Monday, August 25, 2008
misses!
omg guys, the blog sounds like some sports discussion forum! but yeah the oplympics was admittedly pretty exciting, though the china/sg table tennis match was pretty disppointing but haha. what's up with all of you huh, eliz are you still hooked on wow, liyan are you still into shinhwa, and how's uni for the rest of you! i can't tell you all how much i miss you guys, so much so much! seriously can't wait till october! urgggghhhh): please update yeah, damn this post sounds sappy. loves!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Fencing Part I
With swimming taking a lot of limelight recently (because of none other than the phenomenal Phelps), I figured I could shift some of your attention to my favourite sport Fencing:) I am quite ashamed to say that even as a fencer, I haven't been following the sport at the Olympics closely though I have valid reasons for that - I am completely clueless about the fencing events' schedules, and competitive fencing is incredibly difficult to watch and understand for non-fencers and noobs (me belonging to the latter). And of course, there isn't an equivalent of Phelps in fencing yet that makes it so worth watching.
Ok, so to let you guys understand more about fencing, I've decided to dedicate this post to the sport to inform you all of what the sport is really about. Then, if you all decide fencing is cool enough, you can all join me!
Modern Fencing
Many people who have not had any exposure to fencing do not realise that the sport is divided into 3 types of weapon, with each category of weapon governed by its own unique rules, methods of bladework and footwork. The 3 weapons are namely Épeé, Foil and Sabre (or as the Americans would have it, Saber). Typically a fencer will specialise in one of these weapons; you wouldn't expect him or her to fence all three. I'm currently learning the ways of Sabre.(a completely arbitrary choice btw)
From top to bottom: Sabre, foil & epee
Source: http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/sports-games/combat-sports/fencing/fencing-weapons_1.jpg
Types of attacks & target areas
Sabre differs mainly from the other 2 weapons in that having calvary origins, it employs slashes on its opponent instead of jabs, as in foil and epee.
In the past, the calvary (troops) fought on horsebacks and they attacked only their opponents while refraining from killing their opponents' horses (yes, apparently they extend their humanity to horses but not humans); in modern sabre fencing, the valid target area is anywhere from the waist up (ie torso and head).
While the type of attacks is the same for epee and foil, their target areas are different. A foil fencer will only score on the torso area whereas for epee, any attack along the whole body (feet, legs, torso and head) is a legitimate attack.
Rules
Have you ever watched a match where two fencers apparently score, but only one of them gets a point? Generally, a fencer can score with an attack but not a counter attack. Rules, known as right-of-way rules and applicable to Sabre and Foil (Epee are free of these rules), are kept in place to determine who has executed an attack and who a counter attack. So basically, right-of-way rules determine which fencer has the right of way to attack and score.
Ok, I'll stop here for now. Will continue on the subject some other time.
Ok, so to let you guys understand more about fencing, I've decided to dedicate this post to the sport to inform you all of what the sport is really about. Then, if you all decide fencing is cool enough, you can all join me!
Modern Fencing
Many people who have not had any exposure to fencing do not realise that the sport is divided into 3 types of weapon, with each category of weapon governed by its own unique rules, methods of bladework and footwork. The 3 weapons are namely Épeé, Foil and Sabre (or as the Americans would have it, Saber). Typically a fencer will specialise in one of these weapons; you wouldn't expect him or her to fence all three. I'm currently learning the ways of Sabre.(a completely arbitrary choice btw)
From top to bottom: Sabre, foil & epeeSource: http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/sports-games/combat-sports/fencing/fencing-weapons_1.jpg
Types of attacks & target areas
Sabre differs mainly from the other 2 weapons in that having calvary origins, it employs slashes on its opponent instead of jabs, as in foil and epee.
In the past, the calvary (troops) fought on horsebacks and they attacked only their opponents while refraining from killing their opponents' horses (yes, apparently they extend their humanity to horses but not humans); in modern sabre fencing, the valid target area is anywhere from the waist up (ie torso and head).
While the type of attacks is the same for epee and foil, their target areas are different. A foil fencer will only score on the torso area whereas for epee, any attack along the whole body (feet, legs, torso and head) is a legitimate attack.
Rules
Have you ever watched a match where two fencers apparently score, but only one of them gets a point? Generally, a fencer can score with an attack but not a counter attack. Rules, known as right-of-way rules and applicable to Sabre and Foil (Epee are free of these rules), are kept in place to determine who has executed an attack and who a counter attack. So basically, right-of-way rules determine which fencer has the right of way to attack and score.
Ok, I'll stop here for now. Will continue on the subject some other time.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Unstoppable.
Michael Phelps has just added another Gold and world record to his list of achievements at the olympics. The latest one comes from the 4x200m freestyle relay, with phelps giving his team a clear and comfortable advantage from the start. Of course, the other team members swam well too. US finished first with a record score of 6:58:56, the first team ever to go under 7 minutes.
why does everyone notice the guy running around the stadium? haha i guess i was too preoccupied with the "bigger" things, like the fireworks and the canvas (the one that acted as a scroll). while i didnt particularly enjoy it, the scale of the show was laudable.
oh, and if you guys have too much time on your hands, you can watch the athens olympics opening ceremony here. it's pretty cool.
as i am typing this, michael phelps (of US swimming) is receiving his FOURTH GOLD MEDAL, has achieved his 4TH WORLD RECORD in this olympics, and I'll be hearing for the millionth time *"The Star Spangled Banner". (when will we ever hear Majulah Singapura at the olympics???)
Really, it's incredible. Phelps is incredible.
*the US national anthem.
oh, and if you guys have too much time on your hands, you can watch the athens olympics opening ceremony here. it's pretty cool.
as i am typing this, michael phelps (of US swimming) is receiving his FOURTH GOLD MEDAL, has achieved his 4TH WORLD RECORD in this olympics, and I'll be hearing for the millionth time *"The Star Spangled Banner". (when will we ever hear Majulah Singapura at the olympics???)
Really, it's incredible. Phelps is incredible.
*the US national anthem.
:o
:o machines! Hearing that word reminds me of the Terminator lol.
On to the Olympics... Did everyone watch the opening ceremony? I think the drum/lights display and the multi layered box performance was awesome!
Oh and the guy which ran across the entire stadium while hanging on strings...wow I bet his legs felt really sore halfway through :p
On to the Olympics... Did everyone watch the opening ceremony? I think the drum/lights display and the multi layered box performance was awesome!
Oh and the guy which ran across the entire stadium while hanging on strings...wow I bet his legs felt really sore halfway through :p
Friday, August 8, 2008
okay. i have a possible explanation to offer on the issue of blog activity (at least on my part). the reason the graph is such, is that i constitute 1/5 or 20% (whoo!! imagine..) of the bloggers on this blog. so my posts COUNT. lol. anyway.. i post an entry here only when i see that somebody else has updated and that means there's someone reading. because.. otherwise i'll be posting for nothing. and i know when the blog is most recently updated cos i monitor my other blog. so that explains 20% of the posts here.
anyhow. i had studio workshop session today. it's like getting re-acquainted with D&T. what a shit. i can foresee many problems. i always had problems with these tools and machines. just an intro to these machines took 2 hrs and 15 mins.
anyhow. i had studio workshop session today. it's like getting re-acquainted with D&T. what a shit. i can foresee many problems. i always had problems with these tools and machines. just an intro to these machines took 2 hrs and 15 mins.
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