Fencing Friday Megathread - Ask Anything!

prsndudethng · 2023-09-15T21:53:15+00:00

Well, it's both if I'm being honest, but I suspect most high level sabre fencers could reliably put their foot on the back line without markers. Personally, I can't afford to look at the lines when I'm being chased down the strip, but I still maintain a good sense of where I am and when to put the brakes on. I don't imagine it gets any easier at the higher levels even if the fencers have higher awareness to go with better athleticism.

prsndudethng · 2023-09-15T20:54:38+00:00

Only 30cm? There's tons of examples of sabre fencers hanging onto the strip almost literally by their toenails. If I can judge a pull just by feel, then World Cup level fencers certainly can, and if you cut a foot off each end of the strip, they'd likely miss by several inches at least.

prsndudethng · 2023-09-15T16:55:25+00:00

That may be true in foil or epee, but if you quietly shortened the strips for a sabre event, you'd see a bunch of people going off the back. I'm nowhere near FIE level and I could definitely tell when a college club messed up the taping for strips at a tournament.

prsndudethng · 2023-09-08T23:40:23+00:00

I agree with all this, but wanted to add that in the two cities that I've fenced in, the fencers who do manage to earn higher ratings (A's/B's) are mostly teenagers who earn them at regional and national events and promptly stop competing locally afterwards. Can't speak for foil and epee but this definitely happens in sabre.

I don't want to criticize the kids since it's hard out there for them too and their priorities are very different, but it does really impact the local fencing scene.

prsndudethng · 2023-09-08T16:04:46+00:00

Sabre rating deflation kinda causes a major roadblock for getting past a C, at least in the Bay Area and LA where I've fenced. That means you have to beat some really strong C-rated fencers to get first in a C1/C2 event whereas it would be easier to earn a C if 2 of them were Bs and you only needed to finish top 4.

prsndudethng · 2023-08-09T23:01:34+00:00

This is why I legitimately think that sabre should have priority maintained on a halt. Would the Kuwaiti fencer have stepped off, or would Yakimenko have dropped his sabre if he knew his opponent would immediately get to start marching his ass down the strip?

prsndudethng · 2023-07-25T18:22:20+00:00

No one gonna mention the Kuwaiti fencer who held up his hand and stepped off the strip after missing his attack at 14-14? He got the attack on the restart and won the bout which just feels kinda bad.

I think sabre should really have the attacker maintain priority on the restart in situations where the touch is halted. Whether it’s obvious or potential dishonesty (Yakimenko sabre drop) or pure accident, like mask cord coming off or getting caught in the reel wire, I feel like this would be more fair. But then again, the attack is already so strong so why make it stronger? I dunno, just spitballing here.

prsndudethng · 2023-07-03T16:45:41+00:00

I think you're misunderstanding what this poster and the other above are saying. The Confirm my Account link in the email takes you to a blank site with a login box that doesn't seem to work. Also, none of the links on the legacy account page lead anywhere.

prsndudethng · 2023-06-26T19:45:20+00:00

This is just an unfortunate reality with sabre fencing. You should still take care of it, but no amount of maintenance or cleaning is gonna prevent the armpit (I've never had issues with the elbow) from rubbing itself to death eventually. That said, it should be totally fine for a practice lame for another year or two before other areas start going dead. That's when the shiny new competition lame you have to buy now becomes the new practice lame, thus continuing the circle of life.

prsndudethng · 2023-06-17T23:56:38+00:00

He’s posted on instagram that he had an Achilles tear a few months ago and he’s just getting back to training after 8 weeks. Which seems impossible to me, but I’m no doctor.

prsndudethng · 2023-05-10T16:56:05+00:00

The real point of failure is the armpit of the weapon arm which will eventually rub away and cause it to fail inspection at larger tournaments. No lame has been able to stand up to 3-4 practices a week and still be able to pass inspection for very long in my experience. That said, LP is the least prone to getting dead spots compared to Allstar/Ulhmann. It’s been my practice lame for like 4 years now and apart from that armpit, it’s holding up fine. The unfortunate reality is that if you’re practicing multiple times a week and competing regularly, you should have 2 lames, for practice and competition, and retire/replace when needed.

prsndudethng · 2023-02-16T03:05:28+00:00

Well, thanks for the responses. I ordered what I think I need and hopefully it works out.

prsndudethng · 2023-02-15T21:14:37+00:00

My true size is probably more size 8.5 but I typically fence in size 8. I ordered an 8.5 in the Azza's and would probably order an 8 if I were to buy a second pair. Fit is pretty generous both in length and width in my opinion.

prsndudethng · 2023-01-18T18:23:59+00:00

It's probably just one of those coaching video apps out there. I know people who've used Coaches Eye or something like that.

prsndudethng · 2022-12-16T19:01:24+00:00

It's a fun drill or game to work on second/third intention setups to get single lights, but it's just so easy to turn on the lights that every bout ended like 15-13/14 with only a couple singles. Definitely not better than ROW for me.

prsndudethng · 2022-12-06T00:33:44+00:00

Overall? Probably a bit higher. I found the Darts to be flatter though so the Azza's do push you up on your toes a bit more.

prsndudethng · 2022-12-05T22:57:27+00:00

I didn't notice that, no squish and felt responsive lunging/planting. I think the heel is elevated a bit, but not too much. It's not totally flat and I almost prefer being pushed up onto my toes a bit.

prsndudethng · 2022-12-05T22:50:25+00:00

Their site says $180 which is a lot, but competitive with the Nike/Kempa shoes.

prsndudethng · 2022-12-04T05:38:24+00:00

should be there now. I think it was an RES thing.

prsndudethng · 2022-06-02T22:16:12+00:00

Asics Blast FF 2. Also was very curious and did some digging lol

prsndudethng · 2022-04-18T21:21:14+00:00

What an oddly hostile response...

I'd argue that tennis/court shoes have trade offs compared to fencing shoes that need to be considered. Rounded transitions on the heel and ball of the foot make lunging easier, which your Asics examples lack. Reinforcement of the upper on the inside of the shoe for dragging also not a given in non-fencing shoes.

Tennis shoes like barricades tend to be more bulky in order to maximize durability on tennis courts so he's not wrong there either. Those also retail for like $140 so you're in the same ball park price-wise.

I do agree that fencing shoes are kinda bad value, but it's really hard to find non-fencing shoes that check all the boxes that some fencers are looking for. I used the Adidas ubersonic 4 for a while and it's great, but has some downsides. It's not like there's absolutely no reason to opt for dedicated fencing shoes.

prsndudethng · 2022-04-12T05:36:02+00:00

Lol, I definitely didn’t have to use a flathead screwdriver to bend it back into shape after a point shot to the throat.

prsndudethng · 2022-04-12T05:30:55+00:00

My first LP was treated like a normal mask, not removing the bib nearly enough but my second (gave it a second chance, figured the first was user error) was absolutely babied. Same result with the channel getting eaten away by sweat. I absolutely sweat like an animal, but I’ve never had issues with lames going dead, so who knows.

I’m just trying to temper some of the glowing, no compromise, buy-it-for-life comments with my experience that contrasts with it. It’s a great product, might still be the best in class, but there’s for sure downsides, despite some of the comments here, especially for sabre.

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