Unorthodox moves - share your story

[hammockbear]

what is the most un orthadox or craziest attack parry or move that you have witnessed or heard of? successfull or not.

don't get me wrong i am not all about weird things i just had these thoughts and wanted to ask.

[fencingfrog]

definitly "going squirrel." its when you snarl and make faces at your opponent, put your hands in claw shapes on the sides of your head. but it doesn't really work cuz it's only used against people who are in on the joke. if you do attack with it, it gets pretty messy though.

[Mauler]

I once won an electric Sabre tournament by keeping my guard BEHIND MY HEAD the entire day.

See if you can visualize this.... I'm right handed. Guard behind my head... Blade sticking out from left side of my head. @) ^__^ -----------

This is when I first went to an area where 1) they've never heard of electric Sabre (we brought loaner equipment), and 2) they didn't appreciate the "modern development" of granting Right-Of-Way to someone who didn't have the arm fully extended, and 3) they were abhorred by the message of the infidel that Sabre fencers no longer need to make an edge-cut (or tip/top third of the rear edge) for a valid touch.

Particularly, they were quite displeased with the notion that footwork has any relevance to determining Right-Of-Way. I just wanted to make a little point. So I never extended my arm the entire day.

Majority of my hits were one-lighters.

To this date, I have repeated this feat on two occasions. Under similar circumstances, and for the same reasons.

[rcmatthews]

nothing like a good shaming, i used a sabre 6 multiple times yesterday just to prove to myself that i could, and for a little humiliation

[Beowulfman6]

These guys came to one of our tournaments asking if it was legal to use what they called the "Russian Strong-arm" technique wherein the french foil is held backwards with the thumb pointing towards the pommel and the blade going the wrong way.

My coach deemed it not necessarily specifiacly illegal, but he would not allow it (abnormal movement?). They didn't try it, but I had hoped they would so I could teach them how useless it was.

[peet]

is an attack that an epeeist at my club has patented. It's ludicrous. He spreads both arms reeeeeally wide (like wings, get it?), runs at you, and lets out a huge "RAAAWWWRR!!!"

And then pegs you in the chest while you freeze, thinking "WTF??", too stunned to react.

Now while you are thinking either "That's not that crazy" or "This guy's probably a real putz. I'll bet he sux", consider these:

1 He once pulled out the 'dactyl in overtime in the semi-finals of our sectional championships. When he had priority. And won.
2 He once placed second in the Div1A ME at Summer Nats, and holds numerous VME medals.

We can occsionally get him to do it if we quietly chant "ptero-dac-tyl, ptero-dac-tyl, ptero-dac-tyl" near his strip. Then when he does it we all cheer and laugh uproariously.

-p

[keropie]

Originally Posted by Beowulfman6

These guys came to one of our tournaments asking if it was legal to use what they called the "Russian Strong-arm" technique wherein the french foil is held backwards with the thumb pointing towards the pommel and the blade going the wrong way.

Must have been one of the people connected with (or who had at least read) one of the threads started by the people who purport to be from Western North Carolina University. I hope he was kidding, and that whoever made those posts was kidding.

[Padawan]

No, they weren't kidding they showed up at one of our tournaments in Gastonia trying to pull the same "technique"

[Padawan]

For those of you who have fenced my ex (tracy) you may have encountered the widowmaker move. parry two, close on opponent, coupe, holy sh&% where is she going to place that ............

[Mauler]

Originally Posted by Beowulfman6

.... "Russian Strong-arm" technique wherein the french foil is held backwards with the thumb pointing towards the pommel and the blade going the wrong way....

This grip doesn't allow their thumb to be within 2 cm from the guard, hence illegal. Having practiced weapon forms involving "reverse blades," I can empathize with their wish to try alternate techniques. Just not in fencing.

If any of those folks showed up on my strip,

1) Yellow Card for delaying the bout
2) most likely Red Card for disobeying the referee
3) Red Card for consequent unjustified appeal
4) Red Card for disturbing order on the strip with their stupidity
and while I'm at it, 5) One Red Card for each sock if I can see skin

And probably in the absence of medical authority,

6) Black Card for doping, because they must be on something.

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by Mauler

This grip doesn't allow their thumb to be within 2 cm from the guard, hence illegal.

