An unrated veteran foil fencer. A closet epeeist, a sabreurre wannabe-- I can't really help myself; I love the sport! I expect the best from fencers, am disillusioned at the politics in fencing and of fencers behaving badly.
Last night Sid and I were bouting, and I happened to hit my opponent on the sleeve milli-moments before he landed his attack. Of course the light was yellow. And then it hit me: is it legal, or ethical, or just a matter of personal style for a foilist to hit off target in countertime to negate a valid touch from the opponent?
We actually stopped on the strip and discussed this and some remarks were, like, "Why hit off target, why not just hit on target and score?" and "Is that legal?" "How could a referee definitively warn a fencer about that if it is playing dirty?" My answer to why not just hit the target is, there are moments when I know I am not capable of landing a valid hit and I know I am in imminent danger of being scored upon, but an off-target touch is within my reach, and I can stop the action with that move.
Yeah, I know the correct response is to retreat (parry by distance) or beat the blade (take ROW) before finishing, but this option just presented itself subliminally. (And DO NOT suggest I switch to epee.:P)
05-06-2009 12:40 PM