Fencing in the News

[LongBlade]

Competitive Fitness
By Amber Helsel
Jackson Free Press
September 3, 2014

www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2014/sep/03/competitive-fitness/

The problem with a regular gym is that, besides classes, it doesn't necessarily provide a fun, competitive way to exercise. Sure, you can pretend that you and your spin-class compatriots are in the Tour de France, or try to race someone on the indoor track, but it's just not as fun as finding unconventional ways to exercise.

#Some may not actually be that great of a workout, but exercise avenues like fencing and kickboxing allow you to have fun while doing something active. And let's be honest: Almost anything that gets you moving is better than sitting on the couch watching TV.

Fencing

#While it's not cardio-oriented (though sometimes it can be), it's a test of your character. To succeed in a bout (competition between two fencers), you have to be an excellent judge of character, and have a calculating mind, quick feet and reflexes, and you have to discern when to wait your opponent out, or move in and score. It's a test of your flexibility, especially if you're short like me.

#It sounds hard, right? At first, it can be. It's like learning to walk, and if you're an adult, it's even more difficult because you're essentially letting go of 20 or so years of knowledge and retraining your body.


Terms to know

#Target area—Where you can hit. For foil, this is the upper body, including the electric bib on modern masks and excluding the arms and the rest of the mask. For sabre, it's all of the upper body, and for epee, the entire body is a target.

#Parry and riposte—When a person comes at you with an attack, you move the blade and hit them.

#Right of way—Whether or not you had the right to score. If you start an attack, and your arm keeps moving forward, but your opponent doesn't respond, and you hit, you get the touch. If you parry and riposte an attack properly, you get the point. If you counterattack effectively, you get the point. The key is to make sure your arm always moves forward.

#Weapon arm—Whatever arm you hold your weapon in. This depends on whether you're right or left-handed.

#Foil weapon—Long and tapered at the end. It has an electrified tip and a convex bell guard to protect your hand.

#Epee weapon—It's similar to the foil in that the tip is also electrified, but it has a separate cord. Epees have a thicker blade than a foil, and the bell guard tapers down to protect your hand, as it's also target area.

#Sabre weapon—The entire blade is electrified due to any part of it being able to score. Its blade is triangular. The bell guard is connected to the bottom of the grip (the part you hold) and covers your whole hand. It uses the same body cord as a foil weapon.

#En garde—The starting stance for fencing. Your front foot faces front, and your back foot is at a 90-degree angle. When you hold your weapon, hold it at a 45-degree angle to protect target area. Go back to this after attacks.


What Do You Need?

#Fencing mask—The thing with the holes that makes you look like a beekeeper.

#Glove—Goes on your weapon hand.

#Lame—(pronounced luh may) What allows you to score in foil.

#Jacket—Long sleeve with a high collar.

#Knickers—Cropped pants with suspenders and a high waist for protection.

#Weapon—Comes in three types: foil, sabre and epee.

#Sport socks—You'll want these, especially in sabre.

#Fencing shoes—Similar to indoor soccer shoes.

#Mississippi Fencing Club, which meets at Baptist Healthplex in Jackson, has jackets, lames and non-electric weapons, but if this is a sport you see yourself continuing, I would suggest investing in gear.

[LongBlade]

Light Blue fencers compete at USA Championships

HITTING THE MAT | Junior Geoffrey Loss took sixth in Division I men's sabre.

By MUNEEB ALAM
Columbia Spectator
September 2, 2014

columbiaspectator.com/sports/2014/09/02/light-blue-fencers-compete-usa-championships

Although the fencing season only truly gets underway late in the fall, for top fencing schools, it starts in June and July at the USA Fencing National Championships.

It’s the first big tournament for incoming first-years, and their performances can offer a glimpse into the sort of impact they can make in their respective rookie seasons—which, in fencing, can be significant.

Lena Johnson and James Sands were the top Lions rookies at the tournament this year. Johnson won the bronze in Division I women’s sabre, while Sands was first in junior men’s foil. First-year Gabe Canaux took third in junior men’s épée as well.

Older Light Blue fencers also had notable performances. Sophomore Mason Speta finished second in Division I women’s épée. Junior Adam Mathieu finished third in Division I men’s foil, while on the women’s side, junior Margaret Lu finished sixth and senior Nzingha Prescod seventh. Junior Geoffrey Loss added a sixth-place finish in sabre.

Columbia's usual fencing rivals also received standout performances. Harvard first-year Eli Dershwitz added to his medal collection with a silver in Division I men’s sabre. Penn State, Stanford, and Notre Dame also got medal performances out of competing athletes.

The Columbia fencing season will kick off on Oct. 26 with the Alumni Meet. Competition begins Nov. 14 with the Columbia Invitational.

