Équipements électroniques

Electronic Equipment

This post explains the use of electronic fencing equipment, and how they work.

Fencing is a fast sport, and with the rapid movements and constant whirring of blades, it takes a keen eye to follow the bouts and judge them correctly. Luckily for referees, the invention of electronic scoring equipment came about and is now used in tournaments, as well as national competitions, including the Olympics.

Equipment

Body cords - in a bout, each fencer is connected to a body cord 

that runs up through their jacket, out the sleeve of their sword arm, and to the special plug on the inside of the bell guard of the electric weapon. The other end of the cord is attached to the reel that runs to an anchor at either end of the strip, which runs back to the scoring machine located parallel to the center of the strip. [1]

Scoring machine - the machine has four lights - two white lights and one colored light for each fencer. When a touch ensues, a buzzer goes off and a light lights up on the side of the fencer who was touched. If both lights go off at the same time, the referee determines who touched first, 

or in the case of foil and sabre, who had right of way. [1]

Electric Scoring

Foil

For foil, the fencer must wear a lamé made of a metallic material that acts as a conductor for an electrical current. The tip of the electric foil has a button on the end so that when a certain amount of force (0.1lb) is applied, the button depresses, activating the current. When a touch lands on an opponent's lamé the scoring machine lights up, indicating a valid hit. If the touch was off-target (not on the lamé), the scoring machine would light up white, indicating an invalid hit. [1]

Épée

For épée there is an open circuit set up by the system, which is closed when a touch is landed. If the tip touches the opponent's bell guard or the piste nothing happens, but otherwise when a touch is landed the buzzer goes off and a colored light lights up, as there are no off-target hits in épée. [1]

Sabre

As all hits above the waist are valid in sabre, the fencer must wear a lamé that covers the torso and arms, as well as a metal mask and a metal glove. The electric system is a closed circuit like foil, but as sabre is a slashing weapon the entire blade is hot and the target lamé closes the circuit connection. The scoring is the same as for foil, except that off-target hits don't register on the machine. [1]

New modern, wireless scoring systems now eliminate the need for the constant tug of the reel connecting to the body cord, as a wireless receiver-pack was created that is worn on the back of the fencer's waist, about the size of a cigarette pack. [1]

Sources

1. How Fencing Equipment Works. howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 2013-12-3.

Travail de lame

Blade Work

In this post I mention the different kinds of blade work used in fencing, and their uses.

Perhaps the most notable part of fencing, the use of blades sets the sport apart from the rest. Blade work can be defined as actions of a weapon's blade, stemming from the the grip from the fencer's fingers, wrist, arm, and body. For the most part the weapon is advanced and withdrawn from the target by the fencer's feet, with a few exceptions.

Blade Work Techniques

1) The Straight Thrust
The precursor of all blade actions, the thrust is the offensive presentation of the weapon to an opponent using only the extension of the arm as the delivery system, within striking or touch range to be effective. [1]

2) The Four Takes Of The Iron
             1) The Bind - semi-circular diagonal transfers, the principle ones are six, four, seven, and
                       eight, but two, three, five, and one can work just as well.
             2) The Cross - a mini-bind, usually taken from six, moving the blade down to eight. A
                        vertical semi-circular transfer.
             3) The Envelopment - a very small, tight motion, where the fencer moves the tip of their
                         blade around the opponent's bell guard, at the same time trapping/enveloping their
                          blade. Can be either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the location of the
                         opponent's blade. The main focus is to sweep the opponent's blade away from the
                          fencer's target area.
             4) The Opposition - the blade is used to shove aside the opponent's blade, can be taken in
                          six, four, seven, and eight. [1]

3) The Four Attacks Of The Iron
             1) The Beat - to beat or strike the opponent's blade, should be taken with the center of the
                          blade, which is the strongest part.
              2) The Expulsion - the center of the fencer's blade lies across the weak part of the
                          opponent's blade, and suddenly with great force snaps the opponent's blade downwards,
                          wrenching their wrist in a disarm.
               3) The Glide - when the fencer's blade runs quickly and lightly along the opponent's blade,
                           landing a touch in the same line.
               4) The Press - an attempt to push the opponent's blade aside or out of line. [1]

4) The Disengagement
An attack where the blade travels from one line to another, passing under the opponent's blade.
                Derobement - a type of disengage that is used to evade any of the takings of the iron, or
                           attacks of the iron.
                Trompement - a type of disengage that is used to evade an attempted parry. [1]

5) The Cut Over
A simple, indirect attack executed by moving the tip of the blade from one line to the opposite line over the top of the opponent's blade. [1]


Sources

1. Essentials of Fencing Technique. acfencers.tripod.com. Retrieved 2013-12-3.

Avantages pour la santé de l'escrime

Health benefits of Fencing

Many people who think about fencing probably don't realize how demanding the sport can be on the body. Fencing takes an incredible amount of concentration, stamina, and strength. The sport has a wide variety of health benefits, both physically and mentally, to any of its participants who take the sport seriously.

