Old News From 2003
11-08-2003: The Gathering!
Images from Oxford's tournament, The Gathering.
(Also: Images from the Rhodes Invitational.)
NOTE: We just received the names of the winnders &etc. The photo albums will be missing a few names here and there, but they will be updated in December or sooner! Also: We have more images, from Laura Johansmann and Eric Aitala — these will go up as soon as possible, too!
10-30-2003: Oxford's tournament.... November 8th 2003!
The Gathering — There can be only one information page / registration page.
10-24-2003: Electric foils unaccounted for
In a recent inventory, Doc discovered that we are several weapons short of where we should be... If you have checked out some weapons, please return them ASAP because we need to get them prepared for the competitive fencing season. They can be returned to Doc, Walter, or the fencing bags. Note that if you return them to Doc, he shall flog you.
10-23-2003: Rhodes Tournament Trip
We meet on Saturday, October 25, 2003, at 8:30am in the Turner Center Parking lot! Be there, or be left behind! Things to bring:
- Change(s) of clothes
- Homework
- Music player with earphones!!
- Food (sandwiches, whatever)
- Fruit
- Sports drinks!
- Towel -- towels are always good, for everything.
Here's the full story about the tournament:
The Rhodes Challenge
We've been to your house, it's time to come to our house.
Announcing the first annual Rhodes Challenge Fencing Tournament, Saturday,October 25th.
The event will take place at Rhodes College Bryan Campus Life Center, 2000 North Parkway, Memphis TN, 38112. Venue Phone the day of the event only #(901) 569-2692. All participants must be members of the USFA. Membership applications will be taken at the tournament site.
All weapons will compete as open events. All competitions will be electrically scored. Please ensure your equipment is in good working condition. Please bring spare body cords and weapons.
Awards will be given for all weapons, plus top finishers in Cadet/Junior age group and top female finisher in each event. (Any complaints regarding gender or age bias should be directed toward your brain specialist, significant partner, religeous organization, or political party. We have enough problems, thank you very much!)
Cost per event is $20 for the first weapon and $15 for each additional weapon.
The events will be self refereed. Showers and changing facilities are available.
Venue opens at 8:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Saber
11:30 a.m. Epee
1:00 p.m. Foil
Registration closes 30 minutes before each event.
Late registrations will be allowed until the event begins, the regtistrant will be charged an additional $5 late fee. Please bring a scoring machine and reels with you if you can spare them for the day.
10-10-2003: Memphis Tournament, Oct 25!
The hardworking, far-traveling fencers at Rhodes College are hosting a tournament! The Rhodes Challenge — We've been to your house, it's time to come to our house. "Announcing the first annual Rhodes Challenge Fencing Tournament, Saturday,October 25th. The event will take place at Rhodes College Bryan Campus Life Center, 2000 North Parkway, Memphis TN, 38112." $20 for the first weapon and $15 for each additional weapon. 9:00 a.m. Saber; 11:30 a.m. Epee; 1:00 p.m. Foil. More information coming soon! This is our chance to make the Memphians feel own3d.
We finally found a link to World Championships Results. (http://www.fencing101.com/results/)
Just in: Polish Women's Team won the Gold!! (About.)
10-09-2004: World Championships
Championat du Monde!
Habana, Cuba (can't they spell!?)
(Full size image.)
Did anybody know that the World Championships are taking place right now, in Havana, Cuba? Results are coming in daily... American Epee fencer, Soren Thompson finished in the Top 8! World Epee Champion, Kolobkov, was unable to fence because he arrived too late (Air France delays).
Women's Foil... Apparently, Italy's Vezzali won the Gold, stomping all overSylwie Gruchala: Vezzali took the Gold, 15-10.
L-R: Gruchala (Poland) attacks Vezzali (Italy).
(More pictures from this gallery, opens new window.)
The women's foil results are below. You'd think they'd be posted online somewhere, but, nope. Not on either of the FIE or USFA websites.
