Advantages of stiff or whippy foil blades

[DarkTransient]

Mass has something to do with a flick. The reason a flying bullet is so deadly is because its velocity is so great. Remember, the energy of the velocity gets suared. However if you reduce the mass of the bullet enough, it won't do any damage. Air molecules in the atmosphere for example, travels at speed in excess 1000 miles per hour, but you can hardly feel anything. Why? Because they have too little mass. In our example, mass happens to be the dominant factor. I used the number 170 km/hr was greated exaggerated, most people can't flick their balde that fast(probably at half of that speed of less). In fact I suspect only a few Major League picthers can achieve that kind of speed. And even so, 170km/hr(47m/s) is still far slower than a speeding bullet(>= 333 m/s), so you really can't compare a speeding bullet with a flick. Also, when a flick go bad and becomes a slap, it hurts more, doesn't it? Why? Because you are hit by larger portion of the blade(i.e. more mass.) And sometimes you can hardly feel a good flick, why? Because only the tip of the blade is hitting you, and it has negligible mass.
What Nous wrote is probably the most scientific message I have read so far. The duration of the impact has everything to do with why you feel a flick hurts more sometimes. Although a flick has less enegery, it gets delivered over a shorter period of time as well. So despite a flick has less total engery, at any moment during the impact, a flick is actually deliverying more energy(dE/dt ) to the target.

[attila]

Gabriel

Sorry ,I though you were lumping me in with the non-flicky scrubs. Man, there is nothing like landing the perfect flick-- where they just look at the box ans say,"Where the hell did that land?"

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"Kill the men, save the women, and by the gods, do not spill the wine"

[space_cadet]

1. This is a pointless discussion on the differences between a flick and a thrust.
2. Watch World Cup/World Championship/Olympic video tapes to see the proper way to flick. I myself have changed the way I flick after watching one.

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Cadet à Space

[DarkTransient]

The question was really "Thrust and flick, which one can hurt more." not "How to flick"

[attila]

I thought it was "Mathematical proofs for the Insipid" Silly me...

[DarkTransient]

Without math there would be no internet, and you wouldn't be able to write anything on this board.
So do you really think math is that insipid?


[This message has been edited by DarkTransient (edited 05-04-2001).]

[attila]

Math is not insipid. Only people can be insipid. And people can use math insipidly, just like I use my keyboard to be insipid. Was that clear???????????? Who cares. I think this thread has gone beyond a post mortem. How about we let it rest and start a new one.
I am definetly bored with this one....

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"Kill the men, save the women, and by the gods, do not spill the wine"

[Stryder]

I want the names of everyone who thinks a flick doesn't hurt. I will meet you at Summer Nationals and teach you the error of your ways.
I promise not to hit flat. Not once.

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www.geocities.com/strydermike

[space_cadet]

To Stryder,
That all depends on who is flicking and how the flick lands.

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Cadet à Space

[attila]

Hi Space

I'm pretty sure Stryder meant that "we" CAN land a very hard flick IF we wanted to. I know I have. I had a weak fencer slap me around one time too many with flat hits. I lost my cool after he smiled after the last one. The went after him with one light flicks and I landed them HARD but dead on. The last hit was to the collar bone and he did drop to his knees. No cards. The guy was such a jerk even the ref was glad I nailed him. I am a bad man, I will go to hell, I'm sure my reservation is already in.........

[Stryder]

I had a student that was exceptionally strong for a 15 year old 6 footer. I taught him to flick hard every time. He never hits flat unless you force him to by counter-attacking, and those are about the only times he doesn't hurt you.

Be afraid, be very afraid.

He is great motivation for proper distance. (and one-lighters)

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www.geocities.com/strydermike

[arcon]

[ 10-23-2001: Message edited by: arcon ]

[DarkTransient]

11 mi/hr is more than enough.
Anyone doesn't think a thrust hurts more, next time someone fleches at you, counter attack, make sure you get IN his way and let the blade stab you right in the chest and tell me how great it feels.

[This message has been edited by DarkTransient (edited 05-07-2001).]

[attila]

DT

Man, give it a rest. I take double hits in epee just like you say and they do not hurt nearly as much as a hard foil flick. Just what are you fencing with, broom handles?

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"Kill the men, save the women, and by the gods, do not spill the wine"

[DarkTransient]

You are having a hard time grasping the concept that a thrust hurts? Well, you probably fence against women and children a little too often.

[darius]

I'm with Atilla on the broomsticks comment -- there are exceptions, but the grand majority of thrusts that I take don't hurt at all. (Pet theory: if it was close enough to hurt, I should have been getting the heck out of Dodge...)

Same with flicks. But you can deliver devastatingly hard flicks which *do* go off. They're especially good if done to the chest up in the solar plexus area, where there's not much padding, only bone.

Dark -- I'd put a good sum of money on the women and children I train with against the hulking beasts you must fence every day.

darius

[space_cadet]

Please, can we let this topic die?

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Cadet à Space

[DarkTransient]

Darius,

Don't go to Las Vegas.

[attila]

HI Space

You're right. This will be my last post on this thread. It has become obvious that DT knows nothing about fencing. Or else he is just a troll. I'd like to see him fence one of my girls. I have two that could probably drop him....

Later

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"Kill the men, save the women, and by the gods, do not spill the wine"

[DarkTransient]

Let me explain something to you Attila

Bra Bra BrraaaAA Braaacckkkk~