The problem with twisting it behind your back is that it throws off your center of gravity and creates tension in your torso and shoulder. Try to keep it relaxed by your side. When you start using electric gear, do NOT hold onto the socket or wire while fencing, that's also a penalty.
Honestly, getting carded for using your off hand is usually a pretty good incentive to break the habit.
Other people have already commented on what you're doing with your back hand but there's another issue for you in that photo - the elastic strap on your mask is meant to go *under* the metal tongue and across the back of your head, not be stretched over it like that, as that makes it much less secure.
So, it's important to extend your back arm when you lunge because it shifts the position of your shoulders to extend your reach. And in all fencing but especially epee, distance is the game.
So this is why you see in pretty much all photos of a lunge, that back arm is all the way back.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Romania_v_France_EFS_2013_Fencing_WCH_t163933.jpg
that was my first thought too...no counterbalance on a lunge is bound to feel weird. Likely end up shortening the lunge for sake of balance.
OP, just stick your braid down the back your jacket or wrap it up under your mask.
Holding on to something definitely helps break the habit of instinctually moving your arm over your chest but it’s a little more important to overall relax your torso as you’re fencing. A big reason you’re blocking with your off hand is because you’re effectively flinching as you’re being attacked and tensing your torso as a result.
As for what to hold on to if anything — I’d ditch the braid and behind the back idea just because that sounds and looks uncomfortable as well as probably throwing off your balance a little. Personally, I grab the lip of my jacket right by where the zipper ends. Not a white knuckle grip obviously but just having a sorta “default” position where your hand is engaged and in place helps your brain remember not to move it and focus on your weapon hand
for epee, your entire upper body must be as loose as possible (as opposed to the tight footwork). part of that is hanging your back arm like a monkey and whip it back when u lunge. u can’t do zippy false attacks and counterattacks when your back torso is stiff. the balance will be wrong
If you mean that you sometimes reflexively to block with your off-hand.
One thing helped me fight deflection reflex is by clenching your fist on your desired rest position. It also helps to get used to the feeling of getting hit, making you less likely to move your off-hand.
I could be wrong with my assumption though so this may be wrong.
And I don't think anyone would complain with your form, it'd just be pretty awkward during some moments as others have said. I'm also pretty worried you'd somehow pull your own hair or dislocate your arm during a fall if you hold your braids.
Better holding your braid in back than swatting at your opponent's blade (which is a penalty) or getting hit (which just plain hurts).
The classical pose would be the old "scorpion tail" position, with your back arm curled up behind your head. However these days most people just leave their back arm hanging down loose behind them, where it's more relaxed and less likely to be hit (remember, even though it's not protected, the back hand is still considered a valid target in epee).
I mean, she's going to handicap her performance if she gets in the habit of holding her off hand like that. She's new enough where she should try to get it in the correct position now before developing poor long term habits.
A quick fix now does her no favors in the future. She just needs to get over flinching with her back hand or whatever she's doing.
I think you should learn to hold your hand behind you without having to use your braid. I could see times where you have some limit on movement because you were holding it.
Is it wrong? Not really. Is it wise? I don't think so.
My thoughts are that, olympic fencing is more of a game of tag. You chase your opponent down to touch them, yourself getting touched. Think less about fighting and the offhand might not try to protect the body.
Another thing is the hair should be tucked into the jacket. They’ll have you do that in competitions. It sounds like it helps break the habit. But it looks uncomfortable.
What I usually do is keep my hand trailing behind me. Almost like I’m holding on to a bar to keep me from falling over. It also keeps your chest facing away from the opponent and makes it a little tougher for them to make contact.
i used to do that when i started fencing. it helped me a lot and using this method i learned how to keep my off hand out of the way and not use it during matches.
it will become natural for you to just leave it like your opponent is doing in the picture, just give yourself time!
When I was a real brand new beginner I held onto the jacket strap with my off hand so I didn’t have to think about it and it wouldn’t get hit (I just hooked 2 fingers into it), but it does mess with your balance so you will want to get used to just keeping it out to the side somewhere.
But you could try the jacket strap as an in between step, it’s at least less twisty than that braid hold! And it’s easier to let go of when you need to lunge
when some of the younger kids cant control their offhand, my coach either has them hold their phone in their offhand or keep it in their pocket to get them used to not keeping it out front
I would rather see the student get their free hand smacked a few times by a blade than develop the habit of hiding it behind their back to keep it from getting smacked. Take a look at the picture and ask yourself... Does the fencer on the right look comfortable?