- 1 _VEZZALI_ _Valentina_ _ITA_
- 2 _GRUCHALA_ _Sylwia_ _POL_
- 3 _MOHAMED_ _Aida_ _HUN_
- 4 _SCARLAT_ _Roxana_ _ROM_
- 5 _TRILLINI_ _Giovanna_ _ITA_
- 6 _YOUCHEVA_ _Ekaterina_ _RUS_
- 7 _BAUER_ _Simone_ _GER_
- 8 _VARGA_ _Gabriella_ _HUN_
- 11 _SMART_ _Erinn_ _USA_
Message from old fencer! Clay communicates from the beyond!! We received an email from ex El Presidente Fulks... he's doing fine. He's looking for a schedule for The Gathering. We'll post one ASAP; the class says hi!
10-05-2003: Tournament schedule
New competition schedule published. (View the schedule here.) This schedule is a work-in-progress… but it has many of the national and international tournaments you need to know about. Local tournaments are being sorted in as they're published. Please contact us with your own tournaments!
09-26-2003: The FIE joins the 1990's
As part of an ongoing drive to let the world know that
fencing exists, our fearless international leaders at the FIE have
redesigned their website. Now, it is actually possible to move from
page to page, and you don't have to hand-enter a 60-character
URL. You use something that web-users and scientists call "links".
It's wonderful how the FIE was able to do this most basic thing, as early in the century as 2003.
Read the magazine issues, stored online. The FIE magazines are each split into several PDF files... usually one PDF file per article. The PDFs start in French, then have translated English, then Translated Spanish. If you can't read something, scroll down until you can. Here is a sample of the English (note the French flavor):
So what could have gone on inside the heads of these two foilists to change the course of history for them? Longer bouts for 15 hits have the ability to allow quite unexpected reversals. This one was to do a lot more. It was to change a resigned young girl into victorious sportswoman. A depression into a state of grace. And the reverse. How? Why? It is inexplicable.
-- From Jr. Cadet World Championships 2003 article. (Download PDF.)
As you can see, the translation is wonderful... the French original is the problem. They have hired a romance novel author to write about fencing.
Dramatics aside, these magazines are exceptional in their urbane and sophisticated worldview. In America, you can find articles like "Lunging, and other things you can do with your feet." In the FIE magazine, you can read about the re-emergence of the Russian school of fencing, or discussions of fencers based on the pedigrees of their teachers.
The international perspective on America's recent butt-kicking in Women's foil and Sabre. After Emily Cross won her last two finals bouts 15-5 (winning the Worlds with her eyes closed, basically), author Jean-Marie Safra writes: [Americans] will have to redouble their efforts and application if they are to pass into posterity as seniors and that that is the decisive step which American fencing, with all its distinctive identity, has yet to take.
Magazines from 2002. (Visit list.)
Magazines from 2003. (Visit list.)
09-13-2003: Ole Miss University fencing schedule
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Date |
Type |
Time |
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Monday |
Practice |
8:30 – 11:00pm |
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Thursday |
Practice |
8:30 – 11:00pm |
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Friday |
Open bouting |
5:00 – ??pm |
09-12-2003: What kind of fencer are you?
Found this fun questionnaire online. Give it a shot!
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08-27-2003: You should know about a new website...
What is fencing!? The new website (co-created by Walter Flaschka!!) about fencing, built specifically for non-fencers. What if you want to learn about the sport, but you don't want to learn too much? WhatIsFencing.com is for fencing "civilians" — give it a look. The site isn't officially public yet, so keep this a secret between us.
Fencing equipment. University fencer Brooke wanted to know about fencing equipment. Fencing equipment used to be difficult (impossible) to figure out... nobody knew the good prices, nobody knew about quality. Now there's a website which reviews fencing equipment: Fencing Equipment Reviews.
08-25-2003: Ole Miss Fencing Schedule, blech
Despite our history and our close cooperation with the Athletics department, the Turner Athletic Center has given us an insane schedule:
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Date |
Time |
|
Tuesday |
9:15pm – 11:00pm (temporary) |
|
Thursday |
8:30 – 11:00pm |
Keep your eyes on this space — these times may be changing soon!
