Does anyone else think it is odd....

[FordFencing]

I was in epee, but I remember watching the transformation of sabre happen in the NCAAs over my years in college, 89-93. The story as I was told it was that Nazlymov (Sr), as a fencer and a coach, had developed the technique of attacking with arm in reserve so as to gain right of way and have a virtually unparriable attack. This made the attack so strong that the only thing to do was attack immediately. Or it threatened to do that. And the threat came to be with electric sabre, which came into the NCAA 90 or 91--since slight touches would now register.

But the odd thing was that the transformation was kind of by convention and agreement of the fencers. Sabre bouts became weird rituals. I remember watching Nazlymov Jr (Vitali) at NCAA districts in 92. Ready-Fence: and both would simultaneously do a tiny, casual, advance ballestra lunge--with absence of blade--and at the last second flick up onto the back hip. It was like they agreed not to fence until priority. (Except the agreement wasn't strong and fast b/c once in a while Naz Jr would do a lightning speed prise du fer and get one light.)

So it's not like all there was a barrage of awesome attacks. on the contrary it was really non fencing. I guess the understanding was that they could do the unstoppable attacks and they were just saving their energy. (THough presumably many, if not the greater part, of the fencers did not merit this level of deference or respect from the top tier or even each other. So much of the change probably had to do with wanting to act and feel like the pros. )

[Inquartata]

I'd like to see the sabre fleche reinstated merely because I dislike the term "flunge".

I invite you to substitute a term coined by John Fuhro: the flying weasel.

Actually, the model used for the original design was a foilist. Granted, fleching with a sabre in hand.

That makes sense, only foilists are as whippet-thin and elongated as that logo guy.

Er, with, um, perhaps one or two exceptions.

Meanwhile, I started sabre in 1983 or so. I must have missed the multiple-simultaneous-fleches stage, because what I remember were just the endless stupid running attacks...

[GuyW]

This thread is quite fascinating to a newbie - sort of like watching a car accident in slow motion....

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[Grasshopper]

That makes sense, only foilists are as whippet-thin and elongated as that logo guy....

So the fencing.net logo must be sabre fencers. Big-butted noob flailing away against small child.

[Inquartata]

It's Justin Meehan vs. Laura Johnson, actually.

[flechewounds]

It's Justin Meehan vs. Laura Johnson, actually.

And Laura makes the parry, but is confused by the vast amount of target before her... so much target, so little time!

[Purple Fencer]

This thread is quite fascinating to a newbie - sort of like watching a car accident in slow motion....

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It's better than reading the whining over on DCP about BD winning again (not that I mind THAT in the least!!!)