Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Fencing - The Basics
FENCING - THE BASICS
The Weapons
Foil, épée and sabre are the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. While it is not unusual for fencers to compete in all three events, they generally choose to develop their skills in one weapon. Until recently, women were permitted to compete only in foil, but now the USFA & FIE offer national competitions for women in épée and sabre. Women's épée was added to the World Championships in 1989 and was held for the first time at the Olympic Games in 1996. Foil and épée are point-thrusting weapons. Sabre is a point-thrusting as well as a cutting weapon. The target areas differ for the three weapons, though all three are scored electrically.
Object
The main object of a fencing bout (what an individual "game" is called) is to effectively score 15 points (in direct elimination play) or five points (in preliminary pool play) on your opponent before he scores that number on you. Each time a fencer scores a touch, she receives a point. Direct elimination matches consist of three three-minute periods.
Foil
The foil has a flexible rectangular blade, approximately 35 inches in length, weighing less than one pound. Points are scored with the tip of the blade and must land within the torso of the body.
The valid target area in foil is the torso, from the shoulders to the groin, front, back and neck. It does not include the arms, head and legs. The foil fencer's uniform includes a metallic vest (called a lamé) which covers the valid target area on the torso and a mask with a metallic covering on the bib covering the neck, so that a valid touch will register on the scoring machine. A small, spring-loaded tip is attached to the point of the foil and is connected to a wire inside the blade. The fencer wears a body cord inside his uniform which connects the foil to a reel wire, connected to the scoring machine.
There are two scoring lights on the machine. One shows a green light when a fencer is hit, and one shows a red light when her opponent is hit. A touch landing outside the valid target area (that which is not covered by the lamé) is indicated by a white light. These "off target" hits do not count in the scoring, but they do stop the fencing action temporarily.
Épée
The épée (pronounced "EPP-pay"), the descendant of the dueling sword, is similar in length to the foil, but is heavier, weighing approximately 27 ounces, with a larger guard (to protect the hand from a valid hit) and a much stiffer blade. Touches are scored only with the point of the blade. The entire body is the valid target area.
The blade is wired with a spring-loaded tip at the end that completes an electrical circuit when it is depressed beyond a pressure of 750 grams. This causes the colored bulb on the scoring machine to light. Because the entire body is a valid target area, the épée fencer's uniform does not include a lamé. Off-target hits do not register on the machine.
Sabre
The sabre is the modern version of the slashing cavalry sword, and is similar in length and weight to the foil. The major difference is that the sabre is a thrusting weapon as well as a cutting weapon (use of the blade). The target area is from the bend of the hips (both front and back), to the top of the head, simulating the cavalry rider on a horse. The sabre fencer's uniform includes a metallic jacket (lamé), which covers the target area to register a valid touch on the scoring machine. The mask is different from foil and épée, with a metallic covering since the head is valid target area.
Just as in foil, there are two scoring lights on the machine. One shows a green light when a fencer is hit, and one shows a red light when the opponent has hit. Off-target hits do not register on the machine.
Right-Of-Way
One of the most difficult concepts to visualize in foil and sabre fencing is the rule of right-of-way. This rule was established to eliminate apparently simultaneous attacks by two fencers.
In essence, right-of-way is the differentiation of offense and defense, made by the referee. The difference is important only when both the red and green lights go on at the same time in foil and sabre. When this happens, the winner of the point is the one who the referee determined was on offense at the time the lights went on.
Épée does not use the right-of-way in keeping with its dueling origin - he who first gains the touch earns the point. Or, if both fencers hit within 1/25th of a second of each other, both earn a point. However, it is equally important to have a sound defense for épée, since the entire body must be protected from a touch.
How to Follow the Action
For those new to fencing, it is difficult to follow the lightning speed of the fencers' actions. To become more comfortable in watching a fencing bout, focus on one fencer. The fencer being attacked defends himself by use of a parry, a motion used to deflect the opponent's blade, after which the defender can make a riposte, an answering attack. Thus, the two adversaries keep changing between offense and defense. Whenever a hit is made, the referee will stop the bout, describe the actions, and decide whether or not to award a touch.
Fencers seek to maintain a safe distance from each other, that is, out of range of the other's attack. Then, one will try to break this distance to gain the advantage for an attack. At times, a fencer will make a false attack to gauge the types of reactions by the opponent that can be deceived in the real attack.
As you become accustomed to the speed of the game, the tactics and strategies become more apparent, and you will gain a better understanding for the finesse and fascination of fencing!
This article is provided courtesy of the United States Fencing Association.
For more training details on getting your first try on fencing, please click here for training/camps.
