Tim Morehouse - Fencing Blog

[Inquartata]

That high hand low hand rule is ridiculous. All I can say is what???????

Perhaps M. Roch doesn't believe that the low line in sabre is telegenic enough...

I can see this leading to a race to see whose hand can be "highest". Two sabre fencers on tip-toe with their arms strainght up above their hands.

Ben Igoe wins.

[edew]

I'm beginning to think that Tim's pulling our collective legs. He and the other guys are sitting around in their room thinking, "OK, what other goofy claims can I post on my blog?"

"Hey, how about 'it's a point in line after a straight thrust in saber, so that the defender has to clear the blade before making the hit?' I think that sounds reasonable enough to be swallowed."

"Yeah, and if they swallow that, we'll tell them that starting next season, a saber parry-riposte will earn two points."

"Hee-hee."

"snerk. gzhhk"

[Coldfire]

I actually laughed at that Edew ^

I met Tim before. He went to my school and I actually started in 7th grade like him and I fence saber but the year I started was when he left to go do other stuff other than coaching fencing

[Mihail]

That's so funny -- every day I wake up and hope the FIE has realized how ridiculous point-in-line is in sabre and decide to abolish the rule. Now they've just given it even more power. I'm getting a little fed up.

On the plus side, if this high hand/low hand nonsense actually goes into effect, it'll take away from some of the leniency Ivan Lee enjoys in the simul. But for the good of sabre, I hope it doesn't.

[Inquartata]

I'm beginning to think that Tim's pulling our collective legs. He and the other guys are sitting around in their room thinking, "OK, what other goofy claims can I post on my blog?"

"Hey, how about 'it's a point in line after a straight thrust in saber, so that the defender has to clear the blade before making the hit?' I think that sounds reasonable enough to be swallowed."

Unfortunately, I have seen such an action called exactly this way: failed cut turned immediately into PIL given priority over an immediate riposte. 2 members of the US senior sabre team in a gold medal NAC bout, Wes Glon refereeing...

[downunder]

You know what the great thing is... there is a very good chance none of these changes will effect you in the slightest, except for maybe an ancedotal story down at the pub.

The only world championships i have fenced at, foil fencers were carded for covering target if they so much as put their chin to their chest. This doesn't occur these days, and neither should these changes.

[sabreman]

"Yeah, and if they swallow that, we'll tell them that starting next season, a saber parry-riposte will earn two points."

I actually think this is a good idea. Similar to a three pointer in bball. High risk should be rewarded.

[Inquartata]

The argument, however, will be: US fencers will encounter these new dynamics when fencing in top world competitions, so they'd better practice and compete domestically under them as well, so as not to be at a disadvantage at World Cups. Ergo, it will be refereed that way at Div I level at least. And then it will filter down, because the next tier of fencers below the top---the hopeful entrants to the elite ranks---will also want to practice and compete under the new dynamic, so they are not at a disadvantage against the top fencers. And so on down the line...

Coaches with ambitions to produce top fencers will also begin teaching according to the changed expectations. So it may take a while to filter down, but at least in the US there is going to be an effort to encourage referee consistency, and there won't be "2 modes of refereeing" for long.

[downunder]

The argument, however, will be: US fencers will encounter these new dynamics when fencing in top world competitions,

not necessarily.

Like the foil experiance i posted, and like it usually is, this is probably one of those things that will last a week then be forgotten.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

However...a major change in actions interpretation for two completely separate fencing movements, right before the Championshiops, and with no discussion or prior notification?

This is ludicrous.

Especially for those saber fencers who specialize in a fast low-line attack off the on-guard line, this could be a match altering change of directing, if indeed it happens.

If I were fencing, and the high/low interpretation was called, I would summon the DT and demand to have them cite the FIE rule that codifies that call.

[downunder]

However...a major change in actions interpretation for two completely separate fencing movements, right before the Championshiops, and with no discussion or prior notification?

This is ludicrous.

Especially for those saber fencers who specialize in a fast low-line attack off the on-guard line, this could be a match altering change of directing, if indeed it happens.

If I were fencing, and the high/low interpretation was called, I would summon the DT and demand to have them cite the FIE rule that codifies that call.

ahahahaha

Aside from that it's all a point of fact and you can't do anything, this is standard practice for major events, so you clearly have no idea what you're talking about.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Funny...this is World Champs #5 for me, and this is a first: this level of rules interpretation change...if, in fact, it happens. So I would have some baseline for comparison.

Sure, if the director says: attack/counter with no elaboration, what would you do? Notice I said IF the high/low change was invoked, then you'd have a rules situation, which is an entirely different animal.

[downunder]

Funny...this is World Champs #5 for me, and this is a first: this level of rules interpretation change...if, in fact, it happens. So I would have some baseline for comparison.

Sure, if the director says: attack/counter with no elaboration, what would you do? Notice I said IF the high/low change was invoked, then you'd have a rules situation, which is an entirely different animal.

You maybe didn't see what happened in Linz with the covering target bull**** then.

This happens, regularly, i am made aware.

[Inquartata]

Like the foil experiance i posted, and like it usually is, this is probably one of those things that will last a week then be forgotten.

This is one case where I fervently hope that you are right.

[sabreur]

I actually think this is a good idea. Similar to a three pointer in bball. High risk should be rewarded.

Bull****. Hitting the other guy without being hit (within the framework of the rules) should be rewarded.

With a touch.

A SINGLE touch.

[sabreman]

Bull**** back to you too. LOL! It's never going to happen but it might be fun to play around with at the club.

[Inquartata]

Great, then we can have another branch of fencing, in addition to sport and classical. We can call it freestyle or catch-as-catch-can.

[oiuyt]

Can be used in a controlled bouting situation. Certainly I've used it as a fencer and as a coach.

Want to reward people for working on a specific move? Give a scoring premium to using it.

-B

[Goldgar]

Can be used in a controlled bouting situation. Certainly I've used it as a fencer and as a coach.

Want to reward people for working on a specific move? Give a scoring premium to using it.

You bet! I do that all the time. Otherwise, people tend to stay in their comfort zone.

[Grasshopper]

I heard that in 2007, when you get the final hit in a sabre match by parry riposte, you were allowed to decapitate your dazed opponent and say "FATALITY" while blood shoots from his neck.