Tim Morehouse - Fencing Blog

[Feraud]

Even better, how about 3 points for a counter parry riposte!

[edew]

I agree. At least in drills, the point value goes up after each exchange (including distance parries). However, in the drill, if you need to get to 15 to win, you must win by getting exactly 15 points. So if you're at 14, your opponent knows that you have to hit with an attack (so he'll constantly attack you to make your life hard). If you go over, you lose that many points. (So at 14, if you make a parry-riposte, you're down to 12.)

[Chafunkta]

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.

FINALLY!! Someone has inspired me to take up sabre.

[Inquartata]

Way to train your students realistically, guys.

Maybe you could also teach them that there are no time limits or minute breaks in bouts ( y'know, to give 'em endurance! ).

We have a saying in my line of work: Train the way you fight.

[sabreur]

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.

That's not what happens at all.

What happens is that you get this amazing pyro-electric display, and you take his/her Quickening.

Silly videogame player!

(And when I said, one point within the rules, I meant within the rules of right of way...)

[Craig]

That's not what happens at all.

What happens is that you get this amazing pyro-electric display, and you take his/her Quickening.

Silly videogame player!

(And when I said, one point within the rules, I meant within the rules of right of way...)

You only get that if you score on a headcut into their preparation.

[Craig]

Tim reported to me in email that the ruling that has had the greatest impact for the sport has been matching socks.

Reports from the FIE press office are the TV ratings are up by 25% over last year's world championships due to the increased uniformity of the fencers' attire.



























Tim saw edew's comment about him and the other MS guys feeding us a bunch of misinformation and tossed this one out just for him.

[oiuyt]

Way to train your students realistically, guys.

Maybe you could also teach them that there are no time limits or minute breaks in bouts ( y'know, to give 'em endurance! ).

We have a saying in my line of work: Train the way you fight.

In addition to, at times, giving a scoring premium to certain actions there are a number of other controls that I will impose:

* limited target selection
* required variation in target or scoring action selection
* pre-set scenarios (eg score is 1-3 for the left, 20 seconds remain)
* touches may/may not be scored in certain areas of the strip
* touches may not be scored using action X
* fencer X starts with rear foot on her endline
* stylistic requirements (both to help fencers learn to use styles outside of their comfort zone and to give their bouting partners experience against styles we might not naturally have on our team)
* etc., etc.

If fencers need work on a specific area it makes sense to spend more than average time on that area. Controlled bouts are one means to accomplish that goal.

We do a lot of training that isn't sharp tournament bouts. Some of that is controlled bouting. Other parts of it include blade drills, footwork, weight training, lessons, etc. Most recently we've started incorporating a number of "games" involving beanbags (thanks Jason!) that have received considerable positive feedback.

I think you'll find very few top-level serious athletes in ANY sport who exclusively train by engaging in their sport at full competition level. While sheer numbers don't make an argument in and of themselves, nor does merely citing experts' opinions, there does seem to be significant correlation between the actions of the best people and best practices.

-B

[edew]

Tim reported to me in email that the ruling that has had the greatest impact for the sport has been matching socks.

Reports from the FIE press office are the TV ratings are up by 25% over last year's world championships due to the increased uniformity of the fencers' attire.
[...]

Tim saw edew's comment about him and the other MS guys feeding us a bunch of misinformation and tossed this one out just for him.

I would have believed it!

[Gav]

Tim reported to me in email that the ruling that has had the greatest impact for the sport has been matching socks.

Reports from the FIE press office are the TV ratings are up by 25% over last year's world championships due to the increased uniformity of the fencers' attire.

I take it Craig is writing the next Escrime Editorial?

Care to comment your editor-ness

[edew]

In addition to, at times, giving a scoring premium to certain actions there are a number of other controls that I will impose:

* limited target selection
* required variation in target or scoring action selection
* pre-set scenarios (eg score is 1-3 for the left, 20 seconds remain)
* touches may/may not be scored in certain areas of the strip
* touches may not be scored using action X
* fencer X starts with rear foot on her endline
* stylistic requirements (both to help fencers learn to use styles outside of their comfort zone and to give their bouting partners experience against styles we might not naturally have on our team)
* etc., etc.

If fencers need work on a specific area it makes sense to spend more than average time on that area. Controlled bouts are one means to accomplish that goal.

We do a lot of training that isn't sharp tournament bouts. Some of that is controlled bouting. Other parts of it include blade drills, footwork, weight training, lessons, etc. Most recently we've started incorporating a number of "games" involving beanbags (thanks Jason!) that have received considerable positive feedback.

I think you'll find very few top-level serious athletes in ANY sport who exclusively train by engaging in their sport at full competition level. While sheer numbers don't make an argument in and of themselves, nor does merely citing experts' opinions, there does seem to be significant correlation between the actions of the best people and best practices.

-B

Yup. Jerry Rice, the former 49er (now retired) used to run up and down the Belmont Hills in the peninsula to work out. Now how close are hilly terrain to 100 yds of flat grass field? Bench pressing? Hypobaric training? Wind sprints for fencing?

[mifencer]

I thought Tim's outlook on wheelchair fencing was great. I saw some last year, and I was thoroughly impressed with their skill AND sportsmanship.

[bigdawg2121]

I think you'll find very few top-level serious athletes in ANY sport who exclusively train by engaging in their sport at full competition level. While sheer numbers don't make an argument in and of themselves, nor does merely citing experts' opinions, there does seem to be significant correlation between the actions of the best people and best practices.

-B

I think you and Inq might be making the same point Brad. You train the way you fight. If you're in the business of training champions or people that aspire to be champions then the ideas in your post make sense. On the other hand if you want to be Inq you can train the way he does.

[sabreman]

Wes Glon told me a while back that they (Penn State) tried fencing electric sabre with a small bit of tape on the tip (no connectivity). He said this really brought parrying back into the game. Never tried it myself so no need to flame.

[rcmatthews]

Thanks a lot to Tim for posting on the blog. I for one am very interested in reading more things like this, and hope that you are able to continue posting regularly.

[Sciurus-Rex]

I haven't heard any word yet on the "called shot" rule for finishing a bout.

And, yes, it's nice to see props for the wheelchair athletes.