Anybody Seen A Plastic Under Arm Protector?

[JAySE SUiCiDE]

I fence epee, and some of the other kids i fence with are a bit rough to say the least, and i always end up with bruises or cuts all over my upper arm. i still get these in addition to the under arm protector and jacket, and my coach told me that i'd have to wear some sort of plastic under the under arm protector to stop this from happening. I've been looking around, and all the arm protectors i seem to find are for lacrosse, football etc, and are much too big to fit under even a jacket. does anybody know of any good thin pieces of plastic that are for other sports and already bent to fit around half of an upper arm? or atleast know of a plastic thats very flexible?

thanks,
~Jes

[npkeith]

I don't know about plastic, but I have a low-tech alternative. My dad did this to make a forearm bracer to stop the huge bruises he was getting from his saber coach.

Go to the pet store and buy the biggest rawhide dog bone you can find. (They are usually the great dane model that is about 2+ feet long and as big around as your forearm.) Soak it in cold water until it softens up (over night should do it). You will now be faced with an evil-smelling heap of cold, wet, slimy horse hide. Now comes the unpleasant part: Cut a piece that will wrap around the part you want to protect, with a little overlap to allow for shrinkage. Wrap it around, and let it dry (at least until it is stiff enough to hold its shape) Heat will make it shrink, so try not to use a hairdryer. Try clothes pins to hold it in place while its drying. A stout pair of scissors or tin snips should be able to trim it to shape. You should be able to slip it under your jacket.

Hope it works for you.

[MyraTrue]

I believe someone also sells an epee sleeve? I fence epee too, and I actually miss all those cuts and bruises. It gave me something to show off. Also, what jacket do you have? I got massive bruises with my old duct Santelli, and moved up to an 800N uhlmann jacket, and suddenly FAR fewer bruises. *grumbles*

[CarlKnoch]

Try looking at soccer shin guards. You can use them on the front of the upper arm, as well as the forwarm. They don't bind if you get the nicer ones and can be really helpful in stopping the bruises that epee's can sometimes cause.

[remise]

Also, I've found that the heavy leather (the kind sold in craft stores or leather shops) works nicely. I had a friend punch holes in each side and I "laced" it to my upper forearm. It's VERY thin and stopped even the heaviest attacks. I was pleasantly stunned at how efficient it was. No one will know you are wearing it, and it's thin enough to slide right off when you are done bouting.

[JAySE SUiCiDE]

yes, myra, you're right..those bruises and cuts are mighty fun to show off..i currently look like i've gotten shot in the leg from a cut i got during a "hitting the foot" excersize...and i might add, fencers with bad aim + non-fencing socks = not too great of a combination.. >=)

and i have the Blue Gauntlet 350NW practice jacket.

but thanks everybody, i'll try the suggestions and tell you all how it goes!

~Jes

[Gav]

I'll give you another way to look at it. Bruises [and the odd cut] are par for the course in Epee. Whether you like it or not it's inevitable that you will pick up minor abrasions at some point. If the kids in your class are consistently hitting you in the same spot then perhaps there is a hole in your defence?

Sounds a bit harsh but if they are giving you nasty bruises regularly then the chances are that you are straying far too close. Try and manage your distance and fight from 'Epee distance'. Don't let them dominate the distance.

Also don't detach from your parry. If you release the blade in the middle of the riposte then you are open to a remise from your opponent. If you happen to have detached from the parry and lunging with your riposte....

Personally I wouldn't like to wear to much in the way of armour as I find it restricting and uncomfortable.

[JAySE SUiCiDE]

the bruises are usually on the side of my arm..i get them most when we're only allowed to hit form the elbow down, and people try flicking to the side of my arm, then end up hitting my elbow and my upper arm..and thats true, there probably is something wrong with my defence..i'll have to start trying new things when they do things like that..

and the guy who gives me most of my bruises, is like a monster..6 foot atleast..and when he lunges, he covers like twice the amount a normal person would..ill have to try playing with the distance though.

and in response to all the comments about what i could wear on my arm:

i told my mom all the options i had, and we figured the rawhide idea might not bee too good..i have 2 dogs of my own, and if i left it somewhere i shouldnt have, they could do more damage to it than i could.. and the sports store was already closed...so we went to a fabric store and asked if they had any leather, but they said they didnt..we told them my situation, and suggested that maybe i could cut up a 2 or 1 liter bottle, and tape the sides so that it doesnt cut me, then use that!! i must say, i hadnt thought of that idea untill now, and now i feel quite stupid..i havnt fenced with it yet, but i'll update you all once i start wearing it while fencing.

~Jes