Chest Protectors for Guys

[MikeHarm]

While pain can discourage you from doing things wrong, the opponents light going off is as effective if not more so. I don't think worrying that lowering the pain level of fencing would slow your training is a good reason for not wearing a chest plate.

Originally Posted by Artisan

What better way to become a cautious, smart, wiley, careful epee fencer. I was tempted to make padding for my arm when I started epee. I looked like a serious IV drug user. My arm hurt just being attached to my shoulder. Instead I stopped fencing like a foilist and starting fencing epee, and now rarely get bruises. When I do its a good reminder that something went wrong with my distance, timing, or other part of the game.

[C.J.]

Ok, guys, I have bought one from PBT and have been using it for a couple of weeks and here is my verdict: two thumbs up!!

I personally feel that it doens't really impede your performance at all; it's doesn't make you sweating more than what your jacket already does; it lasts.

One of the best fencing euipment I've ever bought.

[MyraTrue]

LIKE the avatar, by the way, C.J.!

And I'm glad you're happy with your purchase. I know I'm biased, but I always did like mine. *gives it a big hug of appreciation*

[boing]

i'm happy for you CJ! personally, wearing a chest plate is a huge relief for me, especially as a female. rather than worrying about getting hit, i can be more aggressive and focus on fencing (although people still complain i'm still not as aggressive as i should be lol). also, during exercises where me partner lunges at me while i stand there, i don't cringe <--hit me, i'm not scared!! lol.

[esskreemr]

How 'bout points? Seems to me, as someone mentioned earlier, it'd be easier to land a solid hit on a plate than a pec since there is less give. Any noticeable difference?

[C.J.]

Yes, I have a few lucky touches scored against me that would not have registered normally. But I have also noticed a minor increase in flicks that landed flat on my chest. So I guess that sort of balances out.

Note that the chest plate can be extremely uncomfortable if you wear tight a jacket.

[germanguy]

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[C.J.]

I think I have learned my lesson the hard way already. There is no need to be reminded periodically. In addition, without having to worry about getting a nasty one in the chest, I find myself performing a lot better when my opponent fleches at me.

[R. Exnicios]

I'll admit, I wear a chest protector when I fence Epee. I don't use it in the higher rounds but I like the safety it gives against beginners. I became a believer after a VERY late hit by a beginner dead center in my chest that knocked the wind out of me. Yes he got a red card but after that I wear the chest shield only for epee and only when I think there will be a few out of control beginners.

Cheers

[Rolls]

As a guy who has been hit hard in epee, foil, saber, and other sports...

I can't believe that I would EVER wear a chest protector. I don't even wear a cup. I haven't ever been hurt fencing (I have received bruieses to just about every part of my body).

I would worry more about a slippery floor than wearing a chest protector. I simply do not think it is necessary for men.

Rolls.

Note: I realise that for some coaches and during some drills, repetitive hits to the same place can be painful. But a coaches jacket is usually plenty to deal with said situation.

[MyraTrue]

I don't even wear a cup.

*cough* *cough* *cough* no children *cough* *cough* *cough*

[Artisan]

Originally Posted by Rolls

I don't even wear a cup. I haven't ever been hurt fencing (I have received bruieses to just about every part of my body).

There's a saying amongst motorcyclists: There are only two kind of riders; riders who have crashed, and riders who are going to crash....

Inevitability.

No Cup? I suspect that you haven't taken a shot to the 'nads yet then. Its just a matter of time - don't worry though the day will come, and it might look something like this:

3rd DE at important tournament, maybe you are the underdog, fencing the top seed. Holding your own against this guy, he changes tactics and starts closing distance for the infight. You attack with a beat feint decieve. He finds your blade in six - you miss the disengage... uh oh.. . he binds you in a high prime as he steps in... you're caught flat footed... his guard is at his forehead, point down, wrist cocked... time slows - it's a "Matrix Moment" as the flick lands neatly on your right testicle. When the lightning of pain fades you're still curled up on the strip, trying not to wretch. At first everone is concerned for your injury, but when you gasp "no cup" through clenched teeth, suddenly everyone's expression changes to bemusment and they just walk away shaking their heads. You hear snickers. The ref calls you to "On Guard." You plead for your ten minutes but the ref is unsympathetic - you only get two and a sip of water. You continue the bout with a knot in your gut, still doubled over. Opponent scores three times in a row, embarassingly with flicks to your back. Its over - you've lost - all for want of a $5 piece of plastic.