08-24-2003: Fencing salle envy
Found two more images of wonderful salles. There is an effort under way here in Oxford to make its very own Salle d'Armes. Salle d'Escrime, Salle Faulkner, Oxford Fencing School — the name is up in the air.
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Circle d'Escrime School |
Fencing Academy of Philadelphia |
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(website) |
(website) |
Fencing salles are usually ugly and comfortable. We don't need much to make a national contender. We're looking to buy or build something like this (send us any leads!):
08-20-2003: Fun pictures!
Here's the Austrian Women's Fencing Team, date unknown. Note the daggers.
And here's a picture from 1909, a fencer is training his blade. And you all thought Walter was insane.
Click for larger version.
Image found in this government archive.
08-08-2003: Great job! Parks and Rec summer session is over
Just a quick thanks to all the wonderful kids and adults who made this summer fun! We look forward to seeing everybody back for the next session... August 24. Keep an eye on this website for more news!
07-23-2003: New pictures!
Sepia portraits of fencers (link). Cat and Mouse game (link). Workin' the stations (link).
(All photos.)
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07-22-2003: End of summer session announced
The Parks and Recreation class will continue to the end of the first week of August, 2003! Keep a watch on this website for the announcement of the next fencing class.
07-13-2003: News...
Fencing isn't glamorous? Poland's Sylwia Gruchala is one of fencing's rising stars. (Her homepage, if you read Polish.) If you get famous, you get magazine covers! (Image opens new window.) She recently won the New York World Cup, Women's Foil. (World Cup results.)
Fencing equipment reviews!! Need a $50 gift certificate for fencing gear? Wondering what fencing equipment is good (and which is not so good?) If you've bought equipment recently, you can post reviews at this website: Fencing101.com/reviews. On August 15, one randomly selected reviewer will receive $50 gift certificate! The prize was announced at Fencing.net (link).
07-13-2003: Iris Zimmermann & NPR
Fencer Iris Zimmermann on NPR! She's a featured interviewee. She's not talking about her rockin' fencing, but about a bookclub that a clique of advanced NYC fencers have created. Want to play along at home? First recommended book — House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. (Listen to the story now.)
07-11-2003: Fencing equipment ordering... just got easier.
Fencing.net has launched a fencing equipment review website. The premise is simple: fencers who have bought equipment can write reviews of it. Other fencers can read these reviews and factor them in during ordering. Life for fencing mothers and fathers just got a whole lot easier. (Visit the Equipment Review Site.) There are only 30 reviews right now... but it's growing fast.
(Also, Walter finally got an excuse to review Fencing and the Master by Laszlo Szabo.)
07-09-2003: Miscellaneous
How many fencers were at the 2003 Summer Nationals — 700? 7,000? We may never know the truth. The answer is lost to time. (Summer national results.)
Can you get scholarships for fencing? Well, shh-yeah, you can. The very cool Utah Valley Sport Fencing website (link) says:
Congratulations to Rachel Liebing!
Full Scholarship
CalState Fullerton Fencing Team
06-11-2003: Strong lunges, tip before foot!
Too often, we see earnest lunges that get nowhere near target, simply because the opponent changes distance. And if you commit to a lunge which turns out short, you are in a world of trouble because the opponent may comfortably parry riposte.
The picture below shows fencer right in the middle of his lunge — is there any doubt he will reach his opponent? This is a non-terminating lunge; fencer right properly didn't base his lunge on the current distance to his opponent, but the the distance he would need to hit a moving opponent. (In the same way, you never hit to open target, you hit to opening target.)
(Click for larger version.)
(More such photos found here.)
Of course, in this picture, fencer left surprises fencer right with a counter-attack. (Don't pull your arm!!) But the message is clear: the position of the fencers' blades, and the position of the lunge, reveal that hand is independent of lunge. With strong lunges, hand actions are often concluded and the hit is often determined before the lunge completes. When training for power, tip lands before front foot.
05-06-2003: News
Parks and Recreation Class! The summer session of the Parks & Rec fencing class has begun! People of all ages are invited to learn the Olympic sport of fencing. Mondays & Wednesdays, 4:30pm–6:30pm.
Mississippi State Games. We are sending four fencers to the "Olympics of Mississippi" this weekend. Good luck!
