Fencing

Fencing is a pretty cool sport. I'm going to blog about sabre fencing. There are alternatives to it, but sabre is the most physically demanding of the three weapons. Plus, it was my weapon.

Two people face each other in a bout. Each is hooked up to a box with the wires able to retract or extend according to the fencer's movements, and that box connects to a machine that lights up for the person who scored a point. The sabre is connected to a wire, which is connected to the wire coming out of the box and the electric lame. The lame is the fencing jacket, and is covered with a tiny wire net. When one person's sabre touches the other's lame (which is also connected to the wire-covered mask), his/her light turns on. If you know anything about electricity, it's just a big circuit.

Target area includes everything above the hips, excluding hands. In sabre, you can either stab or cut, unlike the other weapons in which you can only stab. There are lots of rules, like right-of-way, that determine whose point is was when both lights come on simultaneously, but I'm not really going to go into them. It's really complicated, and there are too many for me to list right now. A director mediates the bout, and his/her call is final, unless one fencer concedes. If you're incredibly lucky, you can argue until the director abstains from call, but arguing typically just puts him in a bad mood. Screaming after every point is highly encouraged, even if you're not sure the point was yours. You may influence the director, but the real purpose is to scare people and reap the benefits of a much-needed release.

Tournaments are huge. Women's sabre is the smallest event in all age groups, and that averages 120 people per event (one event example is Y14 (age group) women's sabre). Most fence in multiple evens because regarding age groups, you can fence in your own or any above your age group. Events can also be divided by rank (some require you to have at least a B, C, or D rank. You're ranked A,B,C,D,E,or U for unranked). You start with pools, which are groups of 5-8 determined by seed where you fence every person to 5 points. This determines your seed for DEs (direct eliminations). DEs are bouts to 15, where you fence until you either lose a bout or win the tournament. Top 8 medal.

So that's fencing. It's complicated, but it's a lot of fun. Since I left, I've thought about it every day. My coach changed my life, and I am forever indebted to him.