whats the most unimpressive thing youve seen a fencer do

[arcon]

Ok, the first thread was positive this one is negative. Ill admitt it.
But.......stuff happens.

Whats the most unimpressive thing youve seen a fencer do?

[arcon]

I saw a fencer(a coach) throw his foil down after a competitive bout. The weapon traveled between 10 or 15 feet across the gym floor resting near his wifes chair. Fine example of sportsmanship i remember thinking. Good example to set for the youth. Sarcastic thoughts i know but i wasnt impressed.
Its kinda like when youre getting gas and someone pulls out
of the station spinning there tires and making that long drawn
out squealing sound.

[Inquartata]

The exulting cries and "I got that!" melodramas so many fencers do. Just looks so laughable. Followed closely by the tantrums caused by NOT getting that touch...

[thyme_daniels]

it sounds mean, but at a duel meet i was at this weekend, a girl i was fencing sat on her ***. she just retreated, and just kind of sat down. i didn't laugh, i just kind of looked at her with my eyebrows raised clear through my mask, and it took a lot to prevent myself from turning and shooting a look at my teamates. it was pretty funny...actually, the most unimpressive things i have seen are when good fencers throw fits. my personal favorite is the punting of the mask down the length of the strip, or farther. i can't believe the things some people get away with.

[arcon]

what do the rules say about throwing equipment?

[Catlady]

This wasn't one I saw, it was, unfortunately, one I performed. I once tried to advance, stepped on my shoelace and landed flat on my face more or less at my opponent's feet. And I put a dent in my bell when I landed on it.

I'm told it was very impressive and reminiscent of Chevy Chase.

[OCTAVIA]

1. I sat as well, during a drill in class. The drill coach was nonplussed, and continued to intone: retreat, retreat, retreat.....

2. clipping my body cord to the wrong side,

3. while not impressive, I like the yelling and the missed yells as well

4. not being able to get your mask off after a good bout, totally embarrassing, you're grabbing at the thing, trying to rip it off so you can shake hands with the vanquished and you're mask won't come off,

5. shaking hands with someone with very sweaty hands, or with a guy who just ran his hands through his very sweaty hair, and then he extends it to shake,

[whtouche]

Originally posted by arcon
what do the rules say about throwing equipment?

Im fairly certain there is no mention of throwing of equipment in the rules. There is however a black card penalty for "unsportsmanlike conduct", which the throwing could be construed as.
That is the most likely penalty being awarded when you see someone being black carded for chucking their mask.

[arcon]

Thats a big rule and certainly would cover many offenses.

[MikeHarm]

I saw someone quit from a tourney for flakey weapons after 1 match in a seeding pool, only to find out after they had quit that the reel they were using was bad.

[HilandDoug]

I'd have to say throwing equipment is the least impressive thing I've seen anyone do. No excuse, and should be a MANDATORY black card, IMHO.

I once had an experience when I was fencing an "A" rated fencer who had relocated to the Detroit area from Chicago about 10 years ago. I was unrated (still am), and fencing this guy to the best of my ability. I was down 4-0, and scored on a riposte, when he hit me with the remise of his attack. Ref calls halt, calls the action and awards me the touch. This guy whips of his mask and SCREAMS at the ref, "WHAT?!?! I made one continuous attack! The bout should be over! That's BULLSH*T!" And then glares at ME like it's my fault. Next action after "fence!" he hits me to end the bout. He then whips off his mask, throws it to the side where it hits some friends of mine who were watching the bout, and stomps off the strip. I was left standing there, hand extended for a handshake, staring at the referee. I asked the ref, "Isn't he an A?" The ref nodded. I shouted over to my former opponent, " 'A' for attitude, eh?" And the ref looked at me and said, "More like A for A$$hole."

[labouche]

You find that the higher the level gets the more fencers are allowed to get away with. Ever seen Golubitsky fence? He's often thrown his mask and even yelled at audience members.
I've witnessed one of the top US junior fencers call the ref a racist bastard after losing. That should have been an immediate black card in my eyes.
However, I do believe in awarding black cards very sparingly. For example an excellent ref once told me a story about when he was directing the finals of a foil world cup. It was between some US fencer and someone else. It was a very close, intense bout however the american ended up losing by only a few tounches. After the bout he walked to the end of the strip and threw his mask accros multiple strips adjacent to the one he was on. The ref simply pointed to the mask and the fencer RAN, picked up his mask and came back and told the ref he was very sorry. He did not get carded. I think it is good he didn't get carded. There will be sometimes when people let the adrenaline get the better of them, and it is not neccessarily "bad sportmanship".
My point is it really depends on the situation.

