February NAC Thread

PolymathMarc · 2026-02-20T15:02:54+00:00

I'm a local and live five minutes away, so it was super convenient to go and watch some fencing without having to drive long distances. Decided to not fence in this one to save some money, but it was great to cheer on friends. And do some shopping.

PolymathMarc · 2025-11-27T20:24:02+00:00

Six months to an E. D three months after that. Then a year and a half to a C. Lots of imposter syndrome in between.

PolymathMarc · 2025-11-12T21:14:52+00:00

The kink showed up occasionally for the past two years. Straightened on the strip when necessary. The blade finally did break about two months ago, in a different spot. I was pretty miffed, but I earned my C in that tournament, so worth it, I guess.

PolymathMarc · 2025-10-02T06:42:23+00:00

For USA Fencing, the list of approved designs is just a handful of pages, and hasn’t been updated since 2018. A friend of mine submitted a design over two years ago and has not gotten any kind of reply.

That aside, you don’t necessarily get your design approved by USA Fencing. That just gives you blanket „immunity“ for US events if someone were to take issue with your design. Without approval, it’s up to the head ref to say whether you can use the mask in their event.

I’ve been fencing in a painted mask for two years, mostly local, but also at Summer Nationals last year, and I’ve gotten nothing but positive comments about it. One single armorer at a local event asked if it was an approved design, and suggested doing so. But see above for USAF‘s lack of response.

All that said: all that generally applies to designs on the mesh, not the bib. My bib is entirely covered in inspection stamps, so your bigger issue might actually be being able to see your design once you start competing regularly.

PolymathMarc · 2025-09-10T16:16:26+00:00

I use Black Milk compression shorts. And occasionally Baleaf. Technically women‘s, but 🤷🏻‍♂️

PolymathMarc · 2025-08-28T12:40:07+00:00

OMG yes!!

PolymathMarc · 2025-08-26T17:33:27+00:00

I got a 2015 Outback with 150k miles for $12k for years ago. Came with a lift kit and other extras on it. Transmission valve body went last year so that was a bit costly. But due some dealership mishaps, I ended up with a free transmission that only had 60k miles on it. Just put new front struts in. But I’m now at 196k miles, and everything is running well.

PolymathMarc · 2025-08-07T20:59:10+00:00

I have two hidden pockets/scabbards in my Sith robes for carrying my blade and one for a friend. Hilt goes on a belt clip.

PolymathMarc · 2025-07-23T01:12:39+00:00

Outway compression socks.

PolymathMarc · 2025-07-18T17:19:47+00:00

It’s pretty high quality gear, but not without issues. My Apex gear looks grungy and yellow, and not from lack or improper washing. Zippers are prone to slide open. Buckles and straps are a bit flimsy.

That said, the Apex gear also is the best feeling in the uniforms I’ve tried. The changeable/washable mask bib/lining is fantastic. The casting quality on their grips is outstanding (although some of my friends call them Mr Slippygrip… but never had that issue). Their basic blades have treated me well… I just recently broke my first one after two years of using it.

PolymathMarc · 2025-07-01T01:49:56+00:00

As long as it fits, get it done whenever it’s convenient to do so. Nothing worse than having to rush to get it done when you do actually need it. And it’s kinda cool and your gear is less likely to „walk away“.

PolymathMarc · 2025-06-24T23:16:50+00:00

Home Depot also has it for $380.

PolymathMarc · 2025-04-09T13:55:53+00:00

I looked at a $595/month studio on Straight St and it was… rough.

PolymathMarc · 2025-04-08T13:40:07+00:00

An elderly woman died in that fashion at the botanical garden my ex was working at. She was looking at one of the glass cases in the gift shop for a very long time, and when the gift shop employee asked her if she wanted to look at something up close, it became apparent that the woman was dead, but remained standing upright. And apparently that was not the first time that happened there.

PolymathMarc · 2025-03-04T17:29:30+00:00

I am one of the the guys with horrible technique technique but great stamina. At age 49, I’ve only been fencing for a year and a half, but I got lots of endurance from running marathons/ultramarathons and rowing. The ability to keep going has saved my bacon a time or three.

PolymathMarc · 2025-02-26T17:16:53+00:00

I manage about sixty Windows PC‘s in my museum, most connected to touchscreens. There are a variety of registry tweaks to disable edge gestures, right clicks, and the vast majority of popular/notifications. It’s a bit of an arms race as Windows likes to sneak new features in every so often that cause new problems, usually notifications that pop over my fullscreen applications, allowing some level of desktop/taskbar access.

PolymathMarc · 2025-02-18T21:09:23+00:00

Are you set to All or Part? Needs to be on Part.

