Worst Fencing Injury

[Catlady]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by Hecuba:
<strong>So, how come almost all these injuries are puncture wounds?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">The truth is injuries of the kind you've described in your post account for almost all fencing injuries. As the faq says, you're more likely to twist/tear, or bruise something than have a dramatic injury. I've seen my far share of the above in my few years in the sport.
I guess we're just going for the most dramatic injuries, as well as the ones that have the potential to be serious. What I mean is various sprains etc. can hurt incredibly, and in some cases may require surgery, or extensive rehabilitation, but they are unlikely to kill you.

If you ask about the worst injury I've sustained, not all the ones I've heard of, or seen others sustain, it would amount to some really scary bruises and a pulled muscle or two. Considering how weak my ankles are--I've twisted one just walking down the street before--I'm suprised I haven't hurt one yet while fencing.

[John Nguyen]

True story...

I was teaching this guy some footwork and basic fencing, because I was supposedly the best at it in the club at footwork, well, this guy is sort of "uncoordinated" and doesn't listen, so he does wild footwork, and windshields all his parries. To start the "lesson" I say..."how about we free fence to see what we need to work on!"

BAD BAD BAD MOVE!!!

in front of the girl im dating, I teach him a few things, and we start fencing, As we start going at it, he starts going all over, and even when I call halt, he's still attempting to STAB ME!!!

Not Lunge, STAB!!!

Eventually, I try to turn and run, and the ENTIRE blade manages to seek out my *** , and whip it with the force of a batter's swing. After yelling halt ONE final time, I fall to the grass, next to leaves of the Clubs fake trees he decided to "edward scissorhands" on

All the while, my girl is laughing at me, while im lying on the ground grabbing my *** !

I had a welt for three weeks!!!!

NOT FUN!
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

[John Nguyen]

Might I add, THIS WAS FOIL!!!

THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN FOIL!

[epeefencer74]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by lochinvar:
<strong>D'Art, I can't speak for 50 years ago ( ) but I can speak for 30 years ago, and:

Yes, there were these kinds of injuries back then, too.

It's in the nature of the sport. Put two metal rods in people's hands and tell them to poke at each other, and these things happen. Considering the number of bouts that take place in a given year vs. how many injuries of this type there are, I'd say we have a pretty good safety record!

As for hits to the groin, they come with the territory. (I was clocked in the 'nads myself before I started wearing a cup--believe me, it wasn't fun!)
Solution: Always wear your cup. I've yet to hear of anyone being injured in the groin while wearing one. (Well, I have heard of one alleged case, but that's not my story to tell... and besides, I'm not sure I believe it. )</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Hear hear, I coach in a boys school and b/4 every comp and training, I check to make sure they are wearing a cup & breeches. How? well make them all line up, feet shoulder width apart, and I flick at their nads with an eppe . All those with breeches on but no cup suffer the pain and humiliation of no doing as told. Plus they have to drop and give me twenty push ups.

[epeefencer74]

There was one incident recently at our national under 17s comp. One of my students parried 4 and riposte as his opponent, left handed, was charging at him. His epee broke and penetrated his jacket and chest. According to the doctor, another centimeter in and 2 cm to the left he would be dead. The boy was not wearing FIE regulation jacket as this was not a grade A comp. Also he had no plastron under the jacket he was wearing, which was required of this comp, but I suspect the director didn't check.

Another incident that occurred many years ago. One of my senoirs was fencing in a local comp ( can't remember which one) when his opponent's blade broke, penetrated his breeches and tore his scrotum. It required seven stitches after that. After that incident our club instituted a rule that all members must wear a cup (see my ealrier post).