Fencing Equipment: Epee by Richard Hoefer

Author:Richard Hoefer [Hoefer, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Sports & Outdoors
Published: 2011-07-09T04:00:00+00:00

Illustration 16: A pair of fencing knickers, showing built-in elastic suspenders

8

Gloves

Overview

Have you heard the expression to “throw down a gauntlet” to challenge someone? In the old days, this was the way to start duel. If the gauntlet was taken up, the fight was on! A gauntlet is a protective glove with a long cuff which protects the forearm, as in suits of armor and, in current times, fencing. Nowadays, however, it’s just called a glove.

What it is

The fencing glove is worn only on the sword hand in modern fencing. It has two main parts: the glove part which is made of leather or synthetic leather, frequently with stretch material in some places and padding on the back of the hand, and the cuff (which in the rule book is called a gauntlet), which must “fully cover approximately half the forearm of the competitor’s sword arm to prevent the opponent’s blade from entering the sleeve of the jacket” (m.25.6).

Gloves intended for use in electrical epee fencing will have an opening near the wrist, or, more commonly, will open up and close the entire length of the cuff. This is to allow for easy use of the body cord which exits the jacket at the end of the sleeve. Cuffs that open and close are secured with hook and loop (Velcro) in position, with the opening on the inside of the arm.

What to look for

While it is stating the obvious, gloves come in right and left handed models. Be sure to get the correct one. Sizing is important in gloves, as in all things fencing. When buying, it is better to get one that is a bit snug when new, because the material will stretch a bit and achieve a “hand in glove” custom fit feel. A glove that is the right thickness provides a better “feel” for the weapon, which should feel like an extension of your body. What you think of as the right thickness may differ from your friend’s opinion, so be sure to go with what you like. People with narrower hands and fingers may need to find specific styles that fit such hands better than the average glove.

Better gloves have padding on the back of the hand to help reduce the pain from hits or accidental whacks on that area. Once you have your glove a while, look at it carefully and you’ll notice the tiny slices and gouges in the material. These are slices and gouges that your skin didn’t have to endure and bring out the importance of a good glove. More padding is not necessarily better, however, as after a certain point the padding begins to feel bulky. In epee, a bulky glove may peek out from behind the bell guard and give your opponent a better target. Again, however, where this point is varies from one person to the next.

Washable synthetic leather is a real boon to fencing. Of course, you must carefully follow the directions for washing and drying or else you’ll end up with something unusable, but this advance reduces odors tremendously.

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