05-30-2003: Updated ratings
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Fencer |
Rating |
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Alan |
1035 |
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Garrett |
1025 |
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Walter |
1006 |
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Jake |
998 |
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Vicki |
988 |
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John |
982 |
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Charlie |
966 |
05-23-2003: Fencing joke
Q: How many foilists does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: Two. One to screw it in, and one to claim it was really their light.
05-20-2003: Training methodologies
Look on our ideas, ye mighty, and despair! "Fencing stations" are wall exercises that fencers visit as part of their warm-up. It teaches independence, point control and sentiment du fer. (The station concept.) "Minimal parry system", a short discussion on optimizing parries in competitive fencing, with videos. (Not a final version.) "Ratings", a small application that helps you numerically rate fencers based on their performance. (Based on the chess Elo system.)
05-20-2003: Mississippi State Games
The Olympics of Mississippi. The State Games of Mississippi will hold its fencing event June 6-7 in Merdian, MS. Check their website for times, venue and registration information. (Clickety.) (PDF entry form.)
05-20-2003: Yep, Walter messed up the ELO ratings
If anybody can figure this out for him, he'd be much obliged. As it stands, scores can go down, but can't rise above 1000 (the initial rating). Here's what we're using:
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For fencer 1: Rnew1 = R1 + K (W - 1/(1+10^((R2-R1)/A))) |
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Where: |
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R1= |
Fencer 1's rating |
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R2= |
Fencer 2's rating |
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K= |
arbitrary coefficient (32) |
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W= |
Win/Loss (1/0) |
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A= |
Initial rating (1000) |
05-14-2003: Elo Scores
Based on the chess rating system. On 19 bouts fenced.
Rnew1 = R1 + K (W - 1/(1+10^((R2-R1)/A))),
Rnew2 = R2 + K (W - 1/(1+10^((R1-R2)/A))).
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Standings |
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Alan |
968 |
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Garret |
968 |
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Jake |
968 |
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Walter |
936 |
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Charlie |
936 |
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Vicki |
0 |
05-09-2003: Ole Miss Summer Fencing
Campus Rec says we have the room for fencing.
4:00pm-6:00pm Tuesday
4:30pm-6:30pm Thursday
05-09-2003: Infighting drills with wall target
Ever wondered what do do when a wall target closes distance to get inside your point? Some drills are up. (Get your stab on.)
05-08-2003: Fencing party! Last day of class!
Yesterday was the last day of the Parks & Recreation fencing class. We had a fencing party! (Pictures.)
05-07-2003: Sergei Golubitsky Golden Bouts
Fencing Footage has a new product description for the Sergei Golubitsky Golden Bouts VHS tape. (Link.) Written by Walter, so you know it's long. I mean good. (We might be watching that tape in Parks & Rec class today!)
05-06-2003: Boxing shoes as fencing shoes?
In a thread about fencing shoes on fencing101 (link), one fencer mentions Adidas "Akrids" as good fencing shoes. Price: $40.00. (Link to boxingshoes.com.) Anybody want to be a guinea pig?
05-04-2003: Future of fencing
Wednesday, May 7, 2003 — last day of Parks and Recreation class. On Wednesday, we will have a practical exam, hand out progress reports, and a party!
05-03-2003: Future of fencing
A few threads (1, 2) on Fencing101's bulletin boards bring to light interesting things about the future of fencing. Wireless fencing made its debut years ago, starting with sabre. (Allstar info page.) It was used at the Sydney Olympics but there were problems. (Not ready for prime time.) Wireless fencing has revived the notion of "fencing in the round", with a circular or square strip — spectators seem to like it. (Crowd analysis at experimental fencing demo.)
No off-target in foil? To make wireless fencing more feasible, there is discussion of removing off-targets for foil. In this arm-, leg- or mask-hits don't count, and don't stop the action. "...That's the same situation you have in sabre. An off-target hit does not stop the action. It just results in loss of right of way, the same as an attack that failed for any other reason. I would think that it wouldn't change the action in foil that much." (Old discussion thread.)
