Facing the Fight

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Research Corner

HEMA Hot Take: Mandatory Mouthguards?

Let’s shift the focus specifically to HEMA. What do we compare it with? Unlike MMA or jiu jitsu, olympic fencing isn’t typically associated with intended or incidental direct facial impacts and serious orofacial injury is very rare (BUT still not unheard of). On the other hand, HEMA is diverse - some weapons and rulesets involve grappling, wrestling, as well as less flexible weapons than olympic fencing, at which point the risk likely starts to approach that of traditional combat sports. Newer HEMA masks like the increasingly popular Wukuski design resist "waffling" or buckling in fairly well, but the mask can still shift on the fencer's face with a direct impact enough to create injury. Where do we draw that line, then, and should mouth guards be a required part of the HEMA equipment check? Here’s my take, provided sparring intensity is appropriate for the weapon.

• Smallsword: Likely not needed, lowest (but not 0) risk of facial injury

• Sword & Buckler, Rapier, Saber, Longsword: Not required but recommended for high intensity sparring & competition.

• Armored Combat - depends heavily on the design of the helmet and how it fits (i.e. a Houndskull and a close fitting Armet are difficult to compare), but still not a bad idea for high intensity sparring or where throws may occur

• Ringen/Abrazare/Wrestling: Here there is no question that a mouthguard is essential both in practice and in competition. Face-limb and face-head collisions are common, making mouthguards a must to prevent dental trauma. From what I've seen in dagger competitions, I would also put dagger in this category. 

Coach’s Corner

What to do if a Fencer Knocks Out a Tooth

Accidents happen, but dental injuries can feel alarming for everyone involved. Here’s a quick-and-dirty guide to dealing with a knocked-out or displaced tooth:

Act Quickly: Time is critical. Ideally, you want to find and place the tooth back in the mouth as quickly as possible.

Handle with Care: Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white chewing surface), not the root. Avoid touching the root to prevent damage.

Rinse Gently: If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline. Avoid using water or scrubbing the tooth if possible.

Replant if Possible: If the fencer is conscious and the tooth is intact, try to gently place it back into the socket. Have the fencer bite down on a clean cloth or gauze to hold it in place until they can get help.

Store Safely: If replanting isn’t possible, store the tooth in milk, saline solution, or a tooth preservation kit. In a pinch, old advice is to have the fencer hold it in their cheek (if they’re conscious and not at risk of swallowing it), but use your discretion here.

Seek Immediate Dental Care: Head to the nearest emergency dentist (call first) or the emergency room as soon as possible.

Broken Bits: For chipped or fractured teeth, rinse the mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Save any fragments and bring them to the dentist.

Health & Fitness Tips - Fit your Fencing Mask

Fitting a fencing mask well requires more than just choosing between small, medium, and large and tossing it on your head. If you want to have the best chance of your mask protecting you from injury, make sure it’s fit appropriately:

Size Wisely: It sounds silly to need to say this, but make sure you actually measure your head and compare it to the listed sizes from the vendor when purchasing. Trying on your friend’s size M and calling it a day if you can cram your head in it is likely to result in ordering the wrong size.

Set it Up: It’s not ready out of the box. Depending on the make and model of the mask it will have the metal tongue that needs to be shaped to your head as well as an adjustable velcro strap (or two). For directions on how to safely shape the tongue without compromising the mask design, check out this page from Imex Sport. 

Check the Fit: Once you think you’re good to go, check the fit with these quick actions:

1. Make sure you can talk and move your jaw comfortably.

2. Shake your head "yes", and "no". Your mask should follow your head movement and not feel like it’s sliding.

3. Now hold your mask in place, and try to shake your head yes and no again. You should feel like your mask slides a bit and your head can move a little inside.

4. Look down at your toes and then up at the ceiling. Your chin should still be resting in the same spot after all of these maneuvers.

Breaking it In: Just like gloves, masks require a break in period to start to feel comfortable. At the beginning you may feel pressure on your neck from the stiff bib or have a hard time getting it on and off easily. This is fine. Expect to re-adjust the mask as it breaks in over the course of a few weeks. If needed, wear it around the house for awhile each day until its broken in enough you can begin fencing in it.

Conditioning Move of the Week

Depth Drop to Lateral hop

This plyometric move combines the power generation of a depth drop with an explosive but controlled lateral hop. This exercise builds strength, stability, and power in the lower body, focusing on the ability to absorb force in a controlled way and then redirect it effectively - exactly what you need for quick direction changes in your fencing.

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