Cardiovascular workout:

Each fencing session is a full-body workout demanding movement from your feet all the way up to your shoulders. It's very fast-paced with intense explosive movements and even quicker counterattacks. In a short period of time, fencers can really get their hearts pumping, so it's not a surprise that fencing is a great cardiovascular exercise. [1] During an intense cardiovascular exercise, such as fencing, the oxygen levels in your blood rise. [2] As your heart rate increases blood vessels in the body widen, which then carries your oxygen-rich blood to your muscles and removes waste. [2] With all the benefits of a cardiovascular exercise, fencing is a workout that strengthens the heart and lungs. [1]

Stamina workout:

Fencing helps develop endurance, muscle strength, and coordination. [1] The positions and movement in fencing must be precise. During a match, a fencer's legs and arms are constantly moving. A fencer’s strength and muscle endurance are extremely vital in order to keep that precision throughout the match. If a fencer starts to become fatigued during a match their precision and reactions will start to slow.  

Mental workout:

Fencing is a workout for the mind as well as the body and can help develop problem-solving skills. [2]  It's referred to as a physical chess game because of the logic and strategy behind the movements. [1] During a match, fencers must make split-second decisions to try to outwit their opponent. There is no repetitive pattern in fencing because fencers have their own unique style, so the brain must constantly be thinking and looking for openings while reacting to each attack. [2]

Hello, my name is Briana, author of http://curiousaboutpaleodiet.wordpress.com/.

 A big thank you Megan, who was kind enough to let me guest blog for her today over the various health benefits of fencing! I hope everyone found this post helpful!

Sources

1. The Health Benefits of Fencing. livinghealthy360.com. Retrieved 2013-11-21.

2. HelathBenefits (Sic). fencingforfitness.com. Retrieved 2013-11-21.

La deuxième interview

The Second Interview

For this next post, Elizabeth Kensinger - one of the older fencers in the club - was kind enough to let me interview her in order to gain insight into a more experienced fencer's view on the sport.
Here are her answers:

1) How long have you been fencing, and what made you start in the first place?

I have been fencing seriously since October last year. I started my freshman year - all the way back in September of 2010 - but had to quit due to my weird commuter schedule.

2) What is your weapon of choice, and why?

I prefer épée and have been fencing that weapon since January this year. I will fence foil every so once in a while. I tried sabre but it's really not my thing! Great to watch, though. Épée strategy just clicks with me, and I like the opportunity the weapon rules provide for precise touches, like the wrist and foot.

3) What do you like most about the training?

I get a lot of satisfaction from that I get out of training - of course, I'm usually not happy when I'm doing it! Conditioning helps build muscle, increases your stamina, and will help make you faster. Drills develop muscle memory, so your reaction times are faster, your parries smaller, and your point control is better.

4) Have you been to any of the tournaments, and if so what's your favorite part about them?

I've been competing in tournaments since January of this year, which makes three. I also spectated during a tournament in the fall last year, which I highly recommend. Tournaments are a great opportunity to watch and compete against other fencers, which broadens your skill sets. Plus, you get to participate as a group and cheer on your teammates! I like to photograph during the tournaments as well, when I'm not on the strip.

5) What parry do you tend to use the most and why?

As an épéeist, I do a lot of parry 6/8 and circle 6/8. My parry seven is so weak! Since I'm short most people aren't making lowline attacks, so they're somewhat out of practice. Parry 6 is definitely my bread and butter.

6) Do you adjust your fencing style when fencing certain opponents, or generally just fence them all the same?

I definitely adjust to my opponent! That's what fencing is all about. You figure out what your opponent's strength and weaknesses are, then you develop a strategy to counter them. This is why fencing many people is so important; you are forced to develop a wide skill set.