The future of fencing might look like this: Clear plastic (lexan) masks, with small fans inside for de-fogging. Repeater-lights in the masks show hits to the audience. No wires -- each fencer carries a wireless gadget around their waist under the lame. Off-targets don't register, and so they don't stop the action (point control is critical). Opponents circle each other, scoring with flurries of blade activity and abbreviated footwork. Scores are indicated by LED arm-bands or "smart lames" that print the scores on the fencers' backs.
Ramifications of what fencing might become: Coaches for this new sport will have to study concepts of footwork from boxing. The unweaponed arm could possibly be used for parrying. Closing distance will still make sense, but infighting will reward fencers with fewer touches -- corps-a-corps will grow rare. Long marching attacks will disappear, but the importance of tempo and timing will increase. Masks will fully enclose the head. Directors will suit up to enter the ring. Change is exciting and scary.
05-01-2003: Par-taaay! News
Meet at 5:15pm on Friday, in the stadium parking lot close to the Rebel store.
04-30-2003: Par-taaay! End of year fencing party
For Ole Miss fencers — Friday Night. Meet at the Turner Center parking lot on Friday night. Caravan to Tupelo, eat dinner, see the new X-Men 2 movie. If you're a totally cool university fencer — and we know you are — we'll see you there! Remember: we're your friends, we're not like the others.
04-29-2003: Fencing camps
On Fencing101 there's a list of fencing camps this summer. (Link.)
04-28-2003: Fencing Dummy Is Done (pictures)
It is incredibly fun to work with; it gives you a quick workout and you can't be slow because it will stab you. The dummy needs a name, and a home. It has a very fast parry, but not much point control — you must wear a mask (and if you're lunging wear a jacket).
04-24-2003: Fencing story on National Public Radio!
You've listened to the legends, you've read of the deeds — now hear the voices! (You need RealPlayer to hear them.) Peter Westbrook, Yuri Gelman, Keeth Smart talk about building a world class sabreur from scratch.
Strange much? Disney has struck a movie deal with Oympic Bronze Medal winner Peter Westbrook to tell his story. (Peter Westbrook Foundation home page.)
04-21-2003: UPenn coach Dave Micahnik quickie
Maestro Micahnik came up in a conversation recently in connection with a fencing camp this summer. If you're thinking of using your mad fencing skillz to make you more appealing to college recruiters, you could do worse than University of Pennsylvania. (Read Micahnik's bio.) Past team fencers include Cliff Bayer, Tamir Bloom fenced in the 2000 olympics. (What is a fencing camp? Fencing camps are intense 1-week courses where you work with advanced coaches in day-long sessions. Food and bed are provided. They're great if you can make it... you come back bone tired and untouchable.)
04-17-2003: April Foils Date! April 26, 2003
Oxford's April Foils tournament is on! Let's get this party started! (Information) (Registration form)
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Dates & times |
Location |
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April 26, 2003
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Oxford Park Commission Activity Center on Price street in Oxford, MS. |
(Also: We just found this link: 2000 Olympic Fencing Results. The USA women's team missed medalling by 3 touches.)
04-16-2003: Fencing101.com
It's nice to have a community. We've been spending a lot of time on Fencing101.com (Click). It's easy getting an account — just click the "forum" link and look for the "register" link at the top of the page. From then on, you can post messages to hundreds of other motivated fencers. There are advanced fencers, beginners, classicals, competitors, researchers.
Margarette, Bobby — where are you!? We miss you! Hope you're doing well with gymnastics!
Cool mask:
Paolo Milanoli (via escrime-tv.com)
04-14-2003: Keeth Smart, sabreur
Article on Keeth Smart on USA Today. (Read all about it.) For a while in March, Smart was the World #1 Sabre Fencer — the first American to win that distinction. "He picked up the sport some 10 years ago when his parents enrolled him in Westbrook's then-fledgling [Westbrook Foundation]. He rapidly and successfully moved through the junior ranks, was a four-time All-American at St. John's, competed but didn't medal in the 2000 Sydney Games and, two years later, has no peers." {Lit ref: Darts, Keeth!}
Things learned from the article: European fencers are heavily subsidized pros; top USA fencers get $2,500 annually from the USFA; coach Yuri Gelman is world-class; Peter Westbrook is world-class. The article has a good description of the New York Fencer's Club.
