Cheating stories

[ebonylevin]

So has anyone actually done anything to cheat? Probably no one is going to answer this but it might be interesting to see.
When I was younger I used to be tiny and I had a mask that some people swore I was able to crawl inside to hide my target and not get hit. Thus I was called a snail, Not cos I was slow but because I was able to retract into my shell when threatened.
And the usual "Oh dear god someone's attacking me" and try and parry with both hands.
But not any more I'm to big to snail it and covering target just gets you carded.

[Kalishnikov]

You know, I don't think I've ever heard of anyone cheating or even discussing methods of doing so in this sport.

For some reason that has always struck me as a little unusual considering how competitive some people can get.

[KD5MDK]

Then you haven't:
1) Taken a ref's seminar
2) Hung out with armorers much
3) Been listening all that closely, as far as I can tell.

I've never materially cheated; in sabre it's almost pointless as well as difficult and wrong. I may have crossed my feet in sabre a time or two to get a counter-attack or something. I am however very tempted to build an epee with a switch in it to see if referees catch it. Goal is to do it well, not to catch the really lazy ones who just look for two pieces of spaghetti, if that.

[keropie]

I would say that there is a significant difference between 'cheating' and some of what is mentioned (occasionally covering target or crossing your feet in saber, for instance). Somethings just happen once in a while by accident, and especially if caught, are a far cry from someone who methodically covers target, or who builds an epee with a switch, or what not. As for my personal experience, I've accidentally done a few of the former (caught a weapon between my weapon hand fingers once in foil without setting it off), but never the latter.

My favorite time was when I stepped on a foil in NCAA competition, and the opponent complained. The ref asked what his foil was doing on the ground . . .

[JMcC]

Yes, that is why I asked the question. I wasn't sure if it was as you described or just the lame' that was tight.

That's why I described it as the gray area. The chest protector was beneath the jacket, so it was legal; but its incorrect size (much to large) was obvious.
Now I know these kids grow fast, and they can outgrow a lame in a matter of months so they may well be illegally small; but this was a clear case of the lame being the correct size for the fencer's build and the chest protector being clearly too large.
He reminded me of a 12 year old a few years back who fenced with a mask with a bib that was adult size (or darn close to it) and came well down his chest, covering a noticeable amount of lame target. Folks grumbled about it, but at the younger events it seems more things like this slide by.