[arcon]

In a sport that starts with a salute and ends with a handshake.
How can angry insulting outburst,and throwing equipment be allowed without exhibiting an air of hypocracy and contridiction? I just dont see it.

[HilandDoug]

I agree, Arcon. If it were up to me, that behaviour would earn a black card. Once they start flying, watch the bad behavior stop. The fact that refs let it slide only reinforces the idea that it's allowed.

[MyraTrue]

I've had a few "unimpressive" moments. I remember a bout in foil at a club I was visiting my first summer fencing (started in the spring) and I came en guard, started to advance, and simply tipped over backward, landing on my rear. I was more than a little mortified.

Also, when I was fencing in Wales for the University I'd exchanged to, I remember one particular away tournament. One of the fencers was green, VERY green, I guess. Anyway, my first bout in foil, I decide I might as well good off a little, so when the director said "fence", I put my back hand up in bunny ears and began to hop down the strip. The girl I was fencing just stared, until I was at arms length. She still just stood there. So I hit her. Cheapest point I EVER got!!!!

I've never been impressed with screamers and bad manners on the strip. Seen a lot of it! I agree that there should be more black cards given out. I've only seen one given myself, but this fencer was long overdue, so I was happy.

Question- does black card eliminate you from the entire event, or just one weapon? This fencer was black carded in foil but still fenced in the epee.

[whtouche]

A high level referee was directing at some NAC event, Im not sure what.
Actually, it might have been nationals. Anyways, two fencers stepped on strip, there was one touche. One of the fencers muttered an expletive under his breath, and was immedietly black carded. He had flown cross country for this nationals, and only had one event and only got to fence one touch.
Yoww..

[dunastor]

Originally posted by MyraTrue
Question- does black card eliminate you from the entire event, or just one weapon? This fencer was black carded in foil but still fenced in the epee.

The definition of a tournament is one weapon. So if you get black carded you still get to fence in another weapon. It is teh same between single and team tournaments.

Only problem there could be is if you get a black card and you are expelled from the sports hall, where all the fencing is...
it's hard fencing when you can't get to your opponent.

[FreakyFencer]

I was watching the second to last matcin an open and it was an A vs. a B or C i'm not sure, B i think. Well, the A advance and prepared to attack, the B extended his blade first and the A counter-attacked. The ref called in favor of the B and the A rips of his masks shouts and flails his arms until the ref finally gets him to put it back on and resume fencing. The A then does a lunge, drops low while doing it and smashes his guard into the B's knee all just because of the judges call. Some sportsmanship Eh? Worst of all A also was a coach, hate to think what he's teaching.

[Katman]

My unimpressive moment occured while I was directing an epee bout for our club's first open tournament. The score was pretty lopsided (3-0 or something along those lines), so I'm keeping most of my attention on the fencers about about 1/8th of it on the box.

Suddenly, like a bad cut in a film, I noticed that both fencers have stopped fencing and were looking at me.

"Halt?"

"There was a touch."

I looked at the box, which was dark. "When?"

"Just now. It was his," one fencer pointed to the other.

"Oh?! Really? Well, I didn't see it. Touch anulled. The center is here." The fencers shrugged and continued to fence. Another touch is scored and both too off thier masks to go shake hands, assuming the bout is over.

"Um, what are you guys doing? I anulled that phantom touch, remember?"

"Oh! Right," Both fencers donned thier masks and fenced to the final touch.

I don't know what happened. I don't think I zoned, but I don't remember zoning. Both fencers were pretty young and more than agreeable. Perfectly good sports for my evident senility.

[DangerMouse]

At a collegiate meet in the midwest a few (6) years ago, my team mate went for a toe shot. His opponent yanked his feet out of the way. All the way out of the way. He fell directly on his chin as my team mate hit him on the back on his way down.