04-12-2003: Also...
The flashcard program works now. Give it a try! (Click)
04-12-2003: Cadet/Junior World Championships -- Italy
= Junior Women's Epee Results: Kamara James wins Bronze for the USA (Results) = Junior Women's Sabre: Sada Jacobson wins GOLD and all 3 US Women in the top 10! (Results) = Cadet Women's Foil: Cross gets gold! "Emily Cross of the USA won the gold medal for Cadet Women's Foil by stomping all over the competiton. Her closest bout was a 15-8 victory in the round of 16 and she won the gold with a bout score of 15-5!" (Results). (Links found through Fencing101.)
Profile: Emily Cross, 10/15/86, New York, N.Y. Made the USA's 2002 World Championships team when she was 15 years old! 2002 World Championship Team, 2002 Under-16 and Under-19 US National Champion, 7th place 2002 Cadet World Championships, Bronze Medalist 2000 Junior World Team Championships. Read about her here at some scholastic website, or read the USFA's PR here.
Cross ascends to fencing heaven.
As coaches, we often try to build intensity and drive. Fencing is a competitive sport, and we want fighters. Watch the indie movie Girlfight to learn about intensity (info). Wanna see a fencer who looks like she would gnaw off her own leg to win a bout? Here she is:
Jacobson expressing
satisfaction at winning the gold.
Photos by Egon Theiner (found on USFA.org)
04-10-2003: Parks & Recreation Class: CHANGES!
The class is over April 14, 2003! However, the Parks & Recreation Fencing Room will still be open to fencers of all ages at the regular times. If you attend, you will be supervised by two instructors. However, you will be required to do your own warm-up, stretching and footwork. You will receive a foil, epee or sabre lesson. And then you must fence, electric or dry. Start and stop times are flexible. At this time of year, the class size shrinks too small, so we are making the class into a fencing Salle.
Nifty new thing on site: Flash cards for fencing terms!
04-09-2003: Advanced reading in Fencing
The Value of Timing in Tactics,Ęby Zbigniew Czajkowski: ...It has been noticed long ago that certain situations are more conductive to scoring a hit. This has been called in English "timing" or "choice of time", in Italian "scelta di tempo", in French "L'a propos". The expression used by Polis fencers "zaskoczenia" (literal translation - "surprise") or "wyczucie zaskoczenia" (feeling of surprise) better depicts the situation than an expression which only considers the element of time... (Read the whole long thing.)
04-05-2003: American Sabre Fencer: #1 in World
"It's official! Keeth Smart (24, New York, N.Y.) is now ranked #1 in the Men's Sabre world standings, edging out Stanislav Pozdniakov of Russia by 13 international points." (USFA press release opens new window.) The Westbrook-driven hothouse of Sabre development has produced the world's leading sabre fencer: Keeth Smart, 24. Congratulations. Having witnessed how the saberists train at the NYFC, it's tempting to call this a group effort. Fencing is an individual sport, however, and Smart is a new hero.
04-03-2003: Profile: Laura Flessel-Colovic (France)
Flessel, aka The Wasp, is the immensely successful French Epeeist. Here is her story (click). Here is her ugly mug:
Born Nov 6, 1971 in the Carribean. 1996, 2000 Olympic Individual Epee Gold winner. 1998, 1999 World Champion. We don't have her recent results, but she won the "A" Women's Épée, Estoril, Portugal, Mar. 8, 2003. Rumor has it she won her 2000 Olympic gold only 4 months after giving birth to a little girl (causing one person online to write, "Yay prenatal vitamins!"). Flessel has a 20-foot lunge (it seems), and one daughter.
You can buy a videotape containing her bouts at FencingFootage.com (we know the owner). If you have Apple's Quicktime software, you can view her movies below.
| Individual Finals, World Championship |
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| Women's Epee -- France's beautiful Flessel, scoring a touch. |
Flessel's monster lunge:
| Individual Finals, World Championship |
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Skeleton in the closet: Nov 22nd 2002, Flessel received a short 3-month suspension for a forbidden substance revealed by a drug test. Flessel pleaded non responsibility, a doctor had mis-medicated her.