[LongBlade]

AIR FORCE FENCERS WENT MINING FOR GOLD AND FOUND SIX MEDALS
GoAirForceFalcons.Com
Sept. 15, 2014


www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/c-fenc/spec-rel/091514aab.html

U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. - For the first time in 16 years, the Air Force fencers did not open the season with the annual Nick Toth Open. Instead the fencing team represented the Academy at the Parker Kickoff Open in Parker, Colorado, this past weekend, Sept. 13-14.
The fencers went mining for gold and brought home six gold medals.

Taking gold, James Salem won the senior men's epee title with a 15-14 win against his opponent from Northern Colorado Fencing. Salem was 4-1 in the pools before going into the elimination rounds. Freshman Nathan Lee and Alexander Elwers tied for third place.

In senior men's foil, Alexander Chiang was the gold-medal winner after defeating teammate Daniel Johnson, 15-4. Johnson was promoted to the final bout after defeating his opponent 15-8, taking the second spot on the winner's podium.

With only two Air Force women competing in the final eight in senior women's foil, Mary McElwee won the gold after defeating Madeline Ash from the South Denver Fencing Academy. McElwee won the bout with a 14-1 sweep over Ash. Air Force newcomer Nicole Quattrociocchi proved her worth to the women's foil team adding a bronze medal, winning her bout in the final four 15-6 against another fencer from South Denver.

Advancing to the direct elimination (DE) rounds with a 5-0 record, Alyssa Hofilena won the No. 1 spot in senior women's saber. Hofilena advanced to the gold medal bout on a final eight bye. She then beat her opponent in the final four and advanced to the finals, winning 15-7. Teammate Cindy Yie, advanced to DEs with a 15-13 win against her opponent in the final eight. In the top four, Yie lost to Hofilena 6-15, tying for third place.

Both Ryan Redhead and Emiliano Kaptain battled for the top-two spots in senior men's saber. The two Air Force fencers battled their way to the top as Redhead advanced to the gold medal bout with a 15-11 victory. Emiliano advanced after defeating his opponent, 15-3. During the finals, both fencers kept the score close, but it was Redhead who came out on top with a 15-11 win against Kaptain.
Finally, Hofilena, who also competed in the junior women's saber, added another gold medal to her deposit. Hofilena was promoted to the finals, after finishing 15-3, 15-2 in the top eight and final four, respectively. She won the finals, 15-1, against Meagan Green from the Fencing Academy of Denver. In both pools, Hofilena had a perfect 10-0 record. After advancing to direct eliminations, Yie was promoted to the final eight after a 3-0 pool record. She was knocked out of DEs after losing to Hofilena, 10-15, and finishing in eighth place.

This weekend the Academy fencers will be in Texas for the Amarillo Open, Sept. 20-21.

Parker Kickoff Open, Sept. 13-14, 2014 - Air Force Results

Senior Men's Epee
1. James Salem
3T Nathan Lee
3T Alexander Elwers
15. Elias Johnson
23. Alex Im
27. Andrew Daugherty
28. Grayson Harber
29. Alexander Pollack
34. Robert Chado

Senior Women's Epee
10. Schaefer McHenry
12. Waverly Hock
13. Virginia Long
14. Rachel Evans

Senior Men's Foil
1. Alexander Chiang
2. Daniel Johnson

Senior Women's Foil
1. Mary McElwee
3. Nicole Quattrociocchi

Senior Men's Saber
1. Ryan Redhead
2. Emiliano Kaptain
10. Matthew Bergstedt
12. Kaleb Naylor
18. Ryan Andreux

Senior Women's Saber
1. Alyssa Hofilena
3T Cindy Yie

Junior (U20) Men's Epee
3. Nathan Lee
11. Grayson Harber
16. Elias Johnson

Junior (U20) Women's Epee
8. Schaeffer McHenry
9. Virginia Long

Junior (U20) Men's Saber
3T Kaleb Naylor
15. Ryan Andreux

Junior (U20) Women's Saber
1. Alyssa Hofilena
8. Cindy Yie

[LongBlade]

USA's Cassandra Bates wins fencing gold, Sage Palmedo takes bronze at Pan American Sports Festival
Boxscore
September 17, 2014

boxscorenews.com/usas-cassandra-bates-wins-fencing-gold-sage-palmedo-takes-bronze-at-pan-a-p100856-68.htm


Cassandra Bates (second from left) won gold in the women's epee event at the

Pan American Sports Festival. Photo courtesy USA Fencing.

USA Fencing: Colorado Springs, Colo. - September 16, 2014 – Team USA fencers Cassandra Bates (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Sage Palmedo (Portland, Ore.) each brought home medals over the weekend at the Pan American Sports Festival in Mexico City.

Bates made her first international medal a gold one when she earned the women’s epee title on Saturday.

