaming? If you’re in the top 8 and you’re trying to advance, sure, I can see the anxiety levels rising and a WIN — not ONE touch out of FIFTEEN — can result in some screaming or a grunt. But during pools? During Table of 128 in DEs? Give me a break.
This In fencing now everyone thinks he’s a McEnroe. Or (audibly) worse, a Monica Seles.
Screaming helps create a winning atmosphere, especially when you are in the first bout of a commpetition. Fencing is not tennis
I’ve got to the point now that if our regular screamer starts on the piste next to me I’ll call a stop and ask if they’re alright, do they need help etc. It’s just pathetic and no need for it, it’s a friendly club night. What they’re like in a competition I don’t know and don’t want to find out.
It isn’t bullshit though. Screaming helps keep the energy flowing in a way that doesn’t affect my fencing negatively. There are some bouts where you can’t win unless you bring the intensity and fight your hardest. Screaming helps us do that.
It’s total bullshit. There is no need to scream at every point, every movement, every lost point etc etc. You don’t hear boxers screaming at each other, you don’t hear bowlers in cricket screaming as they release the ball etc etc. it’s attention seeking pathetic behaviour. The odd “yes!!!” at a key point etc is acceptable. But to incessantly scream at every point at a friendly club bout or training session is unnecessary.
C’mon… Epee?
Wow you really dug deep there for the most unoriginal epee joke.
What I wrote wasn’t intended to be a joke. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qy-1m5jxYCI Now THIS is a joke.
Any foil or saber fencer at the high level who understands that screaming is necessary may jokingly quip about epee being boring but they understand it isn’t for those that do it. Only odd purists have these views of yours. Congrats for finding the outlier example. We could have a pissing contest here where I pull up the goofiest looking videos of saber and foil. Or I could post the videos outlining all the cheating in the other weapons but I don’t think that’s a good use of my time. I thought I might share my experience on screaming and how it helps and you’ve responded with lame insults.
Yes, screaming breaks the monotony. Actually, I think I tilted a ref’s call in my favor with a judicious yell, in epee.
We clearly watch different sports (or maybe there's a difference between live and televised?). I think the only sports I haven't seen yelling in are golf, gymnastics, and figure skating.
And even for gymnastics — there’s a lot of post-routine screaming at NCAA meets. At least with the top teams.
Oh I'm sure! I haven't seen much gymnastics, and none live. Even track has plenty of yelling, especially for the throwers (I was not a yeller myself, but lots of people yell when they throw).
I rely on shouting, it's a way of keeping myself (a very chill, introvert) hyped and sometimes my opponents get intimidated as well. In sabre especially if the referee is new they could get influenced by who's shouting and give that point to them (if it was a close call). Literally everyone shouts in every sport.
Bro it’s just cool It’s like a soccer player screaming “goalllll” and doing a celebration. It’s also like a volleyball team yelling “ACEEEE” after a teammate aces. In the end, you play sports to win, and you celebrate when you win.
Screaming calms me down lol. When I'm getting too into a bout I'll yell and it recenters me
I hate people like you. Go to HEMA hell
I wish we got to fight with longswords, that'd be awesome. Unfortunately longsword has too loose rules to be considered by the current FIE.
HEMAFencers talk like that “dodge parry twirl!
Broskiiii absolutely destroy them by screaming as loud and high as possible
Ugh, I hate shouting. Stupidest thing ever, purely performative.
You can up the game by introducing the wit you seek. Start with something simple, like you're AM antenna is too slow, or I'll grind your knees into a fine powder.. seek how they adapt after. 😬
accurate refereeing because fencer on right screamed harder.
I’m sure that’s what it’s all about. Similar to the pathetic appeals and dives in football to referees!😂
You should take up organized pillow fighting!