#FENCING

[mahgnib]

There was a fencing question in our local newspaper crossword puzzle today, which led me to wonder - by now, you’re probably aware that my mind works in mysterious ways - if there were such a thing as fencing trading cards. Thanks to Google, here are a few -

[archangel-iophiel]

She doesn't deserve to fence ever again.

I couldn't even fence because boys/men.

My dad was mad. He taught me.

[cardiffart]

A zillion hours of hammering, skiving, dyeing, and Angelus paint later, finally finished my rapier hanger.

[bethanythebogwitch]

Me: en gar!

Fencing opponent: it's en garde

Me: *holding an elongated fish* no

[leavemeslowly]

The reaction of Polish fencer after winning the first Olympic medal in the history of Polish female fencing (epee), pure emotion:

[we-are-knight]

I teach honourable fencing and chivalrous combat.

Yet somehow, I raised a dagger fighting rogue, that can beat swordsmen with her dagger.

[balkanparamo]

En Guard: The Duelist

[agnesdelmotte]

[double-oy-7]

Given the name of my blog, I suppose I should comment on the Stephanie Turner thing. I stand with the disqualification. I stand with trans fencers. I worked with so many when I was competing, and honestly? The official policy of USA fencing is to allow competitors to compete under their gender identity. Personally, I find Turner's arguments nonsense. We wear protective gear, and frankly I've received plenty of injuries from cis women in bouts. So the idea that men are more aggressive (and to be clear, her competitor was not a man!) is nonsense. I have lead a team with trans fencers. While I don't love the gendered system of fencing, I will always support every trans athlete wanting to compete as they want to. Redmond Sullivan was 100% qualified for that event. She should not be insulted by her opponent. This is a sport about honor!

[fcbswiatek]

i started crying with her like

[medievalsnippets]

German Longsword Technique Gifset

[rgujuri]

[flyingdidii]

Fencer Jason Todd

[mactiir]

in HEMA (aka historical european fencing), much of the sport is done with fencing masks on, so identifying your clubmates during sparring or tourneys is just based on gear. you know, what color their jacket and pants are, what patches they have on it, how is their mask painted. If someone borrows someone else's jacket it's legitimately jarring, like having someone with an entirely different body type and way of moving stealing your friend's face.

Once i read about historical fishermen in the north sea and how they each had a specific hat pattern that their buddies would use to identity them while they were bundled up. It was so much part of their identity that they were often buried wearing those hats. The gear is like your name, a visual identifier of YOU when you do not have a face.

anyway, back when I was buying gear i got my pants in ELECTRIC blue. I figured i was gonna get a black or grey jacket. but HEMA gear is kind of expensive because it's all custom- or handmade, so instead of spending $400 on a new jacket I picked up one secondhand for like 20. Except the only jacket that fit me was bright, SCARLET red. And I already had my expensive, new, custom, BLUE pants. I look like a damn rocket pop or like, a mixed Icee. I was like, shit! I should switch my jacket before i become the rocket pop guy!!!

Long story short, not only am I now the rocket pop guy, the color scheme has bled into my entire wardrobe. Every-fucking-thing I own is red and blue. I look like a french revolutionary. I look like a founding father in a school play. I have become a northern fisherman in my stripey hat. Now, even if I DO get a new jacket, I feel like I GOTTA buy it in red, yk? Otherwise they won't recognize me. Maybe I won't recognize me. I'm the rocket pop guy!!!

[theinternetarchive]

'fencer,' georges demeny, gelatin silver print, 1906.