u/TITVS-PVLLO

As a British noob fencer who sometimrs watches tournaments on YouTube , across all 3 weapons I've noticed certain nations dominating . I mostly watch epee .

Usually I see fencers from Hungary, Italy, France, russia/ukraine/Bulgaria, Germany (although less often.) Switzerland , USA , Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong and taiwan.

I almost never see any British fencers competing at top level. Why is that ? Is there a lack of talent? Or training/ resources . Does the UK lack a strong fencing culture ? Or not have resources for good training schools? Or maybe I'm just not watching the right stuff idk

My first blades were cheap ukrainian or Chinese blades that broke within 2 months .

I've been using Leon paul standard blades for 2 years and haven't broke a single one . They're quite durable and I like that . I have 3 and only bent 1 of them at an angle and was able to fix it easily.

However , they are a bit light/tip heavy , I really want my next blade to be a bit heavier and more importantly , have its weight concentrated by the guard so the blade feels well balanced . The LP standard balance is ok but I think there are better ones out there . I feel like it's time to try something new . My sword overall is quite light and I want to train with something heavier .

I also want it able to flick decently . I don't want a complete broomstick nor do I want a noodle . Just need it durable, well weighted , able to parry well , flick and not develop s bends or snap .

Any reccomendations out of these ?

What I can easily get are non FIE :

Unic F1 and Unic Arrow . Unsure of difference.

STM

Leon paul fusion

FIE I can get easily :

BF-blue , white not sure what the difference is, Medium or stiff

Leon paul FIE/ fusion. Medium or stiff.

Let me know what is reccomended thanks.

Hello I've done epee for about 2 years . I think I'm not too bad for my experience level but I still struggle to score from a flick . Maybe about 10% of the time I get a light in a bout . I really like getting those hits and it might be my style based on the way I parry etc . Only problem is I can't actually make it work often.

I'd estimate I have the opportunity to go from a 6 or 4 parry and score a flick riposte at least three times a bout. I'd really like to start getting these points .

I manage to make the blade bend but it usually lands on the flat of the barrel . Getting that last bend to for the tip to stick is really difficult. I seem to have most success as a RH fencer scoring from a wide parry 4 and sometimes I can flick it into the torso.

I've been told different things . Some people say to use the tricep , others say it's all in the wrist or fingers. I've tried all of that but I still can't do it . Most people at my club don't flick so it's hard to learn from them.

I use a regular leon paul blade which I assume is somewhere between stiff and medium ? Probably doesn't help me trying to flick but with strength and technique it should be possible.

So guys please enlighten me on good technique and some drills to get it locked in . It's a skill I'd like to add to my fencing. Thanks for any advice.