Coaching Gear

[Rick C. Hodgin]

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[cplmontana]

The coaching gear you presented is made out of leather back with some kind of padding. Wearing the stuff for a long time is like fencing in the sun. It gets very hot.

You get used to it, but I couldn't imagine doing it for a whole tournament.

In contrast, they make fencing whites as light as possible, with wicking and breathable, in order to cut down on that kind of thing.

You will note that certain companies sell regular jackets in black, which is traditionally the "Master Color". For example, http://leonpaulusa.com/acatalog/copy...ck_Jacket.html

And don't worry about asking in the wrong place, it happens. Might as well ask and get it over with.

[SJCFU#2]

I was wondering what makes the gear "coaching gear" as opposed to simply "fencing gear"?

In some cases coaching gear is significantly heavier and more padded than regular fencing gear (you try standing there being poked at for several hours every day, day after day, for several years). Jackets and masks sometimes also have leather exteriors for increased durability (a good coaching jacket can last for decades).

In other cases the only difference is that it's black (the color traditionally reserved for fencing masters).

[Purple Fencer]

Coaching gear is really designed for one thing....to allow the instructor to take a LOT of hits while giving instruction without getting bruised all over the place.

Taking a single epee shot to the thigh once in a while is part of competing...but taking one to the same area repeatedly during the course of a lesson's a different matter.