Olympic fencing is so fast that the human eye can't score it anymore. This highlights how fast that is---and how the systems, with electronic "touch" sensors which trigger on the electrical circuit being closed on contact (knew that) and at certain force levels (didn't know that) register the hits/"touches".
Also: Very Cool Translation---"More Enjoy Fencing"
I was interested to see that "point scoring" blows are, of course, not really "combat blows"...
Wapping someone on the back? Would that stop them? Wouldn't it just tick them off? (1:22).
On the other hand, something directly into your heart (1:03)---that might check even a determined opponent with a real weapon. Drop him right there before hit strikes back once? Maybe not. Kill him within a minute or two--by causing pump failure (cardiac tamponade), dropping a lung (pneumothorax) or funny heart electrical donation problems (arrhythmia)---yah, I could see that.
8 Comments
noimsAs a (slightly retired) fencer I love this, but I'd say a couple of things about the description.
The 'whap on the back' needs to apply 500g of pressure for 15ms in order to count. The time rule came in a while back to discourage 'flicking' - that exact problem.
The idea of dropping someone 'before he strikes back' is central to the roots of foil (fleuret in the video) and sabre. Essentially, if your opponent is attacking you have to parry them as a priority. The foil was traditionally the practice weapon which prioritised blows to vital areas, and defence over attack. Unfortunately, this also makes them very hard to follow if you don't know what you're watching.
Great video though. Makes me want to pick up a weapon again. Feel free to imagine some tragedy that made me swear never to fence again.
ChaosEngineA student went over to the dark side and you swore you'd never teach people to kill again?
But now you have to come out of retirement to hunt down your former student because you're "the only one who knows him"?
I'm always impressed by the sheer response speed of fencers.
Feel free to imagine some tragedy that made me swear never to fence again.
SFOGuyYour insights were really interesting!
Thank you!
As a (slightly retired) fencer I love this, but I'd say a couple of things about the description.
The 'whap on the back' needs to apply 500g of pressure for 15ms in order to count. The time rule came in a while back to discourage 'flicking' - that exact problem.
The idea of dropping someone 'before he strikes back' is central to the roots of foil (fleuret in the video) and sabre. Essentially, if your opponent is attacking you have to parry them as a priority. The foil was traditionally the practice weapon which prioritised blows to vital areas, and defence over attack. Unfortunately, this also makes them very hard to follow if you don't know what you're watching.
Great video though. Makes me want to pick up a weapon again. Feel free to imagine some tragedy that made me swear never to fence again.
UncleBlastoA beautiful video - in regaurds to what the poster mentioned, I would make this observation- Modern competitive fencing is to "sword fighting" what Ballet is to folk dancing, a purified form. What noims said stikes a chord with me, I miss it greatly. Pommel up.
noimsNot far off, but it's all ok. My best friend - his dad - has gone to have a little chat with him. I'm sure it's all sorted by now.
As for the response speed (yes, I was tempted to wait a year or so before posting this), I do remember one night after doing well in a competition I kept being woken up by my right arm doing a parry-riposte. My muscles were acting completely independant of my conscious brain. It was one of the weirdest feelings I've ever had.
A student went over to the dark side and you swore you'd never teach people to kill again?
But now you have to come out of retirement to hunt down your former student because you're "the only one who knows him"?
I'm always impressed by the sheer response speed of fencers.
articianI kick myself for not placing it exactly, but the first half of the music they use for this is from a shooter. One of the R-Types, I think?
Because: Japan, of course.
CrushBugI think I could succeed at fencing if my opponents move in slow motion and I could exist at normal speeds.
transmorpherjokingly says...This is one type of fencing that might keep those Mexicans out
(no I'm not serious, I'm not even on that continent)
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