Grip Guide | Fencing Tutorial (Foil, Epee )

Hi All,

This video is about grips. Hitting with a French Grip teaches one to use their index finger and thumb to control the tip of the blade. "Controlling the tip" in this context could also be thought of as keeping the blade (base of the blade and handle) parallel to the ground, resulting in the tip always traveling forward towards the target in a trajectory that will make the tip compress (even if the blade were to be bent downward).

Belgian grips should be used to understand what it means to support the blade with the middle finger. Almost every person with a Belgian grip has a blister on the bottom of their middle finger, resulting from this being the third resistance point to stabilize their blade. keeping the middle finger activated in this way allows for stronger blade movements, whether they stem from the wrist or fingers (tip). Because the Belgian grip widens one's hand, it allows for more forceful, slicing movements, where the blade and forearm move in the same direction,

Visconti grips allow for all the same benefits to be applied, but with a wider possible amplitude of movement (IMO). This is because while using a Visconti grip, the middle finger has more liberty to press upwards or downwards when compared to the flatter Belgian grip. The Visconti grip allows for deflection, where the blade and forearm move in different directions (as in the case of parry 1 and parry 2). This allows for more "flowery" fencing, filled with flicks and flourishing movements.

Please make sure to try them all out and let us know what you think in the comments!

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[OlympicFoil]

7:37 yessss PBT type "A" grip the true king of fencing grips 😍
imo Belgian grips are actually way too big for most people, especially on the women's foil side. The "A" is in most aspects like a size "small" belgian grip, and so you can keep the benefit of letting the prong save your grip strength and take the burden off your fingers when making a forceful action, while still having it actually be maneuverable in your hand like a visconti.
I've noticed the benefits and amazing control feeling of the grip don't really come though unless you put a quite severe inward cant on your foil personally.
So if people who like a big inward cant are interested I would recommend trying it, at the very least you'll have fun experimenting

[Hermantoothrot]

Literally the only YouTube video I could find explaining very clearly and succinctly the different grip styles. Thanks for this (Vancouver)!

[alberthodge]

beginners should start with a french. we have to many hack artists in the game.

[VanessaDMusic]

This is a great and very helpful video, thanks so much

[zerocool]

I fenced with a French grip in foil for years though I would switch it up in competition depending on who I was fencing to a Belgian grip the only grip I really didn't like was a pistol grip I only used it a few times when fencing epee so it kind of ruined the sword for me and I mainly stuck to foil and sabre

[CZOV]

If your glove is size 9, 10 or 11 dont bother with the pistol grip and get a belgium one for both epee and foil.

[gbennett]

Several times I lost track of which grip he was demonstrating. It would have been more helpful if, when he switched over to a different grip, he said which grip it is.

[BetterExplanation]

Do you think that at the highest levels of foil fencing, a great fencer with a French grip could still be a top ranked fencer?

[simulki]

Please help me out. I just started fencing, foil to be specific. I hold the foil and put my elbow tight into my body, then turn my wrist inwards to my foil?

[marka]

What's the issue with the larger Visconti grip (the blue one)? What makes it too big?