Baltimore Fencing Examiner

2010 FIE calendar now available from Absolute Fencing Gear

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:36:22 -0700

The 2010 FIE fencing calendar will be available from Absolute Fencing Gear starting November 23 for $17.95. The calendar features stunning pictures from international competitions. For more information go to: http://www.absolutefencingg...

Absolute Fencing Gear will be vendor at Charm City Classic

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:07:45 -0700

The Maryland division Executive Committee reports that Absolute Fencing Gear will be a vendor at this year's Charm City Classic. The CCC will be held November 14-15 at the Park School in Baltimore.

Oct. 5 is deadline for Pittsburgh NAC entry

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:03:07 -0700

This Monday, October 5 is the regular deadline for entries for the Dec. 4-6 North Atlantic Circuit competition in Pittsburgh, PA. The competition will have Division 1 events, open to fencers classified C, B, or A, Veteran events open to fencers ages ...

USFA changes Group D1 criteria

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:59:06 -0700

Over the summer the USFA changed the criteria for a Group D1 competition. Previously all that was required for a Group D1 competition was 15 or more fencers. Now at least 4 Es must enter the competition, and at least two of those Es must make the top...

Hopkins names Austin Young as women's coach

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:07:22 -0700

Austin Young photo courtesy of Johns Hopkins University oJohns Hopkins University Athletic Director Tom Calder has named the Hopkins men's fencing team coach Austin Young as the Hopkins women's fencing coach. Young will continue to se...

Taking care of rusty blades

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:57:55 -0700

The Mid-Atlantic is infamous for its heat and humidity in the summer time. In this weather, fencers may notice that their previously only slightly-rusty blades may turn dark red and brown overnight - especially if they forget to take their sweaty gea...

USFA considering forcing national competitors to use THS

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:17:34 -0700

The United States Fencing Association is considering changes to their national tournaments to require that all fencers use Tournament Hosting Services for their hotel rooms in order to compete.For more info: Thread on Fencing.net about the USFA ...

New Wii Sports Resort to feature sword game

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:39:45 -0700

Nintendo's Wii Sports Resort FencingThe new video game Wii Sports Resort will feature a sword-fighting game utilitizing the new Wii MotionPlus technology. The game (names "Swordplay") will be part of a series of sports, featuring a two-hand...

Amazon Open results, Tune-Up Open and Riverside Summer Fitness Jam June 14

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:28:03 -0700

This past Sunday was the annual women's epee spectacular, the Amazon Open, hosted by D.C. Fencers' Club in Silver Spring. Erika Kirpu placed 1st in the strong field of 52 competitors, narrowly defeating top seed Courtney Hurley, 15-14. Tournament org...

USFA Coaches' College announces 2009 class schedule

Fri, 29 May 2009 12:24:58 -0700

The class schedule for this summer's Coaches' College has been announced. Unfortunately for me, announcing it in May is a little late - I (and I imagine many others) already had my summer plans locked in by the time word of the schedule came out. Thi...

Hitmate wireless fencing system demonstration May 20

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:25:07 -0700

Hitmate componentsCome see a public demonstration of the new Hitmate wireless scoring system on Wednesday, May 20 at 8:30pm at the Maryland Fencing Club, 3011 Emmorton Road in Abingdon (just off of exit 77 from I-95, north-east of Baltimore).The Hitm...

USA Cadet and Junior teams win big at World Championships

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:51:30 -0700

Insert photo caption or credit hereUSA's Cadet and Junior fencers are on winning big at the World Championships. The US Fencing web site has a full article:http://usfencing.org/news/article/11546A big congratulations to Chevy Chase's Katherine Holmes...

Cherry Blossom Open tournament this weekend

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:22:52 -0700

Cherry Blossom OpenThis weekend is the annual Cherry Blossom Open fencing tournament at University of Maryland, College Park. This is the largest non-national tournament in the metropolitan area, and it will feature some of the top fencers in the cou...

Blade sizes explained

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:08:42 -0700

Epee blades from Absolute Fencing GearFencing blades come in four sizes: 0, 2, 4, and 5. 0 is the shortest and 5 is the longest. 5 is the standard/default size. I don't know what happened to sizes 1 and 3. I recall seeing an antique foil, long ago, t...

Crossing the limits of the strip

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:45:32 -0700

Fencing strips at Maryland Fencing Club, AbingdonA confusing collection of rules are those that address the enforcement of the strip: the rectangular field of play in fencing. There have been changes to the rules over the years, and those have contri...

USFA Posts Summer Nationals Day Schedule

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:36:14 -0700

The United States Fencing Association has posted a day schedule of events for the 2009 Summer National Championships (see link below). The schedule does not have specific times, but it can be helpful in making travel arrangements. The tournament will...

Fencing Training: Learning, Recreational, Competitive, Elite

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:44:10 -0700

Fencing bout at Baltimore Fencing Center, TimoniumMany new fencers do not come from another athletic discipline. I teach beginners of all ages, and anecdotally speaking, I estimate that about 3/4s of my students were not seriously involved in any kin...

Local and National Youth Competitions Coming Up

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:15:45 -0700

Maryland Regional Youth CircuitThis weekend the Maryland division will host a Regional Youth Circuit at Indian Creek School in Crownsville, MD. There will be events for Youth-8, Youth-10, Youth-12, and Youth-14 fencers in all three weapons.Participat...

When Is It Time To Get FIE Equipment?

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:36:27 -0700

Logo of the FIEA common equipment question I get from fencers and fencers' parents is, "What is FIE? Should I get FIE equipment?" FIE stands for Federation Internationale d'Escrime, the international governing body of fencing. So what does ...

Hangover Open: Congratulations To Baltimore Fencers

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:16:56 -0700

Congratulations to Baltimore-native fencers Lorenzo Castertano (Columbia U.) and Tavish Pegram (Rockville Fencing Academy). At the Virginia Hangover Open held Jan. 3-4 in Richmond, Casertano won the Mixed Open Epee, and Pegram got...