Foil Actions CD ROM

This is a very comprehensive look at foil fencing at the highest level and Walter does a great job describing the strategies of fencing's best. It was well worth the money. Also, since the cd-rom uses quicktime, I can easily drag the play bar across making a slow motion of the footage which is very helpful. I can only hope that they will make one for epee one day.

the fencing actions cd-rom is awesome. it's a TON of great fencing clips, staring the top fencers in the world, sorted in to various actions and strategies. i have seen lots of fencing video before, but the observations offered here changed the way i watch it. i used to watch the videos more as a spector than any thing else, but having which actions and strategies fencers are using pointed out really shows you what's going on behind the mask. for example, the section of clips on 'teaching' show fencers setting up their opponents by repeating the same action again and again, then suddenly chenging it. this is the kind of stuff i miss watching regular videos. great clips, easy to use, all around good purchase

When I read the description of the CD, I knew I had to buy it. Well, it's exactly what it claims to be. The descriptions and observations made are insightful. One clip (of Romankov), I've seen before. Actually, I've watched it over and over again. But with the analysis of the action, the clip actually takes on a whole new light. Suddenly, I'm noticing things that simply were not there before (well, at least in my mind's eye).



I guess the biggest endorsement I can make would be to say how it has effected my fencing. Last night at practice, I was fencing a really aggressive opponent. I was having trouble. Then, I think of something mentioned on the CD. I perform the action and get one of the best points I have ever made. But what really brought the action to life for me was that when I read about it on the CD, I had video to re-enforce the concept. This was something that I only read ONCE. I have never gotten an action so quickly without practicing it over and over again.



My wife bought me the CD as an Easter present. I'm always hearing people ask, "I don't know what to get my fencer because I'm not a fencer, etc." Well, here's a great gift that any fencer should enjoy. If you are fencing cometitively, this CD-ROM is a must!



Rolls.

Okay, first the disclaimer - I run Fencing.Net and I am selling this CD-ROM in partnership with Walter Flaschka and with FencingFootage, so you can take my review with the proverbial grain of salt if you want.



All in all, this product rocks! I love Walter's writing - he's funny and inciteful and nails the essence of the fencing actions that the modern masters (Romankov, Vezzali, Golubitsky) perform at the World level.



The CD contains over 100 video clips categorized into different sections to show in video and through commentary how the top fencers execute marching attacks, the flick, defense against the flick, point in line, and the other actions you'll find in a bout.



The one thing the CD is lacking is a nifty auto-run screen. You have to open your web browser and find the "start.html" page in the CD's root directory. There are some cheap programs that let you make some pretty good auto-run splash screens, so I'll suggest that for a "phase 2" enhancement.



Some of the video clips could be larger also - the ones taken from the 1989 World Championships tend to be a little small as they've been transferred from VHS.



All in all, this is an excellent buy and if I weren't selling this, I'd buy it from whomever was. If you are a foil fencer, then this CD-ROM is one of the best training products you can buy.



Also - make sure you check out the copyright notice page on the CD for a glimpse of the FIE bassinet. :)