[MyraTrue]

to further hijack the thread... something very like happened watching the foil pools at a recent open.

The score was 4-3, I beleive, and for the final 5th point, the foilist on the right fleches the foilist on the left, yelling "HAZAH!" The touche lands... dead on the junk. Of course, the happy yells are still going on as the now-victorious fencer turns and sees...

the other guy, doubled up writhing on the stip, weapon still in hand. (He later told me he felt really bad for having hit him in the junk, but at the same time, he should have been wearing a cup.) Several of us were trying REALLY hard not to snicker, because it obviously hurt like... well... you get the idea. But I will always associate "HAZAH!" with a shot to the junk.

I'm 5'6". I like infighting and have a low lunge. Its a matter of time before I cup-check you...

[C.J.]

Hey, thanks, Myratrue. I thought my avartar was cute, too. But too bad I can't say I created it myself.

[Rolls]

You've got to be joking. Maybe it's differnt when you get older, but at 23, these things just don't hurt.

I've been hit "below the belt" before. But it does not cause the body numbing pain that a kick or a baseball would. In fact, it wouldn't even cause me to flinch.

I'm not trying to be a manly man; I'm just being honest.

Hits to my off weapon hand are more painful. I would rate my most painful fencing experiences as 1) slipping on wet floor during a lunge and hitting my knee, 2) getting flicked to the off weapon hand. Both cases, I shook it off and continued fencing. Granted the time I hit my knee it took a couple of days to fully recover.

I think the whole concept of getting hit low has a reputation of supposing to hurt more than it actually does.

Let me repeat, for men, I don't think there's a lot you can do to get hurt fencing (exceptions being: punctured with broken weapon, torn ligament or tendon, broke bone which are all rare).

For the record, I don't think very many guys wear cups either. It's not required for a reason. It's not necessary.

Rolls.

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by MyraTrue

*cough* *cough* *cough* no children *cough* *cough* *cough*

Nahhh...he'll have kids, but they'll be stupid...

[kalivor]

Originally Posted by Rolls

You've got to be joking. Maybe it's differnt when you get older, but at 23, these things just don't hurt.

I've been hit "below the belt" before. But it does not cause the body numbing pain that a kick or a baseball would. In fact, it wouldn't even cause me to flinch.

Apparently you haven't been hit properly. The worst are hits to the leg.

Yes, to the leg. The blade bends, mightily, then snaps off the leg, and up ... it will floor you. While I've never been hit there with a baseball, and not kicked there since grade 2, it seems to me to be comparable.

I've been up 14-3 and nailed before. Luckily, I pulled it together in time to win 15-14. I was in my early 20's at the time, though perhaps not 23. Maybe 23 is a magical age at which the gonads are numb?

[Rolls]

Originally Posted by Purple Fencer

Nahhh...he'll have kids, but they'll be stupid...

Really, i'd bet wearing briefs is more of a threat to sperm count than fencing. And I think DNA and education would effect my children's intelligence more than my sperm count would.

Rolls.

[germanguy]

.....

[D'Artag-NOT]

Originally Posted by Rolls

I don't even wear a cup. I haven't ever been hurt fencing (I have received bruieses to just about every part of my body).

Rolls, one of the guys in my club learned the importance of the cup the hard way during a routine practice bout. Just watching him writhe on the floor made me queasy. Maybe you've got some macho thing going, but I think life hands you enough pain without going out and asking for it.

Someone's gonna ask my gender. Let's just say I don't wear a cup.