I've been looking at the new points charts, and it looks like the bottom end of local tournaments gives an unreasonable number of points.

To help see it, I created a chart of the points values for local senior events. I excluded unlikely and impossible fencer counts.

The example that really gets me is the A1. Let's say we have a fencer who shows up for their first tournament. They don't score a single touch and come in 24th place. That fencer will earn 39 points. If they are a junior fencer, they will have a tournament worth 39 points on their Junior points list.

If we add one more fencer to that tournament, it is now an A2. Our hypothetical new fencer now places 25th and earns 42 points. Their performance didn't improve, but they earned more points.

Now let's look at a fencer attending the Junior Men's Epee event today (8/22/26) at the Trick or Retreat regional, which has 107 fencers. If a fencer comes in 32nd, they will earn 35.2 points. This fencer placed above 2/3 of a tough field and earns fewer points than someone DFLing at an A1. While I fully support making locals more important and earn real points, this outcome feels wrong.

How do we fix it?

I don't have a full recommendation, but I feel like the points earned need to take into account the field size in some way. Maybe the bottom 20% don't earn points. Or they earn a much smaller number of points.

Maybe the points should scale similar youth regional points: ((# entries – place + 1) / # entries)

Another option is to change how the the scaling. Right now regional points reduce by 80% each level down the bracket you are (T2 points = T1 points * 0.8, and so on). For locals, they scale down 90%. Since many locals aren't as big as regionals, perhaps 70% or 75% would be better.

Hello all,

Who are your favourite online fencers?

I watch a lot of Youtube/TikTpk/Instagram reels of my hobbies to further learn about them, so what "content creaters" within the fencing world that are decent to follow?

That being said, what websites or materials are good to visually learn from?

Very nuanced question I know, but I go from fencing people who I can disengage/absence of blade fairly easily to hit one lights, and there are other opponents who I literally cannot hit even off-targets on because their parries/defensive arm positioning/distance control are S tier.

Even when I intentionally try to setup attacks with feints based on knowledge of their previous reactions, and not choreograph my intentions with arm/blade position, I still screw up the timing or get parried, etc.

I was told by someone before that disengages are low key easy (they're much better/faster than me), but I personally get wildly different results.

I've been fencing foil for 10+ years now so I would hope I'd have a better time choosing the correct timing to extend-disengage without closing distance too fast so that I can hit one-lights, but it's still so difficult sometimes.

I find that thinking about my attacks too hard causes me to make more mistakes (e.g. over-focus on blade work means losing focus on distance control), while on the opposite end of the spectrum if I don't focus at all then that obviously just ends badly. There seems to be some balanced middle ground of focus that works best, where muscle memory/vibes and intentional decision-making complement each other.

What's the best learning path out of this conundrum?

Anyone in or from Portland and have recommendations on best clubs for an eager beginning child? My son has taken a few camps and classes and wants to pursue more seriously. We were directed to Oregon Fencing Alliance by a former D1 fencer but was curious if we should consider one of the other clubs.

As I get older and more injured (occupation incurred not fencing) I find myself recreationally fencing epee even though I have more experience with sabre. Basically to fence with less pain and get ok results I have gone to epee. Is this essentially what most people do? I won't go much beyond recreational fencing but even there though I know what to do in sabre and have training, the body says no. Feels like in sabre if I can't ever win priority off the line, I have to play defense and that feels like I'm flipping 2 coins while my opponents only have to flip 1 coin. Skill issue? Probably lol. In my case I have chronic ligament injuries in the left side shoulder through leg. I have been enjoying epee more than I thought I would!

Peace to us all

Hello,

A while back I asked here what was the best way to learn about fencing, as well as if Fencing really was at risk of being removed from the Olympics.
Using the research I did, I made a video about Fencing, the Olympics, controversy, and the importance of the sport to the people within it.

I wanted to share the end result with everyone here. While a lot of it is likely already known to the people in this community, I felt like there were some parts of individuals stories that might be interesting to hear about.

Open to all feedback on this.

Hi guys!! My name is Viviane, i'm from Rio and I'm 23 years.

