Wiki Opened

September 11th, 2008

http://wiki.14meters.com

Nothing in there just yet, but its open for use with the public.  I’ve yet to figure out exactly what it should be used for.  I’ve been contemplating things from documenting common Fencing questions to putting up a draft version of the rulebook with an effort to revamp the system.

Thoughts?


What can I find some Fencing shoes?

September 2nd, 2008

EDIT: Some of the links below are out of date. In addition, due to the strong response we recieved about this page, we have opened a new website devoted entirely to fencing shoes — Fencing Shoes. Creative name, no? Well, simple name, simple presentation, but hopefully useful information.


Just like with the big list of fencing books, I’m trying to put together a big list of fencing shoes, since its a very common question. Let me know if I’m missing anything. I’ll add the Nike stuff and vendor house brand shoes as I come along ones that are missing.

Also, I keep the links up to date with the least expensive prices I can find, where I can. If you can find something better, drop me a comment and I’ll update.

Fencing-Specific Shoes
adidas adistar
onitsuka tiger
adidas adistar
adidas adistar high top
adidas dartagnan 2
adidas en garde
viktoria competition
li-ning low top
li-ning high top
leon paul scimitar
leon paul blade
absolute elite
blade star fighter
blade star fighter 2
victory low top
adidas asymmetrics
adidas asymmetrics high top
adidas dartagnon
nike ballestra

Court Shoes
adidas lightster
adidas stabil 3
adidas stabil carbon
adidas stabil 7
asics gel beyond
adidas feather (high top)
adidas feather 3 (low top)

Other Stuff
adidas elite sock (my favorite sock)


What are some good books on Fencing?

August 19th, 2008

Here’s a big list of books on fencing.  I’ve highlighted some of the books that are commonly regarded as “good”.  I’m sure I’ve missed some or are undervaluaing some, so please point out any mistakes.  I’ll continue to add as necessary.

All sections are in reference to Sport/Olympic Fencing. Historical and Classical Fencing have their own specific sections.

Recommended Reading

Fencing Is My Life by Sergei Golubitsky
By The Sword by Richard Cohen
Magnum Libre D’Escrime: Big Book Fencing by Rudy Volkman
Foil, Saber, and Epee Fencing: Skills, Safety, Operations, and Responsibilities by Maxwell Garret, Emmanuil Kaidonov, Gil Pezza

Fencing Basics and/or Coaching Information

The Complete Guide to Fencing by Berndt Barth, Emil Beck
Foil Fencing by Muriel Taitt
Epee Fencing: A Complete System by Imre Vass
Fencing and the Master by Laszlo Szabo
Learning Fencing by Berndt Barth, Katrin Barth
Fencing: Techniques of Foil, Epee and Sabre by Brian Pitman
Fencer’s Start-Up: A Beginner’s Guide to Traditional & Sport Fencing by Doug Werne
Fencing: Steps to Success by Elaine Cheris
Basic Foil Fencing by Charles Simonian

Fencing Training

The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Fencing by Robert Price
Training Fencing by Berndt Barth, Katrin Barth
Electric Foil Fencing: Advanced Competitive Training by Istvan Lukovich
The Theory and Practice of Fencing by Julio Martinez Castello

History/Information/Biographies

Closing the Distance: Chasing a Father’s Olympic Fencing Legacy by Jeff Bukantz
Running With Swords: The Adventures and Misadventures of The Irrepressible Canadian Fencing Champion by Sherraine Mackay
A Dictionary of Universally Used Fencing Terminology by William Gaugler
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, BOOK OF FENCING
The History of Fencing: Foundations of Modern European Swordplay by William Gaulger
The Living Sword: A Fencers’ Autobiography by Aldo Nadi

Classical/Historical Fencing Books

The Art and Science of Fencing by Nick Evangelista
Classical Fencing: The Martial Art of Incurable Romantics by Adam Adrian Crown
The Inner Game of Fencing: Excellence in Form, Technique, Strategy and Spirit by Nick Evangelista
On Fencing by Aldo Nadi
Nadi on Fencing by Aldo Nadi
The Art Of Fencing by Monsieur L’Abbat
The Science of Fencing: A Comprehensive Training Manual for Master and Student; Including Lesson Plans for Foil, Sabre and Epee Instruction by William Gaugler

