back to competition in my area

[Greg99]

Hi All!

I’m originally from Ukraine (former Soviet Union) – live here for 7 years. I fence back in Ukraine for 9 years, then when we moved here I really don’t have any time to do it. Now I get back into it. I found fencing club near my house (this is only one in 45 mi area from where I live) and I start training again. The only problem they’re no good sabre fencers – only coach can fence on my level. I would like to get back to some competitions and I’m 32. Is it to late? We get different system back in Ukraine, so I don’t know if it’s not to late. Any people on this board can give me some advices? Also I notice that some rules have been changed in the last couple years. Any web sites where I can read about it?

Thanks.

[Peach]

Where are you in the "Philadelphia area?" There are at least three clubs with some sabre in that division--Csiszar Fencers' Club, Bucks County Academy of Fencing, and Fencing Academy of Philadelphia. Sabre is not as strong in this division as in a few others. If you wish intense training I would recommend traveling to New York to Fencers Club or perhaps NYAC, or possibly to New Jersey to Lilov; others can recommend other clubs.

I am in the Philadelphia division and haven't met you so I assume you're not training at my club. I train at the last one, Fencing Academy of Philadelphia, and we have a number of competitive sabre fencers at various different levels, some nationally competitive, some recreational, plus a former world-level competitor who comes in off and on. Sabre nights at FAP are Monday and Wednesday evenings from about 6:30 on. I recommend you give it a try if you have time to drive in. The number is 215-382-0293 and it is in West Philadelphia at 35th and Lancaster Streets, near the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel. Let me know if you want to come by and I'll make sure you have some competition.

32 is not too old in the US. In national competition there are people of many ages. I know of two people who are at high World Cup level in women's sabre who are in their late 30s. for instance. We have a gentleman at our club who is competitive in foil and epee who came from Russia where he was no longer able to compete as a teenager; the main qualification is can you afford to do it! Nobody will stop you.

There are many rule changes in sabre. Among them are the 8-touch break in DEs (a one-minute rest when one competitor's score reaches 8 touches), no fleching (although that may change back again in restricted ways) and no card for falling. Others here will better be able to answer where you can find a good list of these rule changes.

Delia Turner

[Philistine]

With regard to rule changes in the last several years, from the Fencing Faq linked above:

1.19 What are the latest rule changes?

The following rule amendments are effective August 1, 2002:

The regulation time for each bout in both pools and team matches is three minutes.
An immediate warning (1st group) will be given against the competitor whose blade is bent more than the rules allow (1 cm for épée, 2 cm for foil, 4 cm for saber) at the moment the fencer indicates that she or he is ready to fence.
Falling is no longer an offense and consequently is no longer penalized. (It is understood that an offensive action that is launched in such a way that the fencer is not in control, and thereby falls, is disorderly fencing and does require a warning and the annulling of any touch scored.)
In pools and during the first and second periods of a direct elimination bout, if the fencers show themselves obviously unwilling to fight, the referee will call "Halt!" and warn the fencers; should they continue to be unwilling to fight, the referee will call "Halt!" In a direct elimination bout, the fencers will go straight into the next period of fencing, without the minute break and without the possibility of consulting with their coaches. Should they be unwilling to fight during the third period of fencing in a direct elimination bout or in a pool bout, the referee will call "Halt!" and the fencers will start a final minute of fencing preceded by drawing lots to decide the winner should the score be equal at the end of the minute.
During team events, if adequate space is available, the organizer shall reserve a zone for the team members. Only the team captain and one additional person (coach, medical, et cetera) have the right to stay with the team fencers inside this zone. The team zone must be well delimited, with a line on the floor or some other system. If possible, it should be sufficiently sized to seat six people and be located at each end of, and separate from, the strip zone. During team matches, the members of the team must remain within the zone reserved for their team.
During team events, no member of either team may enter inside the limits of the strip zone without the permission of the referee. Should such an offense occur, the referee will apply the penalty provided for by articles t.114, t.116, and t.120 against the team at fault. The warning will be awarded against the team, and will be valid for all the bouts of the match. Each time any fencer commits another offense of the 1st group, in the same match, the referee is to penalize the fencer at fault with a red card.
Direct elimination bouts are for 15 touches, or end when three periods of three minutes, with a one-minute period of rest between each period, have passed. In saber only, the first period will end either when the three minutes have passed or when the score of one of the fencers has reached eight.
Crossing a lateral boundary without having passed one's opponent with one foot or both feet results in the command "Halt!" and the opponent advances one meter from where she or he was at the "Halt!"
A touch scored by the fencer who has crossed the lateral boundary of the strip with one foot remains valid, if the action was launched before the "Halt!"
If one of the fencers is off the strip with both feet, that fencer may not score. Only a hit made by the fencer who remains on the strip with at least one foot is counted, even in the case of a double touch, if the action by the fencer who is on the strip was started before the "Halt!"
The surface area for advertising is increased to 75 cm2 per logo (four logos, in total 300 cm2); allowable area is extended to the collar of the fencing suit. A diagram will be provided showing the authorized locations and dimensions.
The life cycle of five years for the use of FIE blades is canceled, provided that the manufacturer has conducted periodic controls.
The following rule amendments were introduced for the 1994/95 season.

