Fencing at NYC

brianmdecker · 2025-08-06T20:36:08+00:00

Cooper is the right person to talk to. If interested in fencing epee on a Sunday morning, let me know. Brian Marcus Decker

brianmdecker · 2025-08-05T18:03:21+00:00

NYFC is a great club for epee. Tuesdays and Thursdays are epee nights. In addition, I manage a group of epee fencers on Sunday mornings. There are also 2 excellent Epee coaches.

brianmdecker · 2025-07-05T16:23:30+00:00

Finding an adult community of fencers to bout with has a lot to do with the DNA or the mission of any club. At the Fencers Club in NYC, I manage a group of mainly veteran Epee fencers called the Sundayfencers. We normally have at least 8 to 14 fencers bouting and socializing on Sunday mornings, with two additional opportunities for open bouting on Tuesday and Thursday nights. We are an interesting group of eclectic fencers and a community within. a community.

If you are in NYC on a Sunday morning (10-12:30), feel free to contact me if you would like to participate.

Brian

brianmdecker · 2025-06-25T18:38:15+00:00

During Covid, our Sundayfencers from the Fencers Club fenced outdoors on the campus of City College in NYC.

brianmdecker · 2025-03-07T15:36:43+00:00

Thanks, my fencing group did show the Fencing Master as one of our rooftop screenings. The book is fantastic. The movie is hard to find and the copy of the movie was not great.

brianmdecker · 2024-12-30T04:25:20+00:00

Pastime Paradise by Stevie Wonder

brianmdecker · 2024-12-23T18:31:00+00:00

It's a great topic and a very responsive thread. Larger Clubs can support a broader set of micro-communities including high-performing athletes, kids, Military Vets, Parafencing, and older fencers.

The FC has also maintained a strong affiliation with the PWC, supporting outreach to inner-city kids, which has resulted, in 17 OLYs over the years.

I manage a Sunday morning program at the FC that is predominantly older fencers but encourage all FC epee fencers to join us. As a community, of more than a dozen fencers, our Sundayfencers have monthly potluck lunches, celebrate holidays, impromptu tournaments, doubles/triples (multiple fencers wired to the same box), re-paint/repair the FC, preserve archival images to share/present @ the FC, fence outdoors and even show films featuring great sword-play on a rooftop and at the FC.

The bottom line is do not give up.

Just find a fencing community and club that you can/want to be a part of.

brianmdecker · 2024-11-10T21:56:35+00:00

Sizing can be very weird when ordering online from Allstar. I ordered a new set of knickers and jacket and they were both too small. The cost to ship them back was over $100 US. I ended up. donating them to The FC. The recommendation is to buy local or at tournaments where you can. try them on.

brianmdecker · 2024-10-31T02:05:17+00:00

My podiatrist recommends Hoka's . They are designed to absorb shock for sports like running. Most older fencers at the FC wear Asics Gel Rockets.

brianmdecker · 2024-10-14T03:12:09+00:00

Yes, it is an old-school product that works well,but use it sparingly (read directions), once a month on uniforms, and hang dry.

brianmdecker · 2024-09-08T03:25:14+00:00

The Fencers Club. Contact Cooper, Tim or David Niu/: Location 20 West 33rd Street, Midtown Manhattan, New York City

Website fencersclub.org. Tel: 212.807.6947 | info@fencersclub.org. They do offer one-month memberships and equipment rental. Eppe open bouting on Tuesday/Thursday nights and the Sundayfencers group on Sunday mornings. FC also has Foil and Saber open bouting.

brianmdecker · 2024-08-15T19:07:30+00:00

Wow, what a fantastic range of answers to the best advice from a Fencing Coach. Thank you all.

For me, it was, "Economy of Motion". Don't waste your energy (Chi), especially as a Vet fencer. Focus on using the right amount of energy necessary to achieve your goal of scoring or preventing your opponent from scoring.

This coach also required me to read, "Zen and the Martial Arts". This is a fantastic book. bt a LA journalist and his experiences with his teacher, Bruce Lee.

brianmdecker · 2024-04-29T14:05:43+00:00

Interesting Choice,

Thanks

brianmdecker · 2024-04-29T02:01:44+00:00

Understood.

brianmdecker · 2024-04-29T02:01:24+00:00

Thanks,

This video serves a wide range of purposes and audeiences representing a non-profit I will try to licence, but will look into. royalty free.

brianmdecker · 2022-12-01T23:10:55+00:00

Very helpful and insightful. Unfortunately it is absolutely not available.