7) In your opinion, what is the most important thing to practice?

It's difficult to say what the single most important thing to practice is because good fencers have to rely on a variety of skills. Being weak in any area can be easily exploited by your opponent, so it's important to vary your drills and practices. Keep in practice with the basics, like footwork. Even the Olympians do it! Your parries may be perfect, your attacks perfect, good strategy, but poor footwork will sink you.

8) What do you think the most important thing to remember when fencing your preferred weapon is?

Épée is difficult because though you have the whole body as target area, you're not protected by right of way. For short people like me, that means it's especially important to control distance, to be able to close distance quickly, and to be able to take control of your opponent's blade. I tend to be much more defensive because of this; it is easy for my opponent to counterattack me if I am not careful. This is just my technique, however-- I've seen quite successful short people who fence aggressively.

9) Do you own your own equipment, and would you recommend beginners getting their own?

I do own my own equipment, which I actually purchased very recently. I caution most new people to hold off on buying equipment because they simply don't know what they want or need, and they may not stick around. If you're committed to continue fencing an you know it's still right for you, do your research before you buy. Get actual advice from others and try our their equipment. You'll get a better feel for what kind of grip and blade work best for your style, what masks fit best, and the like.

10) What advice would you give someone just starting out in fencing?

The best advice I can give a new person to the sport is that it is as much of a mental game as it is a physical one - or even more. I notice that on days when I don't feel very confident in my capabilities, I don't fence as well. Uncertainty and fear will destroy your game - just committing to your attack will make your lunge longer and faster. Negative thoughts cloud your judgment and make it more difficult to notice small tells and make quick decisions. So it really is all about loosening up and having fun with your bouts. Your opponent will really appreciate it, too.

L'interview

The Interview

I recently sat down with my friend Dante and asked him his opinion on some fencing questions, so hopefully this lends you a bit more insight into fencing. Enjoy.




Record and upload audio >>

Jeu de jambes

Footwork

In this post I mention the different kinds of footwork used in fencing, and their uses.

One of the most essential disciplines in fencing aside from blade work, footwork is the art of moving the feet to achieve advances, retreats, and different attacks in fencing. Footwork also works to maintain the centered balance of the fencer, as well as controlled movement.

The constant drilling of footwork exercises helps the fencer's movement to become fluid and to center their weight so that constant changes in the tempo of their actions won't throw them off balance.

Footwork Techniques

1) The On Guard Position
All techniques must start in the same On Guard (En Guarde - French) position. This is where the fencer's center of balance places their body weight evenly over both feet. Both feet should be shoulder-width apart, with the front foot facing forward, and the back foot turned to the side, perpendicular to the front.  
                Foil - It is advised to have the back foot turned forwards slightly, as that allows for more rapid advances and retreats.
               Épée - The same is true for épée, although the stance should be more upright, as it presents a less-immediate target to the opponent.
                Sabre - The same as foil, only with the body weight slightly shifted to the back foot, allowing for a more rapid advance. [1]

2) The simple advance and retreat
On the advance, the front foot leads followed by the back foot, and on the retreat the back foot leads followed by the front foot. The shoulder-width spacing between the feet should be maintained with every movement. For the advance the front foot will initially land on the heel, then the back foot will land either flat or on the ball of the foot, just as the toe of the front foot touches the ground. The opposite is true for the retreat. [1]

3) Crossover forward/ Crossover backward
In the crossover forward the back foot is brought in front of the front foot, then what was the front foot is brought back to the front in its original position.
In the crossover backward, the front foot is brought behind the back foot, and then the back foot moves back into its original position. [1]

4) The Check Step
The check step/ check, is an effective way to confuse the opponent. On the advance check step the fencer takes a half-step forward with the front foot, indicating an advance, then quickly takes a full step back.
On the retreat check step the back foot takes a half-step backwards, indicating a retreat, then quickly takes a full step forwards. [1]

5) Gaining on the Lunge
This refers to gaining ground before executing a lunge. The back foot is brought up to touch the front foot, making sure the opponent notices the action, before preforming a full lunge. This technique can result in two to three feet being gained, disrupting the tempo and cadence of the bout. [1]

6) Front Foot Withdrawal/ Reassemblement
Characterized as being a short retreat, it is preformed by moving the front foot back until it touches the back foot, generally followed by a reverse lunge. [1]

