Is a protective cup for men required?

[magic_moose]

I'm a woman, but I think you would have to be a crazy man to fence epee without one. It is target, afterall, and for some smaller women their arm extension level is close to that height. I haven't hit too many men there, but it DOES happen.

Yep. I learned early on that the most dangerous person in the world from a male perspective is a shortish 14 year old girl with 3 feet of steel in her hand.

Frankly I find my current cup so comfortable, I don't even notice it is there while fencing.

[Alex_Paul]

In 7 years of fencing I've never worn one, never been checked to see if I was wearing one, and never been hit in that spot.

agreed... they are a complete waste of time and uncomfortable.

[catwood1]

Choosing to wear a cup is sorta like reffing epee. It might not make a difference all day, but when the pressure is on, and that one actions occurs, you better hope that your affairs are in order.

[AndrewH]

What does it mean to be "an FIE cup"?

They make a set of 800N undershorts that can hold a cup. The cup appears to be sold separately. They also sell a women's version (identical pictures on the kindermann website, so probably incorrect for the women).

Anyone know anyone who wears the 800N under-shorts?

-B

That's what I'm thinking of. My college teammate used that one.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Yep. I learned early on that the most dangerous person in the world from a male perspective is a shortish 14 year old girl with 3 feet of steel in her hand.

In college, I mostly fenced women, but some times I has having a day when my point control was off, and I was working on actions that somehow took me to upper thighs.......

I would often warn the couple of guys I did fence before I fenced them on the rare occasion I was having one of those days. This gave them a chance to either not fence me, make sure they did have a cup on, or take the risk. Certainly not my call, but I did want them to have all the information available to them.

[RkfdFencer]

Many years ago, while fencing foil, I took a violent enough shot (overly hyper disengage) that I was afraid to look. I thought there might even be blood and that I would have to go to the hospital. (I did remain upright and just walked it off, no sissy writhing on the floor here) :

I have worn a cup for years, regardless of what weapon I am fencing.

[parrythis]

Saying, "I've never worn a cup and I've never been hit there." is not unlike jumping off the top floor of the Empire State Building and as you pass the 25th floor on the way down saying, "Well... so far, so good."

[telkanuru]

Saying, "I've never worn a cup and I've never been hit there." is not unlike jumping off the top floor of the Empire State Building and as you pass the 25th floor on the way down saying, "Well... so far, so good."

Are you one of those people that believes that not punch testing your mask every 20 minutes is a surefire trip to a blade in the eye, too?

[ACrimsonRapier]

Are you one of those people that believes that not punch testing your mask every 20 minutes is a surefire trip to a blade in the eye, too?

You're comparing being hit by lightning to being hit by . . . a shot in the jewels.

[telkanuru]

You're comparing being hit by lightning to being hit by . . . a shot in the jewels.

Only because people are comparing being hit in the nuts to torture by the vietcong.

[ACrimsonRapier]

Only because people are comparing being hit in the nuts to torture by the vietcong.

I like you better on this thread than the other one. Ha. xD

[telkanuru]

I like you better on this thread than the other one. Ha. xD

That's because when someone is an asshole to a person that's not you, it tends to be funny

[ACrimsonRapier]

That's because when someone is an asshole to a person that's not you, it tends to be funny

Am I the asshole or was he? :X Or are you? I'm confused . . . lmao.

[telkanuru]

When it comes to assholes, it's always me.

[Stormblade]

I had someone tell me today that a men's protective cup is required for competition. I had never heard that before. Is that true?

I believe it's..."strongly recommended." They don't check at the strip to make sure you've got one, if that's what you're worried about.

[Kimmuriel]

Not wearing a protective cup for a man is such idiocy as not wearing a breast protector for a woman.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Not wearing a protective cup for a man is such idiocy as not wearing a breast protector for a woman.

Totally different risk/reward.

When you're fencing foil, if you get hit, you will get hit in the boobs, pretty much guaranteed.

Fencing epee? Very likely. Sabre? Not in quite the same way, or the same consequences, but there will be contact.

On the other hand, people usually know how sensative their breasts are. Guys usually don't have a problem, but some do. Most women are sensative. But here's the thing--- There isn't a particularly good reason not to wear them. Breast protection doesn't impede movement, no matter how inexpensive, and isn't very uncomfortable. In fact, I find the chestplate type very comfortable based on the provided support.

For men, a crotch shot is much less likely, but if it does happen, is much more uncomfortable (based on observed reactions.) BUT there's also a negative associated with wearing one for at least some.

[spiff]

Okay, when I started fencing, the lesson began with "get a cup". I wasted no time and bought one the same day. I have yet to take a dead on shot (except once), but, being an 18 year old college student that would like to actually have kids one day, I still wear it. And for proof that it is the most valuable piece of equipment for men, that "one time" I mentioned above, I was fencing (with my cup) the dreaded 14 year old girl that happens to lunge at the perfect level. Not being able to defend myself at that point, she hit me dead on. It sounded like someone punched a wall. I could hear the tip landing right on the cup. I froze. And I now know that, without that cup, I could sing soprano. Take care of your boys fellas. It's not worth the risk (or pain).

"You can have my sword, sir. But you leave me my cup."

[Foiled in Seattle]

I'm an avid cyclist, and I know other cyclists who haven't worn a helmet in 30 years. Other cyclists (me included) wouldn't dream of getting on a bicycle without a helmet. In fact, I've had two accidents that fractured my helmet instead of my head.

I'm a believer in taking simple precautions.

The day I decided to take my first fencing class, the one piece of equipment I brought was a cup. Sure enough, within five minutes, I took an epee point right in the center of the cup.

I got the Shock Doctor Men's Bio Flex cup off of Amazon -- it cost all of $7, and after 30 seconds of wearing it, I forgot I even had it on.

Get it here: http://www.amazon.com/Shock-Doctor-M...ef=pd_sbs_sg_6

[erik_blank]

What does it mean to be "an FIE cup"?

They make a set of 800N undershorts that can hold a cup. The cup appears to be sold separately. They also sell a women's version (identical pictures on the kindermann website, so probably incorrect for the women).

Anyone know anyone who wears the 800N under-shorts?

-B

I just looked at the above web site reference... 65+ Euros for these???? Ouch! (so to speak...)