random fencing vids

As I am on vacation I don't think I will be posting anything sensibel in quite a while... Training beginns in September again. In the meantime enjoy a video made by the Fencing Champion, it's my personal favourite, visit his channel for more:

A controversial fight- or the longest second ever!

                                          Heidemann and Shin scoring double hits

The second semifinal match in the women’s individual epee fencing tournament at the London Olympics between the german Britta Heidemann and her korean opponent A Lam Shin has been much discussed over the past two days.

Shin held priority with :01 remaining on the clock in overtime of a tied match, meaning she would earn a berth into the gold medal final when the clock struck zero.
Both fencers took to the piste and registered two straight simultaneous touches without any time running off the clock.
On the third instance, Heidemann registered a clean touch and the clock expired, giving her a berth into the finals.
Confused as to how the clock did not go from :01 to :00 any of the previous instances, Shin's coach ran over to the judge's table.
After 25 minutes of deliberation, the judges awarded the match to Heidemann. After hearing of the decision, Shin remained sitting on the piste with her head in her hands.

(Source: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/fencing/controversial-ending-in-second-semifinal-of-womens-epee.html)

You can see the last hits here:

It΄s quite shocking and amazing, I sympathize with the Korean though, the time should have stopped and so Heidemann wouldn't be given extra time.

Nevertheless it reminds of what my coach has told me to fight for every touch...

Guardian's humouristic video of the bout:

The olympic games have begun!

The biggest athletic event begun yesterday - I am a bit late in posting as I am on vacation :)
As for fencing schedule and results see here: http://www.london2012.com/fencing/

Live streaming links:
http://www.eurovisionsports.tv/london2012/index.html (the official site)
http://www.nbcolympics.com/fencing/index.html (only USA)
http://olympia.ard.de/apps/java/london2012/liveplayer/index.html(only Germany)

Best of luck to the greek saberfencer Vasso Vougiouka!

The European Fencing Championship 2012 Legnano

The official site:
http://www.legnano2012.eu/

To watch the championship online visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gDdyi87JdG4

You can watch the the first part of the championship uploaded here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxaNUO1reMk&feature=plcp

more fencing and fashion

the first fencing-inspired-fashion post has hundreds of views so here is one more especially for the female public of the blog ;)

On Fencing Competitions

As one of my club's coaches said ''fencing without participating in competitions, is like a soup without salt''. So the time has come to put my fencing skills to the test, early in June specifically. I am already stressed, it's different fencing the same members at the club to fencing total strangers (which are definately of a higher level than I am). But anyway I think it will be a great experience and if I can pass the first round I will be more than happy. I will be joining an individual event. For individual events there are one or two seeding rounds (poules) followed by direct elimination rounds, sometimes with repechage. (see wiki for more info)

A few infos on official comps:

• Given that you have a fencing pass, you need to pay a fee to enter the competition and register yourself.
• Make sure your equipment meets the standards of the competition.
• When you enter the competition your name will be called out when it's your turn to fence. The first person to hear their name takes place on the right of the referee.
• When a leftie is competing he is always on the left side no matter whose name is called first.
• First you salute your opponent and then the ref.
• The ref is always right, don't try and contradict him. If you must, ask him in a polite way why he made that decision.
• For inapropriate behaviour you can get a warning-yellow card (e.g. when you take the mask off without the ref allowing it), a red card (e.g. if you are being brutal) or if you let the opponent win on purpose, and finally a black card which means your exclusion from the competition (e.g. if you change the equipment in some way in order to win, if you don't salute your opponent, if you don't turn up after your name has been called out thrice)
• The new rules dictate that you salute your opponent at the end of the bout as well and then you shake hands.

Complete list of penalties here: http://www.britishfencing.com/uploads/files/penalty_sheet_2012.pdf

fencing student's guide

...that I found snooping around http://fencing.calpoly.edu/Documentation/lessons/alouie1.pdf
It explains a lot of basic things, like what a student should learn and in what order. It's all very nicely explained so that you know what to expect from your coach/club.

                                                                                              me