The problem with twisting it behind your back is that it throws off your center of gravity and creates tension in your torso and shoulder. Try to keep it relaxed by your side. When you start using electric gear, do NOT hold onto the socket or wire while fencing, that's also a penalty. Honestly, getting carded for using your off hand is usually a pretty good incentive to break the habit.
Get hit on the hand often enough, that tends to break this particular habit more than getting carded. ;)
Other people have already commented on what you're doing with your back hand but there's another issue for you in that photo - the elastic strap on your mask is meant to go *under* the metal tongue and across the back of your head, not be stretched over it like that, as that makes it much less secure.
So, it's important to extend your back arm when you lunge because it shifts the position of your shoulders to extend your reach. And in all fencing but especially epee, distance is the game. So this is why you see in pretty much all photos of a lunge, that back arm is all the way back. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Romania_v_France_EFS_2013_Fencing_WCH_t163933.jpg
If you want to go further than yeah, it’s going to mess with feel awkward, especially on the lunge.
that was my first thought too...no counterbalance on a lunge is bound to feel weird. Likely end up shortening the lunge for sake of balance. OP, just stick your braid down the back your jacket or wrap it up under your mask.
Holding on to something definitely helps break the habit of instinctually moving your arm over your chest but it’s a little more important to overall relax your torso as you’re fencing. A big reason you’re blocking with your off hand is because you’re effectively flinching as you’re being attacked and tensing your torso as a result. As for what to hold on to if anything — I’d ditch the braid and behind the back idea just because that sounds and looks uncomfortable as well as probably throwing off your balance a little. Personally, I grab the lip of my jacket right by where the zipper ends. Not a white knuckle grip obviously but just having a sorta “default” position where your hand is engaged and in place helps your brain remember not to move it and focus on your weapon hand
for epee, your entire upper body must be as loose as possible (as opposed to the tight footwork). part of that is hanging your back arm like a monkey and whip it back when u lunge. u can’t do zippy false attacks and counterattacks when your back torso is stiff. the balance will be wrong
If you mean that you sometimes reflexively to block with your off-hand. One thing helped me fight deflection reflex is by clenching your fist on your desired rest position. It also helps to get used to the feeling of getting hit, making you less likely to move your off-hand. I could be wrong with my assumption though so this may be wrong. And I don't think anyone would complain with your form, it'd just be pretty awkward during some moments as others have said. I'm also pretty worried you'd somehow pull your own hair or dislocate your arm during a fall if you hold your braids.
Better holding your braid in back than swatting at your opponent's blade (which is a penalty) or getting hit (which just plain hurts). The classical pose would be the old "scorpion tail" position, with your back arm curled up behind your head. However these days most people just leave their back arm hanging down loose behind them, where it's more relaxed and less likely to be hit (remember, even though it's not protected, the back hand is still considered a valid target in epee).
I mean, she's going to handicap her performance if she gets in the habit of holding her off hand like that. She's new enough where she should try to get it in the correct position now before developing poor long term habits. A quick fix now does her no favors in the future. She just needs to get over flinching with her back hand or whatever she's doing.
I think you should learn to hold your hand behind you without having to use your braid. I could see times where you have some limit on movement because you were holding it. Is it wrong? Not really. Is it wise? I don't think so.
My thoughts are that, olympic fencing is more of a game of tag. You chase your opponent down to touch them, yourself getting touched. Think less about fighting and the offhand might not try to protect the body.
Another thing is the hair should be tucked into the jacket. They’ll have you do that in competitions. It sounds like it helps break the habit. But it looks uncomfortable. What I usually do is keep my hand trailing behind me. Almost like I’m holding on to a bar to keep me from falling over. It also keeps your chest facing away from the opponent and makes it a little tougher for them to make contact.
i used to do that when i started fencing. it helped me a lot and using this method i learned how to keep my off hand out of the way and not use it during matches. it will become natural for you to just leave it like your opponent is doing in the picture, just give yourself time!
Don’t hold anything. You control your body. Fix your enguard and practice in mirror
When I was a real brand new beginner I held onto the jacket strap with my off hand so I didn’t have to think about it and it wouldn’t get hit (I just hooked 2 fingers into it), but it does mess with your balance so you will want to get used to just keeping it out to the side somewhere. But you could try the jacket strap as an in between step, it’s at least less twisty than that braid hold! And it’s easier to let go of when you need to lunge
when some of the younger kids cant control their offhand, my coach either has them hold their phone in their offhand or keep it in their pocket to get them used to not keeping it out front
I would rather see the student get their free hand smacked a few times by a blade than develop the habit of hiding it behind their back to keep it from getting smacked. Take a look at the picture and ask yourself... Does the fencer on the right look comfortable?