cup question

Are cups required at national event? I have read the post about it here and know that most recommend them, but I want to know if it is a rule- Dan Jenkins

[Clean Touch]

Are cups required...?!? You've got to be S-T-U-P-I-D not to wear one when fencing regardless of whether it's "required" or not. Jiminy Crickets, man! What are you THINKING?!? All it takes is one sloppy attack from a tired fencer and you're on the ground screaming bloody murder, or worse. Regulations, schmegulations: ALWAYS wear a cup!

This post may sound harsh, but the importance of wearing a cup simmply can not be overemphasized. Wear it.

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Est-ce que l'attaque bon? Mais Oui!!

[Moonitic]

What Clean said!

Women have to wear breast protectors, & believe me, if I had the choice, I'd rather protect a man's jewels over a women's breasts. And I'm a woman! It's insane not to wear one, yet so many men won't. I've heard they have done wonders in the soft cup industry, & that they're very comfortable (but if you're fencing epee, I think the hard one is still supposed to be used).

Why am I a staunch supporter of the cup? I don't feel it's fair that women have to wear protection (& knock on it) & men don't. I also have a son, husband, & male friends that I don't ever want to see screaming in pain.

WEAR A CUP! they were made for a reason!!!

[latenight]

No, there not. Yes, you should.

[Rapier9mm]

Can't say i have ever used a cup, nor do i intend to. I do admit to being hit there a few times, but most of the people at my club reccomend against it, like one guy for example got hit at the top of the cup, which normally would be fine, but,it pulled up & did more damage than good.
Also i see it impeading ease of movement, also the odds of being hit there are rather slim

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Reuben
"Le singe violet laveur de vaiselle"

[tsalyards]

Cups suck. My boys have to be able to breathe and dance during a boute! And, no they aren't required. Been fencing for 12 years and have never had an "incident."

-Tad

[Gav]

Each to their own guys.

If you don't want to wear a cup then don't. But you have to accept that if you have a serious injury that the blame rests firmly with yourself.

[eternal109]

I don't know what you guys are thinking by not wearing a cup. All it is going to take is one misplaced point on a lunge and your guys are going to go into hiding for the rest of your lives. Sorry if that gave anyone bad mental images. I also know that eventually i would like to have children one day and so I protect myself and advise others to do so.
As for limiting movement, thats something that after fencing with a cup for a while one learns to adept (sp) to and overcome.

[fred]

Ought to be a FAQ, I think....you have to have an underarm protector, but how you package the package is up to you.

I wear one, seems common sense to me in foil and epee, it's valid target. But it's like motorcycle helmets, I don't care if anyone else wears one, and don't cry if someone without protection gets injured, either. Evolution in action, I always say.

[Moonitic]

Hey, if you don't want your "boys" anymore, oh well! If you don't want children in the future, that'll keep the population for the planet down. But if you lose a nut & end up in the hospital (I did an article on this very subject...the stories I heard were NOT pretty, people), don't cry. Take it "like a man."

By the way, chicks don't dig the "macho" crap. That went out in the stone age, boys. We like men with BRAINS. Shish kebobed genitals are NOT brainy!

[tsalyards]

I'm extremely pleased that everyone is so concerned with the well being of my penis.

Let me state my case... Not wearing a cup doesn't have anything to do with being macho; it's a simple matter of preference. In my twelve years of fencing I have only experienced one massive gonading on the strip (and thank god it wasn't me). He lived, fathered children, the whole nine yards. If you have a decent uniform, the impact should be dulled enough as to avoid any permanent damage. If this were not the case, it would most likely be a requirement at tournaments. Since a cup is not the rule, I can only assume that it's really not an issue worth sweating about.

-Tad

[Rapier9mm]

Like peole say, everyone to their own. But it has nothing to do with macho crap, its all about preference. I fence at least 11 hours a week, and i seem to get out of it rather fine (so far). The worst that has happened to me is i got wrapped around, rather ironically, a Sabre blade.But definatly if you have good breeches & a good jacket, the risk is minimalised. Even though you wear a cup, there is no guarantee for protection, just ask my mate...

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Reuben
"Le singe violet laveur de vaiselle"

[Stryder]

Yeah, you're right guys. Who needs protective equipment! I thing the mask thing has been done to death too. Why don't we take fencing back to it's purest form? No steel masks to protect us from our own mistakes, no kevlar to soften the blow. When I miss a parry I deserve the bruise, are you with me guys?
Who needs gloves? And for that matter who needs bell guards? Let's all go out on the strip tomorrow without masks and jackets, heck! lets sharpen our swords, are we men?
I ask you are we MEN? Follow me then if ye be men of courage!
Charge!!!!!!!!!

(Sometimes natural selection acts a little too slow for my tastes so I like to speed things up with a good speech. I've already contacted the Darwin Awards, they'll be watching the news for fencing related deaths.)

[big poppa]

I saw i guy in the 86 nationals take a head cut (sabre) the downward stroke missed his head but it clipped the tip of his penis(ok don't even go there about head jokes). the fencer dropped his weapon,grabbed his groin with both hands and rolled on the strip better than any breakdancer i ve ever seen. use a cup, keep a cup never leave home without a cup.your nuts will thank you.

[mmatsen]

Part of the problem here is that cups are designed to protect you from getting nailed by 100mph hardballs or kneed by 250lb linebackers...they're really overkill for fencing, not to mention inappropriate - if one's stance is profiled, it seems like the point would be just likely to slide underneath from the side. And get caught there. Given that, I'll take my chances with the occasional close call.

(Besides, in epee, if his point is way down there, I ought to have had the touch already. If I get skewered, it's my own fault...)

Attention, fencing suppliers: If you design a protector that doesn't feel like I strapped a piece of crockery to my groin, you will become Rich, and the descendents of many foolhardy male fencers will thank you.

[darius]

At least in foil, what's going to get you is not a point hit, but it's a whip. Somebody comes in with point lowered and brings it up at the last minute to put the tip on target -- if their feet are a bit faster than their arm, well...you get the picture. In that case, a cup is a very good idea.

My low-line parries are pretty good, but why risk it? Beginners are subject to wild actions, children often hit low, and really good fencers sometimes do bizarre infighting things.

That said, to each their own.

darius

[Bugaboo]

After months of searching in vain for a cup large enough for my needs, I finally gave in and had one hand-crafted to my specifications. It was a little more expensive, but at least I'm protected now without being squeezed into a squeaky voice.

[RC]

I heard the distinct "Thunk" of metal on plastic this weekend and was able to clearly answer "No problem" to my opponent's murmured apology. Much more dignified than rolling on floor.


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"Etes-vous prets?"
"Oui!"

[Clean Touch]

you can say "I've never worn a cup for thirty years and never had an accident" is like saying "I've driven all your life and never gotten into an accident, so why wear a seat belt?" You never know if you're gonna get hit there, and that's the point: you just don't know.

Stryder: You know, when I find out a fencer's not wearing a cup I think of the Darwin Awards, too. Just read a couple of the funny stories on the boards and anyone can see the error of their ways!

Bugaboo: where did you find someone to make you a custom cup?

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Est-ce que l'attaque bon? Mais Oui!!

[Bugaboo]

C.Touch: One of my girlfriends is a blacksmith. Another is a stage costumer/seamstress.

They fought over the honor for a while until I explained I would reward both of them for their talents if they worked together. Problem solved!