Fencing Links and Important Documents

Fencing Organizations

Ark-La-Miss Division of the USFA - www.almdiv.org
Southwest Section of the USFA - www.southwestfencing.org
United States Fencing Association - www.USFencing.org
International Fencing Federation - www.FIE.ch
Fencing Officials Commision - www.fencingofficials.org
American Fencing Magazine - www.americanfencingmagazine.com
Museum Of American Fencing - www.museumofamericanfencing.com
Fencing Registration and Events Database (FRED) - www.askfred.net

Various Interesting Fencing Links

Fencing: Always More to Learn, written by David Littel, 1988 Olympian
Fencing Drills, Games, and Training Tips, on Fencing.Net   
www.WhatisFencing.com
www.FencingChannel.tv - watch videos of tournament coverage
www.FencingPhotos.com - official fencing photography of the FIE


Important Fencing Documents (in .pdf format; you will need Adobe Reader to view files)

North American Cup Entry Form, 2007-2008 Season
Junior Olympics Entry Form, 2008
Ark-La-Miss Waiver Consent form (needed for all Ark-La-Miss tournaments)
US Fencing Rule Book, September 2007 edition (most recent)
US Fencing Accociation Membership Form, 2007-2008 Season
Classification Reference Chart
Tournament Pool Sheet
Direct Elimination Slip (x4)
US Fencing Athlete Handbook
US Fencing Operations Manual
Division Operating Guide

Fencing Equipment Vendors

Fencing Footage (videos)      www.FencingFootage.com
Absolute Fencing Gear          www.AbsoluteFencingGear.com
Blue Gauntlet Fencing           www.Blue-Gauntlet.com
The Fencing Post                   www.TheFencingPost.com
American Fencers Supply    www.amfence.com
Zivkovic Modern Fencing      www.zivkovic.com
Leon Paul USA                       www.LeonPaul.com
Sword Masters                       www.Sword-Masters.com

Toolbox

Many people have asked over the last few weeks what I carry in my tool box to tournaments. The answer to that question isn’t something I can answer in a couple of minutes so I am going to list here what I put in my box when I travel and also what I keep in the armory in the Fencing Room.

• Tightening tool for weapons (inside hex wrench, outside hex wrench)
• Precision screwdriver set (for tightening or replacing tip screws)
  - one set to use on tip screws.
  - one set to use on other odd jobs such as scraping old glue or applying new glue to blade.
• Vise-grip pliers
• Regular pliers
• Needle-nose pliers
• Large flathead screwdriver
• Large Philips head screwdriver
• Wire strippers
• Wire cutters
• Magnetizer/Demagnetizer (to keep track of small tip parts when working on the tip)
• Razor blade (I like to use an Exacto knife sometimes to clean a blade before a rewire)
• Scissors
• Lighter
• Pen, pencil, magic marker/sharpie (to label new equipment)
• Electrical engraver (I use this to engrave everything I own; weapons, tools, body cords, etc.)
• Dremel tool (with accessories)
• Flat file
• Triangular file
• Insulating tubing (a.k.a. spaghetti tubing) - I carry about 10ft. worth
• Shims tester (for epee)
• Combo weights (to test foil and epee tips)
• Tip tape (for foil)
• Electrical tape (not for use on foil tips)
• Weapons Test box (I recommend the Favero brand tester - it detects breaks in wires/body cords.)
• Spare parts:
  - tip parts - screws, springs, contact springs, tips, barrels
  - extra wires
  - spare socket (bayonet, 2-prong, 3-prong)
  - lockwashers
• Q-tips (to clean tips) - keep several in a small plastic bag.
• Small container of adhesive remover
  - this is good to have, but I normally do not take it with me because if I need to rewire a blade I will just scrape the old glue with an old screwdriver. If you are properly prepared for a tournament you shouldn’t have to do rewires. All rewires should be done before you leave town and if you do them right they should last through at least a few tournaments.
• 2 small white hand towels or handkerchiefs
  - one to use to lay down on a table where you work - so tip screws won’t bounce and roll away
  - one to use to clean blades, wipe excess glue, etc...
• Super glue (Duro brand super glue, NOT super glue gel; I buy this in packs of 8 tubes at Lowe’s)
• Soldering iron and a roll of solder (used to repair broken connections on body cords, alligator clips, etc...)
• 6mm thread dye
• Polishing block