Worst Fencing Injury

[Maestro]

[quote]Thought about "Maestro" as a name when I joined but just seemed a little pretentious (sorry Maestro). <hr></blockquote>

Don't be sorry, I fence sabre and we like to talk about ourselves... but no more pretentious than many of the other names... And most of the good names were already taken.

[D'Artagnan1673]

Yep, look at my name. I take the name of one of the "reatest swordsmen of all times, even if its only in literature. However, I with my skills wouldn't stand a chance against my namesake.

At the same time, I acknowledge my mortality by adding 1673, the year that D'Artagnan dies in Dumas' novels.

[ 05-08-2002: Message edited by: D'Artagnan1673 ]</p>

[edew]

[quote]Originally posted by neevel:
<strong>Point snags on glove, blade breaks, goes up the velcro/body cord opening, up the jacket sleeve, up the sleeve of the underarm protector, and punctures about an inch into the chest (just getting through the chest wall and nicking the lung). All the proper protective gear was there, but things went exactly so that the blade bypassed it all. Happened to a friend at U. of Iowa while I was in grad school there. Fortunately, the Field House in Iowa City is right next door to the University Hospital.

-Dave</strong><hr></blockquote>


Something similar happened at Stanford last year. Sabre sparring bout. Broken blade went up the arm, impaled in the arm for about six inches in the forearm. Went to Stanford hospital, got it taken out and all's well. No, didn't happen to me, happened to another teammate.

What else: two foilists I know have had brain tumors. Still up and about and fencing. Another teammate was whacked upside the head with a flick. Bled a bit.

[lochinvar]

[quote]Originally posted by ScorpionDevil:
<strong>You guys make me scare to go to my next tourny</strong><hr></blockquote>

Don't be afraid. Chances are excellent that you will never (or at most once) see or be involved in any accident or injury beyond that considered normal and usual in any sport: rolled ankle, pulled muscle, bruise, welt, etc.

The spectacular injuries are rather like the Sea Monsters that used to decorate the edges of old charts... often spoken about, but seldom if ever encountered in person.

[veeco]

Yesterday, fencing saber:

Score is 4-3 in my favor, I do a double advance lunge, and on my lunge, my mask falls off while my opponent parries, and riposte goes... to my head, which is now unprotected. Hit me on the ear, but I'm OK.

[135711]

[ 05-22-2002: Message edited by: 135711 ]</p>

[135711]

[ 05-22-2002: Message edited by: 135711 ]</p>

[haggis]

Maestro

Of course, a sabreur. A breed known for their modesty and quiet self-deprecating humour.

Lochinvar

While you're absolutely right to offer reassurance that fencing is generally a pretty safe sport and that serious injuries are very rare, I could have added the tale attached to the three inch scar just past the wrist on my sword arm (gained when fencing foil, so at least I didn't concede the hit ). Alternatively the story of the pierced 800N Kevlar jacket (from Leon Paul)that failed to save me from collecting another three inch scar, this time on my bicep. Ok, no scaremongering, I don't to stop anyone from sleeping at night and, to be fair, I'm still fencing, walking around unaided and sucking in the air.

[soos]

Smirnov died after a foil got into his head through an eye ....

should be the worst ...

[135711]

<img src="graemlins/jawa.gif" border="0" alt="[Jawa]" />

[ 05-22-2002: Message edited by: 135711 ]</p>

[Purple Fencer]

[quote]Originally posted by soos:
<strong>Smirnov died after a foil got into his head through an eye ....

should be the worst ...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Dude, I beat you to it waaayyy early!

[135711]

[ 05-22-2002: Message edited by: 135711 ]</p>

[edew]

[quote]Originally posted by 135711:
<strong>enough about dining room.

I just saw that Stanford lost a long time female fencing coach as of May 1,2002, she died at age 82.

]</strong><hr></blockquote>

Funny, I've not heard of any 82-year old female coach of Stanford who died on May 1, 2002.

[Inquartata]

[quote]Originally posted by Maestro:
<strong>

Don't be sorry, I fence sabre and we like to talk about ourselves... </strong><hr></blockquote>


"But enough about me...what do YOU think about me?"

[Bebop and Rocksteady]

I once got flicked on the butt

[Fencing Angel]

LUNGE BUTT!!! for 4 1/2 days.. Just TRY and do stairs when you've got that.... i dare ya..

[Purple Fencer]

[quote]Originally posted by Bebop and Rocksteady:
<strong>I once got flicked on the butt </strong><hr></blockquote>

The first time I sparred with Freewind in sabre, he went for a flank cut and went a touch low...the stripe on my butt took a week to fade! OUCH!!

[D'Artagnan1673]

I had a guy flank cut me in foil just a short distance above my groin. That was scary. Of course, this guy was/is an accident waiting to happen.

Part of fencing is taking the risk of an injury. It is highly unlikely that anyone will see injuries like what have been mentioned here. Still, its good to know what can happen. There are always going to be incidents, but I think that personal control could aid in avoiding some of the injuries that we see.

Now I am quite aware that I am going to be heavily flamed for posting this, but I want to know everyone's thought on this. One of Nick Evangelista's complaints of the pistol grip is the added chance of injury. I.E. Two people lunge at close distance. With a French, I can completely let go of the weapon in a fraction of a second, thereby saving the other person bodily harm. He says that with a pistol, this isn't quite as easy since the grip lockes your hand in to an extent. I've never fenced with a pistol long enough to run into this, but it does sound logical. I don't think that it would matter too much once the blade breaks. I imagine that it usually breaks against the body, therefore no matter what grip you use, its going it before you can stop it. I think the point is that you are less likely to hit at the force that breaks a blade with a French.

Any thoughts? I'm using a flame retardent monitor so give me your best shot!!! <img src="graemlins/fett.gif" border="0" alt="[The Fett]" />

[D'Artagnan1673]

For those of you who were fencing when Smirnov was pierced with the foil blade, some questions:

1. What was your reaction? Were you scared the same thing might happen to you?

2. Did the German fencer who killed Smirnov continue to compete at the tournament? Did he retire shortly afterwards?

3. How about the German and Russian teams? Did they continue to compete?

4. What was the atmosphere at the tournament after the incident?

I remember watching a cheasy sword movie called By the Sword where the protagonist performes a passata sotto, the blade breaks on the stomach; he brings the point up and it goes straight through the mask. Anyone else see that silly movie?

[Inquartata]

[quote]Originally posted by Purple Fencer:
<strong>

The first time I sparred with Freewind in sabre, he went for a flank cut and went a touch low...the stripe on my butt took a week to fade! OUCH!!</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well, that'll teach you to parry seconde if nothing else will...