Bates, a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, won her table of 16 bout against two-time Junior World Team member Maria Josefina Duenas Nicolau (ARG), 15-10, and defeated 2010 Pan American Champion Yamilka Rodriguez Quesada (CUB), 15-13, in the quarter-finals.

After a 15-13 win over 2014 Pan American Junior silver medalist Patricia Piovesan (VEN), Bates defeated 2011 Pan American Junior Champion Alejandra Teran (MEX), 15-11, to win gold.

Three-time Junior World medalist Sage Palmedo (Portland, Ore.) opened the saber competition on Friday with a 15-6 win against Marcia Zambrano (ECU) and defeated Erin McLoughlin Sequeira (CRC), 15-2, in the quarters.

Palmedo missed fencing her Oregon Fencing Alliance teammate, Paola Pliego (MEX), in the gold medal final by just a touch after a 15-14 loss to Rossy Felix Lara (DOM). Palmedo took bronze alongside 2009 Pan Am medalist Elieen Grench (PAN).

Four of Bates and Palmedo’s teammates also fenced in Mexico City, but were each eliminated in the early rounds.

Women’s foil fencer Anastasiya Muravyeva (Fair Lawn, N.J.), men’s saber fencer Chris Cheney (Franklin, Tenn.) and men’s foil fencer William Gaziano (Basking Ridge, N.J.) each advanced out of the pools, but lost in the first direct elimination round.

Fencing as the youngest athlete in the tournament, 15-year-old Bryce Bogert (St. Augustine, Fla.) was eliminated after the pool rounds.

[LongBlade]

Norman gets medieval with longsword fencing demonstration
By Martecia Oates
The Daily Oklahoman
September 11, 2014

www.oudaily.com/arts_and_entertainment/norman-gets-medieval-with-longsword-fencing-demonstration/article_b2b88186-350d-11e4-9128-001a4bcf6878.html

When you hear the word "medieval," what do you think of? Swords? Kings and queens? While those are the standard for all things pre-15th century, the Medieval Fair Department will kick off the lecture series with a lesson in medieval dueling.

On Friday, September 12 at 6:30 pm, a demonstration of traditional German longsword fencing will take place at the Norman Public Library. The demonstration will be given by Master of Arms Jerry Benson of Redlands Fencing Center based in Oklahoma City, along with two of his students.

[Medieval Fair Coordinator Ann Marie Eckart takes pride in the lectures that are given every year. There are five or six lectures given throughout the year on every third Friday, excluding Dec. The lectures are given over various medieval topics from music to health. Professors come from all over the world to lecture on their findings of the topics.

“The lectures get people interested and wanting to learn more about Medieval Arts," Eckart said. "Understanding the past and how it all began helps us better prepare for the future."

Two of Eckart's students will assist him in Friday's demonstration. Dustin Reagan, who has competed both nationally and internationally in fencing tournaments, specializing in the Historical European Martial Arts. His own student, Chad Unruh, and a long-time participant of the long sword program at Redlands, will assist him in teaching the audience about sword-to-sword combat.

Benson has been coaching fencing for more than 30 years, including choreographing sword fights in a variety of venues. Benson and his students have been studying the German longsword fencing manual from the 13th and 14th century to model their demonstration as an exact replica of what you would have seen during that time period.

The lectures have been given for over a decade now, but the people behind the swords are keeping up with fellow history lovers in new ways.

"With new marketing tools such as social networks and websites the amount of people at our events is becoming greater and more diverse," Eckart said.

This free event is open to the public. For more information about the Redlands Fencing Center, visit their website at redlandsfencing.com.

[LongBlade]

Sport picture of the day: fencing at the Asian Games
Steven Bloor
theguardian.com
25 September 2014

www.theguardian.com/sport/picture/2014/sep/25/sport-pic-fencing-kim-minkyu-zhenggang-zhang

A slow shutter speed shows the fluid and lightning quick movements of Kim Min-kyu, right, as he attacks Zhenggang Zhang during their men's fencing foil team quarter-finals match. Kim won the bout convincingly with a score of 5-1 and his South Korean team-mates also had the upper hand as they beat Singapore with a score of 45-21.

[LongBlade]

Club Spotlight: Fencing Club
Kristin Sadager, Correspondent
Horizons Newspaper
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
September 30, 2014

erau-news.com/diversions/2014/09/30/club-spotlight-fencing-club/

As fencing coach Wayne Johnson called out, “what’s your plan,” the clang of metal on metal rang out as white-suited figures engaged in the sport called the conversation of the steel.


Photographer: Simon Pulscher

The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Fencing Club meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the Activity Center from 7-9:30 p.m. The club was formerly a small club which had trouble retaining membership. Now there are about 28 to 30 participants with about 20 that attend regularly.

The club changed with the addition of Johnson who began teaching at the end of last semester. Johnson was formerly a member of the national fencing team and has over 30 years of experience in coaching. He provides the electrical equipment the club uses as well as many of the uniforms.

