Fencing Masters Final - Mariel Zagunis USA and Olga Kharlan UKR

[Silentgunner555]

o wow, i did not see the cords attacked to them untill they person holding the camera held it up to the tv....

[greytale]

BTW @rcm3j ... I know this point is WAY moot now, but I might as well clarify the call / action at 1:38 I completely agree with (Olga's touch)... and the actual fencing action is SIMILAR to the one that I mentioned earlier at 1:24.

The difference being... here at 1:38... Mariel's counter-attack is happening at precisely the same time as the attack (the wrong time)... whereas, *I* believe (again, ~me~) that the touch at 1:24 was an attack upon Olga's preparation. But I'm weird I guess!! :)

[CyrusofChaos]

@greytale the counterattack comes a little earlier than the attack does but the attack is already clearly established which is why olga got the touch

[greytale]

I suppose I will NEVER understand (what ~I~ consider to be) strange calls like 1:24 - 1:25.

The call is for Olga, but... unless (as always) Right-of-Way has magically changed over the years (I know, I know--it HAS); that is, in the rulebooks...

HOW can Olga have this particular "attack" when her arm is extended at the floor? This is not "my opinion", as the arm is CLEARLY not aimed at target.

Imagine if the arm position were inverted--as in above her head? As in NOT from lowline? Silly.

[rcm3j]

@greytale well, first off, Zagunis was moving backwards at the last action, and she's searching for the blade which she never finds.

Secondly, and I believe the rulebook even mentions this, the point of the weapon doesn't need to be extended at the person to constitute an attack. As long as 1) there is no previously established priority and 2) the blade is moving toward the target, in high or low line, by virtue of the hand, then it's a valid attack.

[greytale]

@rcm3j hello, thanks for the response. :) I'd be curious to see where in the rulebook that is stated, for sure!

Also... in my opinion--it appears as though Zagunis was attempting to make an attempt on the preparation. Although some people would call this stop cut or counter-attack I suppose (if they believed Olga to be attacking at the time).

I admit I didn't "see" if she was searching for Olga's blade... but... why would she do that: the blade isn't even present at the time.

[rcm3j]

@greytale So here's my thought process watching the point:

Kharlan-advance, establishes priority Zagunis-retreat

K-advance, put her point in the low line Z-retreat

K-prepares, flicking point up and down again Z- searches, leaves point extended

K-advances again Z- counterattacks out of time

K-finishes her attack in time

And in terms of the rules: t.75.2 says an the point or cutting edge must threaten the target, but t.70.2 says the cutting edge, flat and back of the blade can all make a touch.

[greytale]

@rcm3j I think we agree on everything except the fact that *I* (meaning me, personally--NOT meaning that my interpretation is "right") believe that Olga lost (or "didn't have") the right-of-way when her blade was aimed at the lower half of Mariel's body (the legs).

Now... I know they CALL these "attacks" in today's saber... but as far as I'm concerned, it's just garbage. You could not hold your saber at the inverse angle (up high) in the same way & have it be called ROW. Think about it.

[eroomynohtna]

Olga Kharlan is fiiiiiiiine!

[MsAnimechik]

W00t