10-06-2005, 05:17 PM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: FENCING!
Posts: 336
| Armband Ranking in Canada
I did a search and didn't see a post on this. My apologies if there is one.
Let’s hear from the Canadians out there.
We all know the CFF's whish to institute Armbands in every club, but as yet it is not mandatory.
Has your club picked it up yet?
Do you like the idea?
Are there any countries outside of Canada that are currently doing this?
To give you non-Canadian's out there the full picture it is just like belts in Karate. Canadian Fencing Federation Documentation
Personally, I don't like it. It will just be another reason to charge members $ for "testing". It is possible for someone to know everything about how to fence, but still be a bad fencer. Our head coach wants to institute this soon. 
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Winning isn't everything, it just lets you fence longer.
Minute help entrusting which it knows it gives. -- Translated by Google from a Vietnamese post.
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10-06-2005, 05:24 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,234
| It seems interesting - mainly given that the aim seems to be to develop fencers into coaches.
The stages is of skill development chart is worth nailing to a wall.
What is your problem with it?? It seems slightly more healthy than the Southern Canadians obsession with ratings.
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10-06-2005, 05:34 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: FENCING!
Posts: 336
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by keith It seems interesting - mainly given that the aim seems to be to develop fencers into coaches.
The stages is of skill development chart is worth nailing to a wall.
What is your problem with it?? It seems slightly more healthy than the Southern Canadians obsession with ratings. | When I was young, my father forced me to join Karate. I hated it. I guess I don't like the association.
We were charged for "testing" to gain a new belt. (As if it isn't expensive enough)
The higher belts picked on the lower belts.
I also guess I'm more of a traditionalist. I don't think of a fencing master as a whatever degree black band. I also think that it is more arbitrary than ratings, not that I'm obsessed. 
__________________
Winning isn't everything, it just lets you fence longer.
Minute help entrusting which it knows it gives. -- Translated by Google from a Vietnamese post.
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10-06-2005, 05:52 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cougar Country
Posts: 8,696
| I could see it could have a real psychological advantage/disadvantage in a tournament setting. Could you ignore a black, brown or blue arm band on your competitor when you’re a white or a yellow?
Knowing someone's ranking is one thing.... having it stare back at you as you attempt to focus on your bout...
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Wedding guest comment on KL & SH's wedding: Quote: |
Originally Posted by BAKER/the/swd/grl lol this reminds me of the prison documentary I saw. ew. | Kinda glad it's invite only.  | |
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10-06-2005, 05:58 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,234
| well leaving aside the psychological scars.........
I'm not sure that it would be such a big deal at competitions - after all sooner or later you have to learn to just fence the person on the other side, irrespective of FIE gear, bandana, or little coloured bands on their arm......
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10-06-2005, 07:22 PM
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#6 | | Bitter young coach
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area
Posts: 4,501
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by CheekyCanuck When I was young, my father forced me to join Karate. I hated it. I guess I don't like the association.
We were charged for "testing" to gain a new belt. (As if it isn't expensive enough)
The higher belts picked on the lower belts.
I also guess I'm more of a traditionalist. I don't think of a fencing master as a whatever degree black band. I also think that it is more arbitrary than ratings, not that I'm obsessed. | I'm inclined to agree, although I liked karate when I did it. I like the more casual feel fencing has vs. oriental martial arts, and I don't like how a myriad of ranks can separate fencers, and even drive a wedge between fencers and coaches.
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"If I were ever to challenge you to a duel, your best bet would be battle axes in a very dark basement." Misquoted from The Prisoner
"Technical excellence is the antecedant of tactical creativity." - Nat Goodhartz
But those things which belong neither to God nor to Caeser, feeleth free to writeth them off, for yea, they are deductable.
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10-06-2005, 08:26 PM
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#7 | | Fencing Expert
Join Date: May 2000 Location: The valley of the -hot- sun, NorCal
Posts: 3,184
| It's been done in France for a while now, only for kids though, and they love it.
We don't have armbands however, just little tags that you can sew on your jacket.
I don't think there are as many levels as the proposed CFF change, but there is a specific tag for kids who know how to referee well (can't remember what color right now).
The neat stuff about this is that it gives kids an event to look forward to, as they can take the test every year, at the end of the season. And it gives them a good measure of their technical progress, as opposed to how many competitions they won, which at this age isn't really an indication on how well they can fence, despite what many coaches in the US would like parents to think.
__________________ - Epee is the Louis Vuitton bag of fencing: only the best can get it, and the rest of the masses must content themselves with cheap knockoffs (sabre, foil)
- To not recognize the power of the French grip is to be in denial
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10-06-2005, 08:42 PM
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#8 | | Bitter young coach
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area
Posts: 4,501
| At what age do they stop using this system?
__________________
"If I were ever to challenge you to a duel, your best bet would be battle axes in a very dark basement." Misquoted from The Prisoner
"Technical excellence is the antecedant of tactical creativity." - Nat Goodhartz
But those things which belong neither to God nor to Caeser, feeleth free to writeth them off, for yea, they are deductable.