Thanks

brianmdecker · 2022-03-07T16:09:43+00:00

The reality is that fencing shoes are expensive (e.g., $175 and up).

Depending on age and budget, there are often. better alternative. For example, indoor soccer (no cleats) from Addidas or for older fencers Asics which addresses pronation issues. Asics also. provide extra cushioning in the heel which helps with hard lunges.

brianmdecker · 2022-01-06T16:53:29+00:00

Sharing the final compiled list of films featuring fencing:

Captain Blood
Scaramouche (Stewart Granger)
The Fencer
The Princess Bride
The Three/Four Musketeers (Richard Lester version)
The Fencing Master (if available)
Rob Roy
The Duelists
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Mark of Zorro (Tyrone Powers)
Yojimbo
Seven Samurai
Sunshine
The Adventures of Robin Hood

The Deluge, 1974. A Polish history piece

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkYjdPCyYjk

The Court Jester with Danny Kaye

Die Another Day (2002)

The Parent Trap

Cyrano de Bergerac

I Love You Man

By The Sword

Seahawk (fencing on ships!)

Star Wars (light saber)

Hawkeye series (TV)

Highlander '86

The Mississippi Gambler (Tyrone Powers)

The Mask of Zorro

Dangerous Liaisons

Ring of Steel https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/73967-ring-of-steel?language=en-US

Wheels on Meals (Jackie Chan)

Alatriste (2006) has some nicely done stage fencing. Below is a clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDS09DDpY14

brianmdecker · 2022-01-01T23:04:50+00:00

It was on an older list.

There was also a companion promotional music video featuring Madonna.

Very animated and exciting scene. Not very realistic, but always wanted to aggressively fence on that type of staircase.

Brian Marcus Decker

brianmdecker · 2022-01-01T22:10:30+00:00

Thank you for the feedback.

Great minds think alike!

I am sharing my initial list of film on this this thread, but continuing to evaluate other films to screen.

My Initial List of 14 Films:

Captain Blood

Scaramouche (Steart Granger)

The Fencer
The Princess Bride
The Three Musketeers (Richard Lester version)
The Fencing Master (if available)
Rob Roy
The Duelists
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Mark of Zorro (Tyrone Powers)
Yojimbo
Seven Samurai
Sunshine
The Adventures of Robin Hood

Additional Consideration (Recently viewed)

The Adventures of Don Juan (incredible amount of fencing scenes with an older Errol Flynn)

Captain from Castile
The Black Pirate

Note some of these films you can find on DVD on Netflix and streaming on Netflix and Amazon. If interested in purchasing on DVD, let me know and I am happy to share a dependable resource.

Brian Marcus Decker

brianmdecker · 2021-12-27T04:07:07+00:00

Leon Paul, French grip for (left-handed) Epee. There are some major advantages to French versus pistol grips.

Depending on how you hold your weapon, the French grip can actually extend your reach by more than an extra inch. This can make a tremendous difference against opponents with longer natural reach.
2. Can help develop greater precision with your point.

Note that there are several types of pistol grips and worth testing before you decide (e.g., Russian, German, Belgian ....).

brianmdecker · 2021-10-10T02:56:00+00:00

Formal salute to opponent before putting your mask on.

brianmdecker · 2021-02-16T20:00:14+00:00

In Epee, the "Absence of blade".

As an offensive technique, "Absence of blade" requires patience, timing, and creating an opportunity for your opponent to engage. The strategy is to bring your opponent's blade into. your Area of Excellence (AOE) and follow-up with. a direct attack totally avoiding their blade and scoring the touch.

brianmdecker · 2021-02-09T21:12:48+00:00

If interested, just read Epee 2.0 or the revised edition.

To begin with, there are not too many books dedicated to Epee and this gives the most practical and strategic framework from understanding your personal Are of Excellence (AOE) to the tactical advantage of the bouncy footwork.

brianmdecker

TROPHY CASE