Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitchawl
Latest rule change: no penalty zone, no warning halt to play. Step off the end of the pist and lose a point.
The rules have been changing like crazy for the past several years, with increase in point closure time (you have to make firmer contact,) decrease in time for simultaneous touches in both foil and epee, less allowable curvature to the blade, and retraction of the rule that said 'no blade to blade contact for 30 seconds results in movement to the next period.' Thank God! If EVER there was a stupid rule, that was it!
Stitchawl
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kindlekitten
But what about that curled over style?
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The rule change about point timings has made that particular move ineffective... Thank God! It was getting to the point where blades were becoming ultra flexible, and people were simply whipping the point onto the target rather than thrusting, making for some VERY painful fencing. This was reaching a high point just when I stopped fencing and moved to Asia. The move was 'supposed' to be a 'coupé,' but a correctly executed coupé keeps the point on target during the move, this 'flick' required the point to be moved 90° off-target to build up momentum, but the judges began calling it a legitimate continuation of action rather than giving up 'right of way.' Not pleasant, but a good way for a poor fencer to score points in competition.
Now blades foil blades have stiffened up a bit again, the 'flick' doesn't work so there is no need for soft blades that break often (we've only had one blade break in our club in the past year and a half,) and fencing is back to thrusting once again... except for very tall fencers who can still place the point over an opponent's shoulder with a real coupé.
Stitchawl