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10-06-2005, 09:13 PM
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#9 | | Fencing Expert
Join Date: May 2000 Location: The valley of the -hot- sun, NorCal
Posts: 3,184
| Cadets <characters>
__________________ - Epee is the Louis Vuitton bag of fencing: only the best can get it, and the rest of the masses must content themselves with cheap knockoffs (sabre, foil)
- To not recognize the power of the French grip is to be in denial
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10-06-2005, 09:56 PM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 294
| My coach has basically so far ignored the implementation of this thing. I dont hate it, I see the utility for the kids, to give them some extra incentives to learn the various aspects of the sport. Dunno if the adults need it, however... Won't get tested until am required to do so myself. | |
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10-06-2005, 10:44 PM
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#11 | | Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 30
| ...? I didn't have to pay for my testing...
As for the intimidation factor of armbands, if you fence some people that have them you'll soon pick up on the fact that people with much higher level armbands can turn out to be horrible fencers. Some guy with a green who I fenced a while back, he sure knew some advanced techniques and such, much more than what I know, but he couldn't string it all together into a coherent package. Armbands, at least up to green (I haven't seen a single person higher than green), just mean the fencer can demonstrate a few tricks when 1-on-1 with a coach. Maybe at higher levels they mean something, but really, they are no indicator of a tough opponent. | |
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10-06-2005, 11:26 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New York City
Posts: 552
| We use something like this at NAFA. It's a wonderful motivator for the kids and the tests not only measure their progress, but give them various skills, abilities, etc., to focus on developing.
We don't charge for the tests, however.
I would also add that our tests are pretty challenging, so when a kid reaches a higher level, he feels a significant sense of accomplishment. | |
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10-06-2005, 11:37 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Athos FC ~)---------- San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,246
| I think it would be really cool to have armbands to show your rating, no need for any testing or whatnot, just a different color for each USFA rating. It would be an insentive to go to competitions and do well if you know everyone will see your rating when they look at you. It would also be great for spectators to be able to look around and get some information on who's who, and the ratings of people in a bout.
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10-07-2005, 03:29 AM
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#14 | | Épéeist Hive Queen
Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sweden
Posts: 12,658
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by veeco We don't have armbands however, just little tags that you can sew on your jacket. | We have the same in Sweden for kids/young teens. They can take 'exams' earning a blue or a yellow (different levels of technical knowledge) patch that they can sew onto their off jacket arm.
I suppose it's encouraging, like earning the different belts in judo etc. so I think it's agood thing. 
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10-07-2005, 02:31 PM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: right here, on your screen
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Originally Posted by OROD I think it would be really cool to have armbands to show your rating, no need for any testing or whatnot, just a different color for each USFA rating. It would be an insentive to go to competitions and do well if you know everyone will see your rating when they look at you. It would also be great for spectators to be able to look around and get some information on who's who, and the ratings of people in a bout.
. | Different color and size codpieces?
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Cross me and you'll find that under this playful boyish exterior beats the heart of a ruthless sadistic maniac. ~Blackadder http://fencingblog.wordpress.com | |
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10-07-2005, 02:33 PM
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#16 | | Bitter young coach
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area
Posts: 4,501
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by needle Different color and size codpieces? | Wouldn't THAT make nationals interesting.
__________________
"If I were ever to challenge you to a duel, your best bet would be battle axes in a very dark basement." Misquoted from The Prisoner
"Technical excellence is the antecedant of tactical creativity." - Nat Goodhartz
But those things which belong neither to God nor to Caeser, feeleth free to writeth them off, for yea, they are deductable.
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10-07-2005, 02:43 PM
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#17 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: calgary,ab,canada
Posts: 2,413
| not too off topic but is there good epee fencing in alberta?? | |
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10-07-2005, 03:00 PM
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#18 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: right here, on your screen
Posts: 1,642
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by RITFencing Wouldn't THAT make nationals interesting. | Well, FIE wants TV appeal, I think this would actually draw more attention than other crap they are trying to pull 
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Cross me and you'll find that under this playful boyish exterior beats the heart of a ruthless sadistic maniac. ~Blackadder http://fencingblog.wordpress.com | |
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10-07-2005, 03:17 PM
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#19 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cougar Country
Posts: 8,696
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by glowstix not too off topic but is there good epee fencing in alberta?? | Quite a number of good epee fencers are in Alberta, Glow. The most notable is Sherraine McKay, who came out of Alberta.
Both SJB & Jbirch come to mind as F-Netters that are in that province. Here's the link to the Alberta Fencing Association web site. Alberta Fencing
If you are considering moving there, you might want to choose Calgary over Edmonton. Calgary has a great Epee club and the weather is milder.
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Wedding guest comment on KL & SH's wedding: Quote: |
Originally Posted by BAKER/the/swd/grl lol this reminds me of the prison documentary I saw. ew. | Kinda glad it's invite only. | |
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10-07-2005, 03:28 PM
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#20 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: London
Posts: 1,216
| Quote: |
Originally Posted by veeco We don't have armbands however, just little tags that you can sew on your jacket. | Technically, we don't have armbands, either. Just little tags (much like swimming badges) that can be sewn onto jackets.
They're only called "armbands." A more descriptive term would be "fencing badges." | |
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