Customer Reviews

Epee Fencing: A Complete System

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first English edition of this book was marred by a worthy but literal translation. As a result it was turgid and difficult reading.

Stephan Khinoy has made an excellent new translation. The text flows freely, and is much more understandable. Given that this is the fundamental book on epee, this is to be commended.

This isn't to say that there aren't flaws in the book. Epee has moved on since the original publication, and some of the sections look a little old fashioned. This is mitigated by Khinoy's editorial interspersions which present the modern style. This slightly negative comment should not detract from the fact that this book is unrivalled in its treatement of the weapon, and should be read by all epeeists and their coaches.

Imre Vass's book on Epee fencing is probably one of the finest books that one could read on the subject. While Vass learned and studied Epee fencing in Hungary, under the very heavy influence of Russian at times, it still shows a system of fencing that is strongly founded in modern competitive fencing and has many practical applications. So, any student of Epee can learn about this fencing system.

Vass primarily lays the book out in a series of chapters on different elements of fencing. Moving from discussions on target areas and engagements of the blade, there is a wide variety of topics that are covered. The material is well laid out, and comprehensive in nature, with some talk by the author of the value of different actions and his thoughts on what an Epee fencer should be doing.

However, this is not a book for the faint of heart. For the starting Epeeist, this may be a very difficult read. Especially when there are discussions of drills and the training. For the intermediate or advanced Epeeist, or a coach, this is an excellent source for practicing fencing and designing new drills to perform. Plus is helps to consider this as a way to analyze one's own fencing.

This book is primarily geared to the competitive fencer, so it does mean that there is some discussion about actions that would be more present in competitive fencing and not historical fencing. So, this book may not appeal to some people. Likewise, because of Vass's Hungarian style, this may also not appeal to those in the competitive circuit if it doesn't fit with your style of fencing. That being said, as someone who appreciate Bruce Lee's views on the martial arts (taking a little bit of something from everything), one can incorporate some of the concepts and learn from them.

Overall, if you can find a copy of this book (it is very difficult to find, and I had trouble finding a second copy for a friend of mine), it is an excellent resource to have on your shelf.

One of the first things that attracted me to this book was the fact that it was an honest-to-goodness book about epee fencing. The majority of fencing books that I have read have put more emphasis on foil. Although it can be a little tough to slog through reading-wise (I had some problems, doesn't mean everyone will), Epee Fencing: A Complete System, is extraordinary in the amount of detail presented. A definite must for anyone who has a love for epee! I heartly recommend this book!

I agree, generally, with the three previous reviewers of this book. However, I strongly disagree with the author's statements in the Introduction concerning foil as being the basis for epee fencing. Vass insists that the fencer should have a solid grounding in foil before beginning to fence with the epee. He goes on to state that it should take about five years before the fencer has shifted over only 50% from foil to epee. Absurd; it does not make sense first to learn foil and then to spend years unlearning it while converting to epee. There are essential differences between epee and foil: in epee fencing the entire body is fair target, while in foil it is only the torso, and while foil is governed by the right-of-way convention (fencers will know what I mean), in epee the first hit counts, with no regard for convention.

Epee fencing has changed over the years. Vass concentrates on technique, and techniques have changed since he wrote his book. The classical styles and schools of the past have been replaced almost completely by a much more athletic game in which speed, strength, movement, and opportunism count as much or more than sophisticated technique. The great change began in about 1960, when the hemispherical barbed point, which would catch on the opponent's sleeve even if the attacker's blade was almost parallel to his opponent's arm, was replaced by the flat point, modified a couple of years later to have a chamfered edge. The old point made touches easier, and it was the cautious, patient, accurate fencer who often prevailed. The newer point, introduced for safety reasons, usually requires that the hit be at a greater angle. While in the past most touches were made on the arm, now a greater proportion are made on the body. Of course basic technique and point accuracy still count, but even the stance of today's epee fencers, quite different from, and looser than, the classical style is indicative of the changes in the game.

Vass's treatment of the weapon is the most comprehensive that I have encountered in a book, but the best fundamental understanding of epee fencing and how it differs from foil is to be found in "Modern Fencing", by Clovis Deladrier. Even though that book was written half a century ago, Deladrier's insights still apply. Deladrier correctly understood the epee to be completely different from foil and saber, with its own action and reaction. To aspiring epee fencers, I say do not waste too much time on foil; it will be detrimental to your epee game.

Vass's exhaustive explication of technique, with so many combinations and permutations, can be daunting even to the experienced epee fencer, but there is always more to learn, and so I recommend it.