EQUIPMENT: - In foil, the bib is on target as of Oct 1, 1995. [This amendment appears to have been put off indefinitely. This rule is NOT expected to take effect anytime soon.] - 800N underarm protector (plastron) is required in addition to the regular 800N jacket. - Clothing may be of different colours, but those on the body must be white or light-coloured. - Minimum width of the strip is now 1.5 metres.

ETIQUETTE: - Salute of opponent, referee, and audience is mandatory at the start and end of the bout.

BOUT FORMAT: - Coin flip to determine winner in the event of a tie shall be made at end of regulation time, and one additional minute shall be fenced. The winner of the coin toss shall be recorded as the victor if the bout is not resolved by sudden death in the extra minute. - No more 1-minute warning, although fencers can request the time remaining at any normal halt in the action. - Fencers shall be placed at the en garde lines at the commencement of each 3-minute period in 15-touch elimination bouts.

SCORING: - In sabre, simultaneous attacks that both arrive on the valid target do not result in any points being scored. - In sabre, any action in which the rear leg is crossed in front of the fore shall be penalized with a yellow card, or a red card if a yellow has already been given. Any touch scored by the penalized fencer resulting from the cross-over action shall not be scored, although a properly-executed touch from the opponent is still valid. - In the team relay, the first pair of fencers fence to 5 points or 4 minutes, whichever comes first. The next pair continue from this score up to 10 points within 4 minutes, and so on up to a total score of 45 points.

I'm at the same club as Peach, and echo her invitation. I was in somewhat the same situation you were in--fenced for five years and essentially stopped in 1989--just started back again a year or so ago (when I was 35), so I also had to get used to the rule changes (as well as electric).

Hope to see you.

--Philistine

[ExtraKryspi]

How old are the members (average) at the Fencing Academy? I'm 14, and am starting a fencing club at my school, but I'd like somewhere outside to go, also.

Thanks for anything.

[Peach]

FAP has members who range from very young to very old. There are groups of fencers for each category, and we have quite a few in the area of 14. There are youth, cadet, and junior groups, and generally the groups are scheduled by general age category, so you'd probably be practicing mostly with people around your age. The people in the junior/cadet groups sometimes stay and fence with the older fencers, of course.

Good luck starting your club. What school?

[ExtraKryspi]

Thanks a bunch, Peach. I'll check times and stuff out for FAP.

The Hill School (Pottstown)

[135711]

if i had real talent and needed to find fencers, i'd either go to a salle where everyone knows you first,

or then, check the results of the fencers in Nationals, and see where are all the strong fencers coming out if you can swing it, move there and fence with them,

at age 32, it is my belief, you have am long way to go yet in fencing. especially here in the united states you can fence up to 40 without a problem, then at 40-50 you're a veteran.

You can also teach us how to fencer more bettah?

that's my opinion.