2012 Fechtschule America Wrap Up & Discussion

[Ben Michels]

judging was horrible, the finals were great. But it's hard to enjoy them when you are judging. (but I realize it's a responsibility to do it.)

I must be the only guy who feels this way, but I actually enjoyed judging at FA. I guess that saying that dooms me to judge at every event I go to from now to eternity...

Steve

Hey longpoint is coming up, Steven.

[Myles Cupp]

I really feel like I missed out on something exilant. Anyone have tournament footage up?

I do! Go to my channel but if you're too lazy...

My bout in the Franco-Belgian:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVVb1E8T ... KZxiHSIqw=

My bout against Arturo in the Open Longsword:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpBflSZH ... 0hy6aopoQ=

And the epic fight between me and Kristian. I got my ass kicked but boy was it ever so much fun to get my ass kicked:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4GZ7JMS ... 0hy6aopoQ=

More videos to come soon. I got my bouts on video in the sword and buckler tournament as well as the dussack tournament in which I sucked really hard. Gotta get me a Purpleheart dussack at some point and get to training...
Those videos are uploading as I speak so stay tuned.

[Ben Floyd]

I'm still driving back, and I have a 12 hour shift at work starting in two hours. I'll post mor etomorrow. In short though, it was awesome. I was very exited to share the final with Eric. He w as the second person I ever fought with a longsword, and it's pretty awesome how far we've come. More later when I'm not on a phone.

[zarlor]

I must be the only guy who feels this way, but I actually enjoyed judging at FA. I guess that saying that dooms me to judge at every event I go to from now to eternity...

I tend to enjoy it as well, so you're not alone on that one (although I didn't do any judging at FA). I think we still need to keep up things like the judging discussions that went on at FA and continue working towards further standardization (i.e., do we look down when asked to make a judgement or not, etc.?), but I do think we are moving in a very positive direction. I tried to make an effort while filming this time (I'm still working through my footage so nothing is up yet and I only have some of the pools, so not everything by any means, but it is coming!) to pan around to the judges to see how folks saw it from different angles and I'm hoping we'll get a bit more footage that way. I know the last few events I've judged that while it was possible to figure out how I judged a particular bout based on the result and seeing what one judge called in a video there were many where I couldn't remember what I called after the fact but was very curious if what I saw in that moment (and being able to figure out my likely angle) matched up with what I was able to see in the video from that angle. Not sure if that kind of thing will help other judges any, but personally I find it useful.

At any rate, all of that is probably a discussion for another thread.

[Will Adamson]

I'm really sorry I missed this again. Some day I hope to be able to do one of the big events and bring my cadre of students. I can't believe it's been two years since I saw most of you guys last!

[Myles Cupp]

For those who can't wait to see some fighting footage involving the winner of the Open Longsword tournament, Eric was in my pool and thoroughly kicked my ass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KcrmZ81 ... re=channel

[Dustin Reagan]

here's a couple videos my friend Luke took of me. both were from after my hand was broken so i was trying very carefully to keep distance and get in/out quickly:

http://youtu.be/34zBCydqndg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmS9pfV45Uk&context=C42f4c66ADvjVQa1PpcFMKdeizjnpS2Ff9k3Ak4hEisQA2DCsgTmw=

[Myles Cupp]

Dustin, I have to say that of the fighters I saw at the tournament, you were one of the most impressive. I don't think I saw anyone else use as many identifiable Kunst des Fechtens techniques as varied and reliably, effectively and consistently as you could. It's a shame your hand forced your withdrawal from the tournament. I say you are a certified badass.

[Mike Ruhala]

I think he's crazy for fighting on a break... ever see a bone poke through skin? but yeah, that guy's gonna be trouble!

[Myles Cupp]

I think he's crazy for fighting on a break... ever see a bone poke through skin? but yeah, that guy's gonna be trouble!

I've never seen a bone poke through skin but I have seen the left side of my left foot swell to the size of a golf ball when I broke it during a math test.