7) The Jump Lunge
The focus of the jump lunge is more forward acceleration than elevation, generated by the front foot with a kicking action. [1]

8) The Jump Backward
A reverse jump lunge with a backward momentum generated by the back foot with a backwards kicking action. It's a quick way to evade an attack. [1]

9) The Lunge
The quickest and most effective available attack to a fencer. First a thrust is executed, where the fencer extends their sword in the direction of the opponent. The front foot then lifts from the strip and kicks forward as the back foot propels the body in a forward motion and locks straight, with the inside of the foot resting on the strip. The non-sword hand is then thrown back, resting parallel to the back leg as a counter balance. [1]

10) The Flash Attack
Varies depending on the dominant hand of the fencer, the flash attack begins with a thrust from the blade, while at the same time swinging the back leg around the front leg, throwing the weight of the body forward. The back leg continues until it's well in front of the front leg, and the blade then strikes its target. [1]


For more advanced techniques there can be multiple footwork actions to one blade action, but techniques such as that must first be taught slowly, before being brought up to fencing speed.


Sources

1. Essentials of Fencing Technique. acfencers.tripod.com. Retrieved 2013-11-14.

La Préparation

The Preparation

This post will discuss the different forms of preparation a fencer should take before engaging in the sport.

As with any sport, fencing requires a certain amount of preparedness that should be practiced initially, before the fencer even picks up their blade. There are three different types of preparation - mental, physical, and tactical. Taking into consideration each step of each type of preparation will aid fencers in their strife to become the best they can be at the sport.
Below I have listed the steps necessary to each of the types of preparation.

Mental Preparation

- includes the development of reasoning skills such as logic, strategy, tactics, and self-control.

Fencing tactics - the proper application of fencing techniques with precision to score touches and not be scored against. Takes note of timing and distance between an opponent, and consistently introduces variety to foot and blade work actions and responses. [1]

Observation - having an instinctual knowledge of an opponent's potential actions and responses is important to successful fencing. The ability to discern the personality type of the opponent has been proved to better predict their actions, so observation is key for this idea. [1]

Motivation - the drive associated with personal values and needs that stimulate an individual to specific sets of activities to achieve a goal/set of goals.
           Positive motivation - based upon a positive or desirable reward compensation.
           Negative motivation - has no value regarding athletic achievements.
           Realistic goal-setting - both short and long term goals should be placed for practices or
                                            competitions to motivate the athlete to work to achieve the goals. [1]

Games - logic-based games such as chess my also have a positive effect on fencers. [1]

Physical Preparation

- includes participation in sports that promote aerobic capabilities, physical strength enhancement, stamina promotion, and hand-eye coordination. [1]

Pre-season - before a fencing season starts, it is important to keep up physical prowess by doing activities that promote speed, endurance, flexibility, agility, and power. Should also include review of basic fencing footwork and blade work, and practical application of fencing actions as they apply to strategy and tactics should be a main focus. Individual lessons should not exceed 30 mins, and should be at least three times a week. [1]

Competition season - physical activities should include non-fencing workouts, but should be centered on fencing. Individual goals are then set for the season. [1]


Tactical Actions

- the proper application of fencing techniques with precision to score touches, and not be scored against. Basically a combination of both mental and physical traits, fencers have to first understand their opponent, before deciding the best way to attack them, and what the outcome will be. [1]

Plan - fencing champions already have plans in place as they approach the strip, they are trained to follow through with a series of strategy-based actions to provide them with necessary information about their opponent. These actions are called reconnaissance, or exploratory moves, and include: attacks, false attacks, feints, changes in timing, footwork variations, parry riposte exchanges, body evasions or displacements, invitations, and responses to second intention actions. [1]

Distractions - used to hinder an opponent's game, include: point-in-line, changes in footwork tempo, conversation, blade work and footwork combinations, ballestra, fleche, and even asking to straighten a blade or tie a shoe. [1]

Control - tactical fencers control the bout by making their opponent respond while they attack at inopportune times, while they use as little energy as possible and their opponent expends their energy resources. [1]

Second Intention Actions - a coordination of both blade and footwork to elicit a specific reaction from the opponent. A good example is the launching of a short attack with no intention of landing a touch, then waiting to parry the opponent's predictable response, and winning a point. The Second Intention is one of the most important lessons a fencer can learn. [1]

Sources

1. Essentials of Fencing Technique. acfencers.tripod.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.