Dr. Andri Gretarsson, the faculty advisor, said they are trying to take ERAU club sports to the next level. They now have a coach and core membership. In the future they plan to compete as a team at tournaments sponsored by the United States Fencing Association. Gretarsson considers fencing to be a good fit for ERAU because it is a small, classic sport. It also has traditional connections to the military. The sport also has a problem-solving aspect to it. “It fits the type of students that Embry-Riddle has,” said Gretarsson.

Several of the members have fenced in competitions as solo competitors and Chairman James Mews has competed in two national competitions as well as a few smaller ones. He had the opportunity to fence against a qualifier for the national fencing team. “I took one step forward and she already had her sword on my foot,” Mews said.

Amy Walker had an interest in fencing since high school. She joined the club a few weeks into the fall semester. Walker said, “Everyone is really welcoming and willing to work with you.” Some of the more experienced fencers have even given her tips on the weaknesses of her opponents.

Fencing has been called “chess on wheels” because of the mental component as well as the fast pace of the sport. As executive officer Steven Walton said of his opponents, “You have to get inside their head as well as be quick and accurate.” The club fences both foil and epee, but not saber. Foil is the beginning weapon. It was originally used to teach the use of rapier which was the weapon used for protection at the height of sword craft.

The sport of fencing came from training in the use of the foil. The foil sword has a square cross-section. When fencing foil the body is the target and hits to legs, arms, and head are fouls. The epee sword has a triangular cross-section and any part of the body is a target. The sport uses electrical equipment to judge hits made by the foils. Before this equipment the sport was played slowly in front of judges who would vote on who had the first hit. Now it has become much faster because the foil registers when it touches the opponent.

The fencing club is always glad to welcome new participants. As Johnson says, “Fencing’s not a sport you can learn from a book.”

[LongBlade]

The fun behind fencing
By Eddie Chau
Simcoe Reformer
November 14, 2014

www.simcoereformer.ca/2014/11/14/the-fun-behind-fencing



Zac Stevens, 11, (centre) learns to perfect his form with his fellow students during a fencing camp at Waterford District High School on Thursday. The camp, offered by Norfolk County, was booked solid for its first six-week venture. The camps second installment will begin Jan. 8. (EDDIE CHAU, Simcoe Reformer)


WATERFORD - How much fun can it be to poke people with metal sticks?

To a group of about a dozen boys and girls aged 10 to 14 years old. It's plenty of fun.

While the cold weather ravaged the outside of Waterford District High School Thursday evening, inside the school's gym, a group of youth were wielding blades, perfecting their form while gaining an appreciation for an uncommon sport.

For the past six weeks, the youth have participated in a fencing camp offered by Norfolk County. As part of the beginner's camp, students were introduced to the basics of fencing — stances, thrusts, defenses and strategies.

“You can have so much fun with swords,” said Zac Williams, 11, one of the participants in the camp. “I'm learning how to defend ourselves. We have good protection when we fence. I play other sports but I really like fencing. I would consider doing this again.”

Fencing is considered a martial art involving fighting with blades. The sport is most commonly known as one of five activities regularly featured in the Summer Olympic Games.

There are three types of weapons used in fencing: foil, sabre and épée. Fencers are required to wear protective clothing — which includes jacket, gloves, breeches and a mask.

The idea of bringing the fencing camp to Norfolk County came from a single request from a youth interested in the sport said Donna Jones of Norfolk County's Community Services department.

“We got a call about 10 months ago from a child that wanted a fencing class in Norfolk,” Jones said. “I did some investigating and found someone that can teach it. Loril (Shannik) teaches fencing in Paris and I went to her class and asked if she wanted to teach here.”

The first fencing camp began Oct. 16 and it was booked solid after it was mentioned in the county's InNorfolk community guide. The response was so overwhelmingly positive that two other camps have been added — one beginning Jan. 8 and the other beginning Feb. 19. Each camp runs for six weeks.

“For some kids they had never tried a sport before,” Jones said. “Not all kids are jocks, but they love fencing. They learn how they can take ownership of an activity and have fun at the same time.”

Shannik is an instructor at the Brantford Cavaliers Fencing Club. She said the camp does teach the basic techniques of fencing, which can be challenging.

“Fencing has very few movements but many combinations,” Shannik said. “Not everyone is a team sport player so fencing offers a sport that's at one's pace. It's based on how you act and what you can do.”

Shannik said there's a certain romance behind the art of fencing but thinks there's another reason why kids like the sport.

“Who doesn't like to poke other people with metal sticks,” she chuckled.

The next fencing camp will be offered Jan. 8-Feb. 20 at Waterford District High School. Registration for participants aged 10-13 is $39.

For more information call 519-426-8866, ext. 2302.