Grip (sport fencing)

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"French grip" redirects here. For other uses, see French grip (disambiguation).

In fencing, the grip is the part of the weapon which is gripped by the fencer's hand.

There are four types of grips commonly used today in foil and epee: French, Italian (mostly seen in classical fencing), a hybrid of these two known as the Spanish grip, and the orthopedic or pistol grip (the most common in FIE competition). Sabre fencing only permits one kind of grip, because of the design of the guard. Sabre grips are generally made of plastic, rubber over metal or plastic, wood, or leather wrapped over wood.

1 Italian grip
2 French grip
3 Spanish grip
4 Pistol grip
- 4.1 List of the Types of Pistol Grips
5 References

[edit] Italian grip

Italian grip

The Italian grip, though the earliest to develop, is rarely used today in sport fencing, but is common among classical fencers. Its advocates say that it has most of the French grip's agility with a much greater degree of power and stability. The Italian grip consists of a straight handle, usually just wood or aluminum covered in grip tape, as well as a crossbar (the quillions), and two rings. The fencer's fingers actually rest upon the ricasso, which is part of the blade. This not only gives great security, but great sensitivity.

[edit] French grip

French Grip on an Electric Foil

The French grip is contoured to the curve of the hand and reached its modern form in the late nineteenth century. Compared to the other primary grip used in modern sport fencing, the pistol grip, the French is thought to have greater speed and maneuverability, but lesser strength and stability. The French grip also allows the fencer to "post", holding the grip towards the base, called the pommel, instead of holding the weapon near the bell guard. This gives the fencer a longer reach while lessening strength and stability.

[edit] Spanish grip

The Spanish grip is a hybrid of the French and Italian grips. It resembles a French grip with two orthopedic aids coming from the top and bottom, which serve the same purpose of the quillions of the Italian grip. There are two types of Spanish grips, the true Spanish grip, which has a longer shaft with a pommel attached, like the French grip; and the Spanish offset which lacks the pommel, and has a slightly shorter shaft. The true Spanish grip is illegal in competition , while the Spanish offset is not.

[edit] Pistol grip

Pistol-grip on an electric épée.

The Pistol grip (otherwise known as the anatomical or orthopedic grip), originally developed for a nineteenth-century Italian aristocrat, L.Visconti, master of fencing, who lived in Belgium and had lost fingers in a tram accident, contours entirely to one's hand and is held much like a pistol, hence the name. This grip became popular among sports fencers in the late twentieth century because of the way it complemented the agility and athleticism of competitors — albeit, as critics allege, at the cost of blade sensitivity finesse. There are several types of pistol grips, such as the basic Visconti (which is what most people refer to as a pistol grip), the American, and Russian, all providing a somewhat firmer hold for the user of the weapon than would be possible with the grip. The subtle variations in the pistol grip correspond loosely to different fencing styles.

In high-level fencing (national, and international), pistol grips are usually preferred in foil and épée because they allow stronger blade movements. However, a substantial number of epeeists at all levels use french grips while posting, because of the longer reach, which is especially useful in epee. Posting is almost unheard of in foil, as posting decreases one's ability to parry successfully, and thus increasing your opponent's chance of a successful riposte.