New to the forums!

[Bibble]

Hello everybody!
My name is Matt and I'm an aspiring fencer. It was always a curiosity for me and this year when I began college at Chico State I bit the bullet and joined the fencing club here, and never looked back.

I'm an ambidextrous fencer, but i prefer lefty foil(ist?) thus far and I'm hoping to try my hand at both epee and sabre. I tend to gravitate towards the more obscure methods and I like to incorporate several styles into my fencing. (trying to get my hands on an italian grip for my foil :P)


Just wanted to say hi and ask one question that's been bugging me a bit.
I come from a rich martial art background, did Tang Soo Do for a number of years (testing for black soon, woo!) and one of the things that I found useful when i went to tournaments was a little tactic of intimidation. I dunno exactly how well it really worked but i thought it was cool. What i did is i took my headgear and a few stencils and stenciled on tiger fangs around the chin and forehead of my headgear, and took to doodling on my gloves as well.

From what i've seen in the rules i've looked through, fencing is a by-the-book sport and its rules are very specific. Does anyone know, however, if it is legal to paint or otherwise mark the mesh of my mask, or would i have to limit this artwork to my practice mask?

[Sir Alexander]

Wow, I have no idea.

If it is legal I'm gonna do that to mine.....

Welcome though!

[Rockstar44]

Does anyone know, however, if it is legal to paint or otherwise mark the mesh of my mask, or would i have to limit this artwork to my practice mask?

Within the USFA it is legal (unfortunately), with one qualification: At any given competition, the design must be approved by the Head Referee. Therefore, what is acceptable today may not be acceptable tomorrow. I wouldn't do it (and I wish nobody else would, either).

[Applesauce and Foils]

Intimidate by skill! That's the scariest thing of all!

AF

[Bibble]

Intimidate by skill! That's the scariest thing of all!

AF

now this, THIS is what i like to hear!

And thanks. I had a feeling some sort of referee approval would be involved.
I'll wait until i have an extra mask to use then :P

[Bibble]

Within the USFA it is legal (unfortunately), with one qualification: At any given competition, the design must be approved by the Head Referee. Therefore, what is acceptable today may not be acceptable tomorrow. I wouldn't do it (and I wish nobody else would, either).

do you mind if i ask why you feel this way about the particular topic?

[SabreReedfrost]

i think it could be annoying and distracting, both to the wearer and the opponent. but that's just my opinion.

[Applesauce and Foils]

Plus think about it this way:

If you're a good, skillful fencer you don't need it,
If you're NOT- it could make you look goofy and cause you a lot of ribbing by fellow fencers.

AF

[SabreReedfrost]

Plus think about it this way:

If you're a good, skillful fencer you don't need it,
If you're NOT- it could make you look goofy and cause you a lot of ribbing by fellow fencers.

AF

True that.

[Rockstar44]

do you mind if i ask why you feel this way about the particular topic?

My personal reason is that I feel that it detracts from the dignity of the sport. It just looks plain silly. That being said;

You also have to consider, however, the effect that it has on any given competition. Every time I have seen someone show up with something like this, it stops everything while the fencers, Directors, Armorers, and the Bout Committee all have a conference to decide if the fencer will be allowed to use the mask. (This same thing happens, to a lesser degree, with designs on the lames.) If the mask is accepted, you may use it but you have caused a significant delay in the event. And, you run the risk that the Head Ref and/or the BC will disallow use of the mask (which they have the right to do), in which case you have caused a delay and now you have to hunt up another mask.

I suppose in time more people will get used to it, but I don't think that I ever will.

[Applesauce and Foils]

I think we all came to the sport because it has dignity, or at least a majority of us did. Why not just go to football(or any other sport; insert other sport here) or some other sport if it's just about beating others? People have a somewhat romanticized view of fencing, sure. But if people like fencing because it includes honor, dignity and respect, let's keep it that way!
(Same reason I wish we all still had to wear WHITE clothes.)

AF

[Applesauce and Foils]

Btw, Bibble, I am not bashing you or your opinion in any way, and hope that it doesn't feel that way.

AF

[SabreReedfrost]

agreed minus the white clothes part lol

[Bibble]

Btw, Bibble, I am not bashing you or your opinion in any way, and hope that it doesn't feel that way.

AF

Not at all. No hard feelings whatsoever.
The reason I don't go play sports like Baseball or football or anything is exactly because of the feeling of overcompetitiveness and a focus on winning, and i understand why one would want to keep this out of fencing.
I quit team sports after I got benched on baseball when i was 12 or so because I was, and i quote, "having too much fun out on the field." I have no idea what the coach meant by that and i up and took off my uniform shirt there and then, and gave him my hat, said "then i quit." and went home.

I hate a focus on winning alone and that's why i turned to martial arts and eventually fencing. These are both sports that have a competitive edge but are at the same time extremely fun on either outcome, win or lose.

The reason i want to paint the mask is to just give myself a bit of an identifying factor, if you will. But if it takes that much to get it approved i think it may not be worth it, especially if it halts the entire thing for everyone.

[Bibble]

That and white is just so plain. :P

(i'm a punk so i like modifying my clothing... )

[Applesauce and Foils]

Hey, altered clothes are fun.

AF

[Bibble]

probably why i'm addicted to tattoos too :P

[Bryn Ralph]

Avoid substituting intimidation for skill; there are many skilled fencers who are not intimidated.

By the bye, for that classical Italian foil grip, contact Eric with www.thefencingpost.com.

All the very best,

Bryn

[Inquartata]

Hey, altered clothes are fun.

AF

Meh, and here I was just about to rep you for the white-uniforms comment... :P

[Applesauce and Foils]

Oh, honor me with a rep, Inq! I don't actually own any altered clothes!

AF