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Agent_V · 09-30-2003, 09:15 PM

Hi all,
I was talking with my coach today, and he mentioned this one study some people did in the US several years ago at a World Cup tournament. In this study, the top people from many different sports were tested on leg strength, specifically quads (as that is the most built-up muscle in fencers). Apparently, the fencers won by quite a bit, besting even players on the professional Jets football team, who had on average 50 more pounds of weight than the fencers.
I'm wondering if anyone else had heard of this study, and if so, where I could find a copy of it?
thanks,

-Alexander

edew · 09-30-2003, 09:28 PM

I imagine that the leg strength is on one leg, the front leg. My front thigh is about 3" more in circumference than my back thigh. Makes for a skewed look when I put on my fishnets.

Still, while fencers may have some strong legs, it's not the same as strength in some other activities. For example, ballet dancers (females in particular) usually don't have those huge thighs, but they can get themselves waaay up there in the air on some dance steps. And they do it with even less effort (-looking, anyway), than fencers making lunges and recovering.

rory · 10-01-2003, 06:10 AM

I'm 6' 2" and about 170 pounds, so I'm no giant. I've been fencing 12 years, and I've never seen a leg-press machine in a gym that I couldn't max out, since I was about 17.

It's quite amusing getting awed looks from 18-stone bodybuilders!

remise · 10-01-2003, 11:28 AM

I decided to get a massage once the day after a tournament. The person giving the massage commented about the "density" of the muscle in my legs, saying that she had to apply all of her strength to get to the deep tissue. I'd never had a massage, so this was the first time I'd ever heard that fencers had a lot of muscle in their legs.

Gav · 10-01-2003, 11:55 AM

Just look at fencers. They ALL have these huge quadriceps.

CarlKnoch · 10-01-2003, 12:57 PM

That must be for people who have been fencing a long time. I have been fencing about a year and a half and my right thigh is only about 1/4" bigger than my left. 24" as opposed to 23 3/4"

I haven't measured after exercise, but I would guess it's not that much different.

Rolls · 10-01-2003, 01:06 PM

I measured once and there is about an inch difference between my weapon thigh and my off-weapon thigh. Also, there's about half an inch difference between my fore-arms.

I have on occasion ripped a leg of my boxers because they were tight on one leg and loose on the other. I have several "fencing" pairs that have this rip in them.

Rolls.

D'Artagnan1673 · 10-01-2003, 01:20 PM

Just as quickly as one gets those big, powerful legs, so can one lose them. I got out of fencing roughly September/October of last year. By December, I was horrified at what tiny thighs I had.

I have been back into fencing for two months and the size is already back