Sports Clubs & Organizations
SPORTS CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
Good sports clubs help to create a healthy, thriving, inclusive club culture, which sets them up for long term success. By joining a good sports club you get :
- Full support of the club's team and the club members
- Ample resources to promote the sport and increase club membership
- Strong engagement from existing members
- On-demand for bookings of club function spaces
- Respect from the specific sports community and contribute to make it better
- Happy, healthy club members as friends
- respects from members' parents, junior and senior members and the local community
Here is a list of our major sports clubs and organizations STEPIO is currently working with :
Fencing : Scherma Italiana, Hong Kong, SAR, China (solely owned)
Fencing : Salle Mauro Fencing Academy, Houston USA
Fencing : San Francisco Fencers' Club, San Francisco, USA
Fencing : The Fencers Club, New York, USA
Fencing : CSKA Sports School, Moscow, RUSSIA
Fencing : Frascati Scherma, Frascati, ITALY
Fencing : Club Scherma Pisa Antonio Di Ciolo, Pisa, ITALY
Fencing : Seoul Fencing Club, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA
Fencing : Lourus Fencing Club, Busan, SOUTH KOREA
Fencing : Suginami Fencing Club, Tokyo, JAPAN
Fencing : Keio University Fencing Club, Tokyo, JAPAN
Fencing : Chuo University Fencing Club, Tokyo, JAPAN
Fencing : Rikyo High School Fencing Club, Tokyo, JAPAN
Fencing : Tutti Fencing Club, Tokyo, JAPAN
Fencing : Garden Fencing Club, Tokyo, JAPAN
Fencing : Iwata Fencing Club, Iwata, JAPAN
Fencing : Lao Shan Ji Jian Fencing Club, Beijing, CHINA
Fencing : i-Fencing Alliance Club, Hong Kong, HONG KONG
Fencing : Taipei Fencing Club, Taipei, TAIWAN ROC
Fencing : OLYM Fencing, Tai Chung, TAIWAN ROC
Fencing : CrossXswords Fencing Club, Melbourne, Australia
Fencing : Hutt Valley Swords Club, Wellington, New Zealand
Golfing : PureForm Golf, Hong Kong, HONG KONG
Swimming : St. Mary International School, Tokyo, JAPAN
Football : CSKA Sports School, Moscow, RUSSIA
Alpine Skiing : Ruapehu Snow Sports, Whakapapa, NEW ZEALAND
Alpine Skiing : The Ski Club, Mount Dobson, NEW ZEALAND
Ski Racing : Stockman Sports, Ruapehu, NEW ZEALAND
... and many more to come!
About Us
CHAMPIONS ARE MADE NOT BORN
Devised by a team of sports lovers, athletes, players and coaches from leading countries, STEPIOTM is dedicated to MAKE YOU WIN -- despite it is not just about winning.
Training camps, individual lessons & workshops, meetings & tournaments we organize simply the best available across the globe. Blended with special attentions from our coaches at the best sports venues and training facilities in USA, Italy, Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, New Zealand etc., we offer the most innovative, inspiring and effective programs to benefit your every game.
Every individual is unique though. We all have unique personality style, beliefs and values that give meaning to the world around us. Our mission is to provide the best training opportunities that allows young athletes to reach their true potentials.
Knowing that everyone is different, we have formulated an unique approach to athletic development, which is personally overseen and directed by specialized coaches, and no matter which program you attend with STEPIO, we will adopt this holistic approach to give you the ultimate opportunity to be your best.
Our purpose is to build athletic skills : technical, mental, strategic and physical, and to build character, producing well rounded and balanced individuals. Winning is not the only goal in life!
Although many of our training programs are delivered in group, we believe in individualized plans for improvement, creating custom training programs and workshops for each athlete based on their individual needs and goals. We get to know our athletes, their strengths and talents, as well as the areas that hold them back from being their best.
Feel free to explore our different programs in various countries listed below to see which one is right for you :
USA : San Francisco, Houston
ITALY : Frascati, Jezi
RUSSIA : Moscow
CHINA : Shanghai, Beijing, Harbin, Guangzhou
HONG KONG : Hong Kong, Macao
TAIWAN : Taipei, Taichung
JAPAN : Tokyo, Iwata
SOUTH KOREA : Seoul
NEW ZEALAND : Wellington
SINGAPORE : Singapore
Or listed by sports :
Fencing
Football/Soccer
Swimming
Golfing
Alpine Skiing
Figure Skating
Don't forget to go through the list of our coaches who do their best for the athletes and the clubs and sponsors on their courtesy to support our programs, as well as our gallery of how our athletes enjoy their commitments.
Enjoy your every moment in life, especially in sports life!
Best wishes!
The STEPIO Team