Unsorted

Introduction to Fencing by Thomas Cross, Ernie Kirkham
The School of Fencing: With a General Explanation of the Principal Attitudes and Positions Peculiar to the Art by Domenico Angelo
Fencing: Essential Skills Training by Ed Rogers
Fencing: The Modern International Style by Istvan Lukovich
Cold Steel: The Art of Fencing with the Sabre by Alfred Hutton
Understanding Fencing by Zbigniew Czajkowski
The Fencing Book: A Comprehensive Manual for Developing Fencing Skills and Fundamentals by Nancy Curry
Fencing by Joseph Vince
Modern Fencing: A Comprehensive Manual for the Foil, Epee, and Sabre by Clovis Deladrier
A compleat system of fencing: Or, the art of defence by Edward Blackwell
Modern Fencing: Foil, Epee, and Sabre; from Initiation to Competition by Michel Alaux
Secrets of the Sword by Cesar Lecat Bazancourt
Fencing by C.L. De Beaumont
Fencing: Skills of the Game by Henry De Silva
Fencing by Hugo Castello, James Castello
Foil Fencing by John Smith
Fencing by Allan Skipp
Modern Fencing: A Comprehensive Manual for the Foil, the Epee, the Sabre by Deladrier Clovis
Your Book of Fencing by C.L. De Beaumont
Fencing by Muriel Bower, Torao Mori
Foil and sabre: A grammar of fencing in detailed lessons for professor and pupil by Louis Rondelle

Foil Fencing by Maxwell Garrett
How to Improve Your Fencing by Maxwell Garrett
Fencing by Maxwell Garrett
Fencing With The Epee by Roger Crosnier
Fencing With The Saber by Roger Crosnier
Fencing With The Foil by Roger Crosnier
Fencing Everyone by William Gaugler
The Encyclopedia of the Sword by Nick Evangelista
The Woman Fencer by Nick and Anita Evangelista
Get a Gold Medal Butt Gary Guerriero
Fencing by GV Hett
Epee Combat Manual by Terence Kingston
Preparing the Mind: Improving Fencing Performance Through Psychological Preparation by Aladar Kogler
One Touch At a Time by Aladar Kogler
Planning to win: Designing, recording, and evaluating your fencing training program by Aladar Kogler
The Revised Foil by Charles Selberg

Unavailable Books
The Fencers Companion by Leon Bertrand
Foil Technique & Terminology by Jean-Jacques Gillet


open for business

July 26th, 2008

While not exactly complete in any respects of the word, 14meters is, for the most part, fully functional.  With the Olympics coming up, we figured that this would be a good time to make it no longer a stealth project.  Although we, ourselves, will not be waving any banners or advertising it, we would definitely appreciate any word of mouth that our few current users would be willing to provide.

Right now, the site is still, clearly, under construction.  It is based on the now Open Source Reddit code, which is still very new, messy, and designed to work specifically for Reddit.  Splitting out the Reddit-specific stuff will take some time and effort.  Please bear with us, as changes will be small but frequent.  If there’s any down time, we messed up, and it will be back online ASAP.  If the main site is ever down, this blog should still be up.

With that, I think the biggest question to answer is “whats the point of this site?” or “why did you build it?”.  To put it simply, there are a lot of places to find good information on the sport of fencing, but no modern, central, up-to-date repository for that information.  We’re not here intending to step on any toes and we’re not here to be the resource for new fencers.  We’re here to try and make finding and disseminating information on fencing easier and quicker.  Probably the biggest example of potential benefits would be bringing news stories from around the country and the world to the forefront, directing traffic to them, thereby indicating interest and potentially prompting more reporting and general interest in the sport.  NBC is definitely tracking traffic and interest in the sport on their Olympics page.  It is up to us to show them that the sport deserves more coverage.