04-02-2003: To the strong, everything is spaghetti
Fencing blades aren't stiff — they aren't made of rebar or structural iron. They are merely tempered, flexible wands of steel. If your hand is strong, you will be able to move your weapon quickly. Note the torque on the blade in this picture (USA's Felicia Zimmerman on the right(?)):
04-01-2003: Ole Miss Fencing Team Will Compete in 2004 Olympics!!!
Just kidding. April fools. Har har. Ole Miss has asked for the fencing club's participation in WorldFest 2003, which is a sort of all-day dance contest in the grove. Don't bring children! — they will be serving spicy food! More info about that (including real facts) coming soon.
Droooooool. Ever wonder what a real salle looks like? Salle is the French for "room" (usually living room). More importantly, it also means fencing room or school. We found this picture online:
Drool. It has everything a good salle needs: bouncy wooden floors, permanent strips, high ceilings, big clock, windows through which to view the real world, wall-mounted wires, serious-looking coaches in grunged-up equipment, faded pictures of honored fencers from the past, trophies and banners. If you've ever trained in a salle, then just walking in and smelling the air primes you for fencing. This is what we're working towards in Oxford. Visit the site we stole the picture from: the famous West Side Fencing Center of Los Angeles, CA. (This link opens pop-up window.)
Good web link to a great lesson guide! Unfortunately this site is hosted at geocities.com, so it will only load like 10 pages per hour. Great resource if you can visit. (Visit.)
03-27-2003: Oxford's "April Foils" tournament dates... still pending?
April is a crowded month for fencing. (See compeititions.) We are determining a date for our Oxford "April Foils" tournament. As this is an Ole Miss / student thing, and our students are socked with work, we are running slow in finding a date. Also -- large-ish website update coming over the weekend!
03-19-2003: News
We are back from Spring Break, and will update the site with news soon. Also in world news: According to online reports from people with family in the Middle East, they have been notified by the US Government that the invasion of Iraq is underway, with US and British special forces in the port city of Basra. This could be an evil Internet rumor — there is nothing on CNN yet. A London newspaper is reporting the preemptive invasion of Iraq has begun. (Link.) Our best hopes for our soldiers.
Update 3:30pm est: The White House denies hostilities in Iraq; 4 hours remaining before deadline runs out. 17 Iraqi soldiers have surrendered already.
03-06-2003: Our division website
We have the link to the Ark-La-Miss Division website! (Click http://www.ALMDIV.org) Get your Arkansas, Lousiana and Mississippi division fencing information there. Also, some Oxford fencers could be even more famous soon — the Division site might put up some of our pictures or photo albums.
Local gossip: Kevin's ankle is still sprained; Bobby and Charlie B. are taking Sabre lessons; Margarette is training in Epee; Jenn was fabulous in Twelfth Night; Paula is winning more at tournaments;Vicki is trying a visconte grip; Garrett's doing primes; Lidell has a nice computer; Allen is raising his shoulder; Doc is sick. Send in more news. Ole Miss is going into Spring Break next week... good luck with your midterms, fencers!
03-04-2003: Some questions...
[1] Does anybody in Oxford have equipment to record from a DV videocam onto a VHS tape? Walter isn't able to do this, and he is frustrated. [2] We unfortunately have no pictures from the Stomped Heart tournament... we were videotaping instead. Does anybody have pictures to send us? [3] Lastly: Yesterday was 03/03/03!! How weird is that!?
02-28-2003: Stomped Heart Tournament Results
The results of our Feb 22 Stomped Heart tournament! (View.)
02-26-2003: News!
The Feb 22 Stomped Heart tournament went very well! A solid Open Sabre tournament was followed by a very strong Open Epee tournament (starting as a B), which was followed by a strong novice foil and a strong Open Foil. It was great seeing all our friends again. (Results coming soon.)
