What to expect..

[ThornOfTheBlood]

After missing the bus today, and after getting past the thoughts of my mom killing me for it, I started to think about the JOs. After qualifying last Sunday for U17 in epee, (U20 or 19[whichever it is] isn't till the 4th of December) I was wondering what I can expect.

It'll be my first JO ever, and despite the fact that it's in Texas, and I'll have to fly there and take a few days off school(THE PAIN lol) I was honestly curious about what all I can expect.

I most likley won't get qualified for U20/19(again I'm not sure if it's U19 or U20 so I put both) because there are some serious *** kickin' fencers going. i've already started working my butt off to prepapre physically for it, and thus far I just need to get a stencil kit for my knickers and a new mask because mine is pretty beaten and I don't want it to fail the test and not have a backup.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

After missing the bus today, and after getting past the thoughts of my mom killing me for it, I started to think about the JOs. After qualifying last Sunday for U17 in epee, (U20 or 19[whichever it is] isn't till the 4th of December) I was wondering what I can expect.

It'll be my first JO ever, and despite the fact that it's in Texas, and I'll have to fly there and take a few days off school(THE PAIN lol) I was honestly curious about what all I can expect.

I most likley won't get qualified for U20/19(again I'm not sure if it's U19 or U20 so I put both) because there are some serious *** kickin' fencers going. i've already started working my butt off to prepapre physically for it, and thus far I just need to get a stencil kit for my knickers and a new mask because mine is pretty beaten and I don't want it to fail the test and not have a backup.

Well, big tournaments like JO's, Natls, NACS and such, are usually very uptight about schedule, so you need to stay on your toes all day. Make sure that you get to the pool postings quick, same thing with DE postings. Make sure that you get to your strip quickly. Expect to see 500+fencers all with their own agenda, trying to get to where they need to go, no mercy. You need to be a dog out there. Expect the refs to penalize you for everything you do wrong. Hmmmm.... expect it to be very crowded, so finding a place to setup camp is going to be difficult. Also, watchout for theives. Make sure to have your weapons and bodycords in good repair. Heres a layout of what you need to do.

1. Sign in
2. Get weapons and mask checked
3. Recon the place for restrooms, vendors, bout comitee, strip placement, and food places.
4. Find strip assignment.
5. Setup camp on your assigned strip.

If ya see me there, honk.

[ThornOfTheBlood]

I would of course if I knew what your last name was.(I saw a pic of you before though so yeah..)
Thanks for the info

[O_O]

dont lose, because if you do everyone you know will hate you.

[Monkeyboy]

dont lose, because if you do everyone you know will hate you.

I heard that at JO's almost half of all fencers are eliminated in the first round of DE's...Must be some dang good fencers attending those things...

[Insipiens]

I heard that at JO's almost half of all fencers are eliminated in the first round of DE's...Must be some dang good fencers attending those things...

Uhh. the point of a DE is to eliminate half the fencers.

[achilleus]

Really, tournaments are the same no matter what event, no matter where, and no matter how large they are.

You will be seeded into a pool of 6-7 fencers. You will fence them. If you advance from the pools, you will be seeded into a direct elimination table. You will then fence till you lose or you win the event. Sometimes, they have repechage, or a double elimination table, in which case you will fence till you lose twice, or make the 8.

Expect you'll travel, see something you never imagined possible (more fencers than you ever dreamed of all in one room), but you'll still fence the person directly across from you.

So, go in with an open mind, expect nothing but to fence and you'll do fine.

[telkanuru]

Uhh. the point of a DE is to eliminate half the fencers.

The ability to detect sarcasm is your friend

[noodle]

JOs are one of the toughest tournaments in the country. don't expect to roll up and win. the competition is VERY tough.

[MHS Fencer]

JOs are a funny little tournament - "the day of the no-name" was my favorite moniker for it. It's a lot of people (like you) who aren't the regulars at the NACs, along with those regulars who choose to tough it out/need the points to make a team. There are good fencers there, but most of the people are not the greatest - if this is your first time your goal should be to make it out of pools - two wins should make the cut.

It's better if you see the venue the night before/get your body cords/masks checked then so that you can have plenty of time to warm up in the morning - make sure you get to the venue way ahead of the close of registration (I would get there at 7-7:15 for an 8am close). It will appear overwhelming at first, but enjoy it - it's fun. It's nice if you have a team mate to warm up with, but if you don't you can probably find somebody in your exact situation and just warm up with them (which will, of course, assure that they are subsequently in your pool and then your DE draw).

It's a tournament, like any other, just on a bigger scale than you're used to, and probably with better fencers than you're used to in the u17 age group (it's u17/u20 for JOs and NACS, it's u16/u19 for summer nationals).

[ThornOfTheBlood]

Ok, thanks for all the info. I KNOW there will be a lot of better people than me.(if it helps I have a C04 in epee and I'm 15 btw) Uhm..thus far it looks like it will be a ton of fun.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Ok, thanks for all the info. I KNOW there will be a lot of better people than me.(if it helps I have a C04 in epee and I'm 15 btw) Uhm..thus far it looks like it will be a ton of fun.

Lets meet on the metal.

[SouthPaw]

I've always found JO's to be harder than NACs and other tournaments. Maybe just bad luck on my part with pools. Hopefully this year is a year for change! I'll be there most likely, fencing U20 though. Good luck!

[canthidefromme]

...Expect the refs to penalize you for everything you do wrong...

And some things you do right.

[hscoach]

[QUOTE=D+F+P=Hadouken!]Well, big .

1. Sign in
2. Get weapons and mask checked
3. Recon the place for restrooms, vendors, bout comitee, strip placement, and food places.
4. Find strip assignment.
5. Setup camp on your assigned strip.

Order is wrong...Have your weapons,cords and masked checked first!!! Depending on the day the line can be very long. If you are there the day before your event you can have this done then. Make sure you have extra cords, and swords. Find a place to warmup and if you are the only person from your club you can ask someone who also looks "lonely" if they want to warmup with you. This is also a great place to get good buys from the vendors.

[ThaProfessor12]

I second getting your stuff checked first , preferably the night before because the line builds up quickly. If you cant make that happen try to get a parent or a friend who isnt fencing that day to get your stuff checked while you check in (only you can check yourself in so dont have someone else do it and go to check your stuff). Then warm up , stretch take a lesson , etc. and have fun