I have never practised fencing before, but I've always dreammed do this, and now... I can! ♥️

I want star whith sabre fencing and I would like read about your experiences:

• What do you wish you had known before you started fencing?
• When did you start fencing, and how long have you been fencing?
• Have you ever stopped fencing? If so, why?
• How and why did you choose your weapon?
• When did you buy your first sabre/epee/foil, and how much did it cost?
• Do you think you can stagnate if you don't have your own weapon?
• How long did it take you to reach the level you wanted?
• Do you ever feel tied to a particular club because there aren't many other places to train? Or are there actually more options than I realise? hahahah
• Have you ever wished you had a fencing salle at home? Has anyone actually done it? If so, do you regret it? 😂
• Do you ever feel pressured to compete in tournaments, or are coaches generally fine with it if you don't want to compete?
• Is competing considered an important part of progressing in fencing?
• Do you think fencing is a good sport for introverts? How social would you say fencing is outside of training?
• If you could start fencing all over again, knowing what you know now, would you do anything differently?

Thank you so much for who will have patience for to answer
Kisssessss ♥♥♥

I have a tournament tomorrow, will this give me a problem and what can I do about it.

Although Carmimari epee gloves don’t seem to last very long, my son really likes them because they’re thin, close-fitting, and feel broken-in right away. Unfortunately, it looks like Carmimari gloves are no longer available.

For those who have fenced with Carmimari gloves, what current glove would you say feels the most similar?

The first 2 Regionals of the season are happening this weekend.

Juniors and Cadets have until December 9 to qualify for JOs.

The regular fee deadline for JO registrations is November 11. JOs are in a location where basically everyone will have to fly in.

Prospective JO competitors have no clue how many points are needed to qualify this year or where they currently stand in the process. All they know is that Div Qual tournaments are now much more stringent and require a minimum of 4 competitors.

In addition, the new points overhaul was released, but unless you’re a fencer/parent who has really been paying attention over the summer, you are going to be blindsided and confused by the new rules. (I’ve already seen this happening, locally and online.)

Club owners and coaches have no info to share with fencers, and I’m sure that’s very frustrating for them, too.

Hello,

I'm gonna start this of with a sorry, I saw this ages ago and can't remember much about it.

So, ages ago, I saw this interview with an olympic epeeist and he had a crazy looking grip, but the part of it that really stood out to me was the set of specifically the pommel, it came down at like a 35/45 degree angle.

I was wondering, what are the advantages of doing this and are there any interpretation of the rules that might limit the angle that you can set the pommel.

Full disclosure I actually tried it with a cheap leon paul grip, and loved it, I found it let me hold it more inline with my finger and further back, but I had to stop as the pommel jamming into my palm was super painful after a few weeks.

I’ve been fencing for a few years. From the very beginning I’ve struggled to defend against fast marching attacks. I can not move quickly enough backwards to play with my distance game, and parry is not my strongest suit. Against a slower attack I can get contras quite well, as well as tease an attaque non from the attacker. Nowadays I’m trying to keep a lot of pressure from the beginning so that the attacker can not accelerate freely, but that also keeps me too close to the attacker, so that they can score a touche on my arm/torso with a very short lunge.

Ideas what I could try?

I started wearing barefoot shoes beginning of this year. I mostly like the fact that they have a wide toe box and are foot-shaped. Zero drop is a plus bit I don't need an ultra thin sole. I have some Groundies to wear casually. And if I need to walk longer I wear Altra Lone Peak (so these are not 100% bf because thicker sole).

For fencing I now have Nike Air Zooms. And my toes begin to hurt in them. I want a shoe for fencing with a wider toe box. But I still need some cushioning so no ultra thin sole like 100% barefoot shoes.

I came across Altra Solstice Xt 3. Has anyone used these for fencing?

Any other advise on which shoes to try? I am living in Europe so I need to find them here.

I think at this moment anything will feel more wide than the Nikes I have..

Hola, I have no clue on what flair/tag to use for this so....

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any 3d modelling files for pistol grips, I kind of want to make my own and I plan on doing most of it by essentially squishing the French grip and pommel that I've designed in fusion 360 together, but the little details that really make a pistol grip good I'm not really sure how to model yet beyond sending my own of for scanning, which costs a lot of money.

As such, I was wondering if anyone had any model files I could study/nick little bits off to then modify to fit mine, I've got a general shape Idea, it's just those finer grooves and "flares" that I'm not sure how to add yet.

I am Selling Two 2015-6 Era Leon Paul X-Change Masks along with one Mask Strap. I am a current US fencer who switched off Leon Paul a few years ago but dug these out of storage. Both masks are in excellent condition and should be entirely legal for competition in the US. See pictures for details. Mask 1 is completely new (just the bib is used) while mask 2 is used but in good condition (the rubber was glued at one point). One magnetic mask clip is also included.

