Fencing videos online

[Craig]

Both use RealPlayer:

LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS 1998 video Men's Sabre TARANTINO (ITA)/CASERTA (ITA)

EPEE Féminine FLESSEL (FRA) - HOLZKAMP (GER)

[Peach]

The Tarantino-Caserta bout isn't terribly complex, but boy is it entertaining--Tarantino is such a ham. That simultaneous action with the simultaneous and nearly identical yells is hilarious, particularly for the aftermath.

[Nemesis]

thanks for those videos - are there any foil ones on the web?

[Tomas N]

I have to admit that I haven't seen good sabre fencing in a while, but I can see why no one, other than a fencer, would even be remotely interested in watching that sabre bout. It's utterly incomprehensible to the untrainted eye. We're almost better off having no high-level fencing footage available to the general public if we want to popularize the sport.

[edew]

With regards to spectator appeal, the Caserta-Tarantino bout was not the greatest one. One reason is because both are from Italy, and both know each other's fencing style, intimately. Without the country vs country battle, and without some uncertainty, the bout became not much more than a friendly sparring bout between two teammates.

Watch the 2000 Olympics individual and team sabres and tell me whether they're as dull as the Caserta-Tarantino bouts.

On the other hand, the 1998 WC had other great bouts. I especially liked the men's team foil with Poland coming from a deficit. The team sabre was also very good, with Hungary coming back from a deficit. Even team epee was good, with Hungary again coming back from a deficit. The short-stick of all those, of course, was France, and that made it especially enjoyable.

[sabreur]

Actually, the fencing in the Tarantino-Casserta bout is pretty good. Footwork in particular is exceptional. This was before the newer, stiffer blades, so there is little blade work, although the final touch is a lovely pris-de-fer by Tarantino.

Regards, Mark Ray

[masterrock]

I'm with Nemesis. Why no foil?

[veeco]

Originally posted by edew:
<STRONG>With regards to spectator appeal, the Caserta-Tarantino bout was not the greatest one. One reason is because both are from Italy, and both know each other's fencing style, intimately. Without the country vs country battle, and without some uncertainty, the bout became not much more than a friendly sparring bout between two teammates.

Watch the 2000 Olympics individual and team sabres and tell me whether they're as dull as the Caserta-Tarantino bouts.

On the other hand, the 1998 WC had other great bouts. I especially liked the men's team foil with Poland coming from a deficit. The team sabre was also very good, with Hungary coming back from a deficit. Even team epee was good, with Hungary again coming back from a deficit. The short-stick of all those, of course, was France, and that made it especially enjoyable.</STRONG>

Hey Eric, how many countries can get 3 gold medals and 3 silvers in a world championship and still be called a short-stick? I don't know of many...