It was specified that they were using french grips. I don't believe that french grips require the thumb to be within 2cm of the guard. :)

-B

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by peet

Now while you are thinking either "That's not that crazy" or "This guy's probably a real putz. I'll bet he sux", consider these:

1 He once pulled out the 'dactyl in overtime in the semi-finals of our sectional championships. When he had priority. And won.
2 He once placed second in the Div1A ME at Summer Nats, and holds numerous VME medals.

However, winning does not establish that he is not a putz.

[Frank Pratt]

Originally Posted by Beowulfman6

These guys came to one of our tournaments asking if it was legal to use what they called the "Russian Strong-arm" technique wherein the french foil is held backwards with the thumb pointing towards the pommel and the blade going the wrong way.

My coach deemed it not necessarily specifiacly illegal, but he would not allow it (abnormal movement?). They didn't try it, but I had hoped they would so I could teach them how useless it was.

Originally Posted by oiuyt

It was specified that they were using french grips. I don't believe that french grips require the thumb to be within 2cm of the guard.

-B

I agree; I think the rule only applies to orthopedic grips. I think it would be legal, unless the referee decides that this is "abnormal fencing action" and issues a Group 1 Penalty.

Besides, a fencer with small hands or a long thumb might be able to get his/her thumb within 2cm of the guard by bending the thumb down towards the bell (e.g. put the thumb over the pinky, not the 1st finger.)

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by Frank Pratt

I agree; the rule only applies to orthopedic grips. I think it would be legal, unless the referee decides that this is "abnormal fencing action" and issues a Group 1 Penalty.

Or dangerous.

Or violates the nature of fencing as a courteous and frank encounter.

Or is disorderly.

There are enough rules that are intentionally left open to referee interpretation that this should be easily disallowed. The manner of holding the weapon not having the thumb within 2cm of the guard is not, however, one of them.

-B

[Mauler]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

It was specified that they were using french grips. I don't believe that french grips require the thumb to be within 2cm of the guard.

Ooooo. I missed that. D'oh. OK, I'll have to choose from dozens of other reasons for "taking care of that customer" then.

[Beowulfman6]

Originally Posted by keropie

Must have been one of the people connected with (or who had at least read) one of the threads started by the people who purport to be from Western North Carolina University. I hope he was kidding, and that whoever made those posts was kidding.

They are from Western, they did start those threads, they were not kidding, and they did do it at one of Padawan's tournaments and bragged about it later. He also showed up at the event (in January) shirtless, with pimp pants, a crooked derby, and Bling-bling.

Originally Posted by Mauler

6) Black Card for doping, because they must be on something.

Mauler, if you ever met these guys you would have even more reasons to believe this.

Honestly, we have dual meets with Western every now and then and they are good people and fun to fence with, but they just keep getting stranger every time I see them (they would consider this a compliment I believe).

[peet]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

It was specified that they were using french grips. I don't believe that french grips require the thumb to be within 2cm of the guard.

-B

NO WAIT!

A chance to apply the most ridiculous rule in the book! how can you pass it up????

Originally Posted by the rules t.16

1. Method of holding the weapon
t.16
However, the weapon must not be — either permanently temporarily, in an open or disguised manner — transformed into a throwing weapon

I'm not totally sure this means the same thing those guys were doing, but I think I'd be applying that rule anyway, just to say that I had!

-p

[peet]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

However, winning does not establish that he is not a putz.

True, winning was supposed to persuade you that he doesn't suck.

I guess you're just gonna have to take my word for it that he's not a putz. He's actually a really solid citizen, great fencer, and all around nice guy.

cheers!

-p

[knave]

Originally Posted by Mauler

Ooooo. I missed that. D'oh. OK, I'll have to choose from dozens of other reasons for "taking care of that customer" then.

How about failure to obey the referee's instructions to come on guard? If they can't come on guard in six or three (which I doubt they can holding a reverse grip), they are not properply on guard and ready to fence.

"On Guard."
<pause>
"On guard, please."
Yellow.
"On guard, please."
Red.
<repeat>

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by knave

How about failure to obey the referee's instructions to come on guard? If they can't come on guard in six or three (which I doubt they can holding a reverse grip), they are not properply on guard and ready to fence.

They could get en guarde normally and then switch.

It doesn't really matter; they're going to lose the bout anyway and you'll be rid of them then.