SABRE NOTES

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/apr/29/knee-surgery-cartilage-damage-patients-study

Confirming something I've thought (without empirical evidence) for most of my fencing career: after knee surgery you'll never get back to the same level of fitness as before so where is the benefit? Pre-hab and re-hab have better outcomes so surgery is to be avoided.

Knee surgery for cartilage damage does not benefit patients, study suggests People with meniscus tears who underwent surgery had poorer knee function and worse osteoarthritis after 10 years than those who did not

Where would some of us be without this scene from a beloved film by an inspired director

Princess Bride - The Sword Fight My favorite scene in the movie.

Some good mobility exercises

Mobility masterplan! 10 essential exercises for a strong, active, happy life – whatever your age Whether your goal is to get super-fit, or to stay independent as you get older, you need a combination of flexibility and strength. Here’s how to look after both your muscles and your joints

Turns out a lot of my workouts at the gym fall under the category of exercises that help with 'proprioception'. While some of what I do seems overly simple for athletic development (throwing and catching a ball) it has much to do with spatial awareness and making micro-adjustments to be in the right place at the right time (something that simply lifting weights or using an exercise machine does not involve. Never underestimate the power of standing on one leg and trying to catch a ball.

The power of proprioception: how to improve your ‘sixth sense’ – and become healthier and happier It is our physical sense of where we are in space and is essential to our quality of life as we age. Here are simple, everyday ways to test and train it

Test your referee skills here:

7 FIE Sabre Ref Dev Packs This video compiled by Vasil Milenchev was presented by Fikrat Valiyev at Fairfax Challenge SYC, Fredericksburg, VA, April 2018. Each pack starts with relati...

Local 2nd hand book store only had one fencing volume, but it's a hard back version of the first one I ever owned....sort of. Being twice the length of the 'Teach Yourself Books' version it's almost a different book.

Some photos from the Sabre Teams event at the NZ Nationals, 2023.
Central came second but secured the Provincial trophy.