We also met with the utterly cool and organized Murray State fencers. They are presenting the Battle of the Blades, April 5-6 2003. If you know Murray State, you know they give out humongous trophies that cause jealousy throughout the known world. If there are enough early registrations, they will also have a Triplette booth selling equipment. (More information and registration package.)
Lastly, Ole Miss Club Fencers are involved in an Ole Miss production of Wm. Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Not to be missed. (Information opens new window.)
02-14-2003: Parks Commission Class: No class on Monday, Feb 17!
Monday is President's Day, and the Parks Commission center will be closed. There is no fencing! Please alert your friends.
02-12-2003: Tennis ball target
Vicki wanted to know about the tennis ball target drill. The tennis ball target is a cool fencing thing you can do at home! (Pictures and instructions here.)
02-10-2003: Stomped Heart Tournament is on!
Get ready to cross blades on Saturday, February 22nd, 2003! There is a new venue in Oxford for this tournament! (Read tournament information.) (Print the registration form.)
02-03-2003: Fall 2002 semester report!
8.1 meg Adobe Acrobat (pdf) file containing our Fall 2002 report on the Ole Miss Fencing Club. (Big PDF.)
01-30-2003: Stomped Heart tournament — problems with date!!
The university over-scheduled the basketball courts, so our Stomped Heart tournament dates have to change. Stay tuned for more information!
01-28-2003: New page, & Ole Miss call to action
We have a new page up: Competitions! Start your planning early — there will be carpools to most tournaments, and Ole Miss fencers can receive subsidy. You've probably been wondering: "How can I pay back my coaches for all their great work and personal attention?" Simple: Compete!
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Coach Payback Program |
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Beginning fencers |
1 tournament per semester |
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Intermediate fencers |
2 tournaments per semester |
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Avanced fencers |
3 tournaments per semester |
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2003: University Fencers come to the Student Union between 11:00am–2:00pm to help us stir up interest in the fencing program! Our Sabre squad may even be putting on demonstrations!
The Ole Miss Fencing Club website has been updated. (Great work, Kevin!)
01-25-2003: Lots of news!!
A few new pictures shot 01/23/2003. (Pictures.)
Valentine's Tournament:The Stomped Heart. (Unknown date.) We estimate a C tournament with over 40 fencers. We'll have more information soon, as well as pre-registration forms. Here's what we have for now:
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Stomped Heart, Feb ??, 2003 |
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Sabre |
9:00 am |
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Epee |
11:00 am |
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Foil |
1:00 pm |
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Women's Foil |
If 6 or more fencers |
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Junior Foil |
If 6 or more fencers |
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Note: Registration for each weapon ends 15 minutes before start time. |
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Wednesday, January 29: Student Day! We will have a table at the Student Union from 11:00am–2:00pm. We will be demonstrating the weapons, passing out flyers, and promoting the Ole Miss Fencing Club. If you're a fencer, you must come and help! If you're interested in fencing, come put your name on the list!
Thursday, January 30: Fencing Club Begins! Jan 30 is when we go hardcore, and start the new season. If you're going to try Fencing, try it now!
Thursday, January 23: New Club Officers at Ole Miss
Congratulations to Kevin Bartley, our new club president and team captain! Other offices include: Trey as Treasurer/Secretary, Jenn Webre as Marketer/Promoter (in absentia, you can back out if you want). And we railroaded Eric Aitalia into being Armorer. We thank Clay Fulks (2001–2003) for his dedicated service as club president. Good luck with your future endeavors, Clay!
01-20-2003: No Parks Commission Class Today
No class during today's holiday! Don't show up! Do 50 lunges instead!
01-14-2003: Link fixed
We fixed a link to pictures of the Merry Mayhem 2002 set-up. (Happy, Eric?)
01-10-2003: New fencing season in Oxford!
We hope everybody had a nice break, and is coming back recharged, revitalized, and ready to fence!
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Ole Miss Fencing Club Turner Athletic Center |
Oxford Parks & Recreation Monday, Wednesday 4:30pm–6:00pm |
Also: Good luck to all our fencers going to the Rose Condon Memorial Tournament, January 11th, in Shreveport, LA! Bring lots of pictures, and some medals!