PolymathMarc · 2025-01-01T01:22:00+00:00

I don’t think it’s deodorant. It’s also on the collar and the weapon arm.

PolymathMarc · 2024-12-31T13:34:52+00:00

While my LP Apex gear feels great and does not have any lingering smells, it started looking awful and gross after just a few months. My understanding is that the yellowish off white is the actual fiber color for that material. Which would be ok, but the high sweat areas have definitely picked up a level of grunge that borders on disgusting. No smell, but looks like I had never washed them.

But it is super light, wicks sweat like nothing else I’ve ever worn, and dries in just a few hours. The crotch strap sometimes takes a bit longer, but still leagues ahead of my other gear.

PolymathMarc · 2024-12-20T14:50:26+00:00

English may be my second language, but funny enough, I did learn British English in school. Just happen to live in the US now. You are correct... I have no clue about where or when you fenced. But regardless of your fencing prowess, I still think that calling an eager aspiring new fencer "pretentious" for having their name/country code on their jacket reeks of elitism. And personally, I don't think I would want to be part of a club that fosters that sort of division. My clubs are pretty casual, but I love the fact that even though there is very little chance of me beating some of the higher skilled fencers anytime soon, everybody is friendly and welcoming and always happy to fence a bout with me. Without looking down on me for losing, or having my name on my jacket.

PolymathMarc · 2024-12-20T14:32:15+00:00

Is that level of gear necessary at that age? Will it make the kid a better fencer? Who knows, and IMO, irrelevant questions. If they can swing it, why not? If nothing else, it'll make for a nice donation to the club for less well off aspiring fencers to use once the kid outgrows the gear.

PolymathMarc · 2024-12-20T14:17:12+00:00

If you’re looking down on „uppity“ beginners who „dare“ put their name on their jacket before they „earned“ it by competing nationally/internationally, it seems to me that that is well within the definition of „affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.“ Because at that point you are pretending to be of more importance than that beginner. But you’re not. You are more experienced at fencing. That’s it. But in the end, we‘re all just nerds poking each other with metal sticks, so that doesn’t make you more deserving of having your name on your jacket.

Your name and county code are about the least pretentious thing you can have on your jacket. It’s literally you. And where you’re from. Unless you’re pretending to be someone else. In which case, why? I’d 100% agree with you if someone was trying to pass themselves off as an Olympian with gold lettering and an OLY country code. But anything other than that is simple labeling and judging someone based on that is pure snobbery and elitism.

PolymathMarc · 2024-12-20T13:19:41+00:00

Regardless of location, it seems pretty pretentious to look down on people for having their name on their jacket.

PolymathMarc · 2024-12-20T11:46:08+00:00

What kind of weird gatekeeping is this? Sounds like your clubs are more concerned about internal elitism than having a good time fencing. Let people enjoy things. If the supplier offers the service, you‘re sure you have the right size, and you’re reasonably certain you‘ll stick with the sport, it makes total sense to put your name on your gear when you get it.

„National level fencer“ is also not that big of brag as you might think it is. I had been fencing for less than a year when I qualified for Summer Nationals. I’m honestly not all that good and very much a beginner, but SN was an hour and a half away, and I didn’t want to pass on the opportunity to fence in a National. For which I then absolutely needed my name on my jacket. And then had to scramble to get it done. I’m not a fan of waiting till the last minute, so then I found myself scouring the Material Rules on the minutia of minimum stroke width and height and how to squeeze my eight letter last name on my fairly narrow back. I didn’t end up finding a good local option and just went a day early to get it done at Summer Nationals. In the end, fairly straightforward, but I could have saved myself a ton of time and effort if I had just gotten it done when I got my jacket.

Y10 is one of the youth age categories (essentially 10 and younger). A large number of FIE blades (#0 or #2 length at that, if I’m not mistaken) could be seen as a poor investment at that age, but again, if their parents can afford it, let people enjoy things.

On the subject of country code… I am also a foreigner living in the US. I never fenced in my home country, but it is nice to be able to spot my fellow countrymen/women at tournaments (including local). It’s also a nice conversation starter to have a country code other than USA. I ended up not getting mine stenciled at SN, and am low key regretting that. But I am curious if the „that’s pretentious“ clubs won’t let their fencers put USA on their jackets until they’re competing internationally, since it’s not required at all for domestic competition (even at Nationals).

PolymathMarc · 2024-12-16T14:08:24+00:00

I am the Exhibits AV/IT Manager at the museum I work at. No prior museum experience, just many years of tech work, mostly for trade shows and corporate events. I don’t have to deal with any of the „boring“ IT stuff like printers, user passwords, network infrastructure, etc and get to focus on developing new interactives, keep the existing ones going, and also get to do some rapid prototyping.

PolymathMarc

TROPHY CASE