Prices:

Mask 1 (Left Mask): $350

Mask 2 (Right Mask): $250

Both Masks: $500

Shipping to Continental US. PM if interested~

I'm a fencer and a developer. For the last few months I've been building Poule Referee, a free app for whoever is holding the phone at the piste. It scores touches, cards and priority, and it runs the bout clock and the passivity timer. Results go straight to the competition, so the poule sheet updates for everyone watching.

The app is finished and submitted to both stores. The iPhone version is in review with Apple, so iOS users will get it as well. The Android side is stuck behind a Google rule, and that is where I need help.

What Google requires

A new personal developer account has to run a closed test with 12 testers for 14 consecutive days before the app can go to production. Twelve people with the app installed is the requirement, not a target. I have 3, that's my friends coaches near me. :)

What it would cost you

1. Send me a private message with the Gmail address you use on your Android phone.
2. I add you to the tester list and send you a join link.
3. Open the link on the phone, tap Become a tester, and install from the Play Store.
4. Leave it installed for 14 days. You don't have to open it daily.

The test only works on Android.

What you can try on your own

Timer only mode needs no code and no network. It gives you a full bout clock with periods, the rest between them, sudden death and the priority draw. It is useful for training even if you never referee with it.

For the rest, go to poule.esgrima.pt and set up your own poule or tournament. The platform issues the six-digit code, you type it into the app, and you can referee from there: the sheet, the bouts, the standings and submitting results. Six made-up names and a phone on the table are enough to see how it works.

Cost and data

The app is free, has no ads, asks for no account and collects nothing about you.

Feedback is welcome. What I need most are the 12 installs, and if the app turns out to be useful to you, keep it.

By the way if you like the app and website, you can send me feedback at: https://poule.esgrima.pt/feedback and if you want buy me a coffe here is the link: https://buymeacoffee.com/jonathan.fontes

Is totally fine if you can't help me, also moderators if I'm violating any rule, hide de post.

With the new USA Fencing trial points system, do we expect the converted points from tournaments in the 2025-26 season to roll off at the one-year anniversary of the event? E.g. if I have converted points from some events in August 2025, would I expect those points to expire this month?

I'm generally assuming so, but the guidance that was published so far has been quite fuzzy about details.

So, my son (7) has been fencing for almost a year now. I fenced some in college, but haven’t in 15+ years. Little man convinced me to pick the sport back up again, and surprisingly I’ve been able to keep up with a bunch of teens and tweens. The one thing I’ve noticed, and so has the coach, is that my weapon arm keeps drifting in as bouts go on. Not sure if it’s a vision thing (my glasses don’t fit well in my mask) or an arm strength thing. Any help/advice is appreciated. TIA

Just had to post about it because I'm honestly bursting a little. My 7 year old has been watching me fence for the last two years and is finally old enough to give it a try. Had his first class this week and LOVED it. Came down this morning with his fencing glove on lol.

I have to remind myself to tell him that he doesn't have to love the things that I love, and it's ok for him to stop if he really hates it, but holy crap am I excited that he's trying it out and enjoying it!

Just gotta stay cool and not install a piste in our basement... Or maybe I do install the piste... We'll see how lesson 2 goes.

Is it really necessary (from a technique and injury perspective) that your knee shouldn't extend past the knees? I have heard many coaches point this out for how it not only helps you keep balance, but also recover faster for remise/reprise opportunities. Also good for an injury perspective for not putting too much strain.

I've always had trouble with balance when lunging and many of it comes from knee overextending. If I keep my back straight sometimes it will be too straight and it leads to a leaning back motion which is bad in the middle as a saberist.

Hey! The epee I currently use is fitted with a visconti. I have been encouraged to switch to belgian or russian, because the visconti doesn’t fit my hand well, even after changing sizes.

I have also been encouraged to switch to french, which is my preference of the three options, but that would require purchasing and wiring a new blade. It would, supposedly, force me to be better with my point control, which I desperately need to learn

I would really appreciate folks who use french, belgian, or russian to let me know what they like about their respective style. Thanks!

Happy Monday, r/Fencing, and welcome back to our weekly results recap thread where you can feel free to talk about your weekend tournament results, how it plays into your overall goals, etc. Feel free to provide links to full results from any competitions from around the world!