Ed Schempp
03-07-07, 06:12 AM
It takes awhile for organizations to develop, the ICCT evolved into Bladesports International, and it is not a finished work. My friend and fellow certified instructor, Jose Diaz traveled 500 km to Missoula Montana to certify some cutters for Bladesports International. Josh Smith was holding an ABS hammer-in with Tim Hancock and Tom Ferry demonstrating. In Frenchtown a minutes from where we held the certification.
I'd like to share with you the procedure, costs and reasoning behind the training session.
1 1/2 pages of procedure are read and discussed before starting mainly related to safety. The procedure is the same at all Bladesports events and basically about a level playing field for all competitors.
We had about 12 different cutting tasks that represent many of the events in a Bladesports competition. Each task was demonstrated by a trainer with the proper procedure; technique was shared and questions were answered. The person would then put the lanyard on their wrist with their knife sheathed and inspected the item to be cut. After the person is satisfied that it is a fair challenge they are given the go ahead to unsheathe the knife and make the cut. When the knife is unsheathed you are not allowed to touch the blade or the item to be cut. There have been some injuries to the off hand in trainings and competitions; the position of this hand is observed and discussed. You may re-sheath the knife and ask for a safety official to make a change in the item to be cut providing something had changed after you had the item set. This can happen because of wind. After the person makes the cut and the knife is sheathed the safety of the persons body position and arch of the blade is discussed. The cut is repeated until the trainers are satisfied that the technique being used is safe.
All the individual tasks are done with the same procedure as listed above. Some cuts are much easier than others. Some of the cuts require a quick snap cut, some are finesse, some are power, usually they are a combination. Powercuts like rope, 2x4 (which really measures 38mm x 88mm), mailing tube, or a stack of 6mm x 38mm x 150mm plywood 75mm high are the most dangerous. Most knifemakers have probably done some version of these cuts and are safe and experienced. These folks don't take very long to certify. Some people come without much useful experience and are dangerous. Some people take longer to get to a safe level of cutting. Many folks that are certifying are not makers or long time users, some just want to cut with a big sharp knife. Bladesports is about connecting the public with safe knife as tool use.
As a side note: Oregon Knife Collectors Association quit having rope cutting contests because a photo by Wayne Goddard showed me holding on to the handle of the knife with two fingers and a taught lanyard on a missed cut of ten 1" Manila hemp rope. They were adequately insured for injury but not for the bad press the knife world would receive.
The initial costs are $20 for the certification paperwork and $40 to join Bladesports International. The $20 is one time unless you don't compete for 2 years in a Bladesports event then you must re-certify. The $40 is an annual membership. Some folks take more runs through each task than others. Material costs vary. Each person cut about 2.5 m of 2x4, about 4 cuts Each person cut about 10 feet of rope, about 10 cuts. About 3 golf balls, 6 golf tees, 2 38mm mailing tubes, 12 bottles of water, 6 cans of seltzer water (Coke is real sticky), and flex joint straws. Training may vary but most include several power cuts to give good safety information. Anything the trainer come up with might be added. Rolling ping pong and tennis balls have been used in competition. Copy paper hung from one edge in a fixture. Dangling toilet paper has been cut. Cans and water bottles have been cut vertically. All that stuff cost money.
Jose and I provided 5 knives for the people to use, including the knives we currently use in competition. A few folks had there own knives and were able to cut with several different pieces on several tasks. We discussed design and edge geometry.
Three safety officials are at a Bladesports event. Two of the officials follow the cutter and watch for hazards on the course and help keep the cutter from making any rule violations with verbal warnings at no penalty to the cutter. A whistle is used for emergencies. We have had children bolt on to the course.
Sponsorship is hosting an event. A $20 entry fee can vary some. Sponsor provides the materials to be cut, a venue large enough to keep the public on a safe side and out of the action, benches for the different cuts. There can be 5-6 benches set for a course cut, they are 2 ft by 4 ft by 3 feet high. Sometimes a 3x4x3 bench is used for the heavy cuts where more ballast is needed like a 2x4 cut.
The goal is for a certified cutter to be able go to any Bladesports event and know the procedure and safety requirements.
Unless there is a sponsor for a Bladesports event in which to participate in the next two years; then there is no need to certify.
The rules and procedure are experienced based and are valid to incorporate into any contest. The most important thing is to cut safely and to have fun competing. I hope this clarifies some of the focus of Bladesports International...Take Care...Ed
I'd like to share with you the procedure, costs and reasoning behind the training session.
1 1/2 pages of procedure are read and discussed before starting mainly related to safety. The procedure is the same at all Bladesports events and basically about a level playing field for all competitors.
We had about 12 different cutting tasks that represent many of the events in a Bladesports competition. Each task was demonstrated by a trainer with the proper procedure; technique was shared and questions were answered. The person would then put the lanyard on their wrist with their knife sheathed and inspected the item to be cut. After the person is satisfied that it is a fair challenge they are given the go ahead to unsheathe the knife and make the cut. When the knife is unsheathed you are not allowed to touch the blade or the item to be cut. There have been some injuries to the off hand in trainings and competitions; the position of this hand is observed and discussed. You may re-sheath the knife and ask for a safety official to make a change in the item to be cut providing something had changed after you had the item set. This can happen because of wind. After the person makes the cut and the knife is sheathed the safety of the persons body position and arch of the blade is discussed. The cut is repeated until the trainers are satisfied that the technique being used is safe.
All the individual tasks are done with the same procedure as listed above. Some cuts are much easier than others. Some of the cuts require a quick snap cut, some are finesse, some are power, usually they are a combination. Powercuts like rope, 2x4 (which really measures 38mm x 88mm), mailing tube, or a stack of 6mm x 38mm x 150mm plywood 75mm high are the most dangerous. Most knifemakers have probably done some version of these cuts and are safe and experienced. These folks don't take very long to certify. Some people come without much useful experience and are dangerous. Some people take longer to get to a safe level of cutting. Many folks that are certifying are not makers or long time users, some just want to cut with a big sharp knife. Bladesports is about connecting the public with safe knife as tool use.
As a side note: Oregon Knife Collectors Association quit having rope cutting contests because a photo by Wayne Goddard showed me holding on to the handle of the knife with two fingers and a taught lanyard on a missed cut of ten 1" Manila hemp rope. They were adequately insured for injury but not for the bad press the knife world would receive.
The initial costs are $20 for the certification paperwork and $40 to join Bladesports International. The $20 is one time unless you don't compete for 2 years in a Bladesports event then you must re-certify. The $40 is an annual membership. Some folks take more runs through each task than others. Material costs vary. Each person cut about 2.5 m of 2x4, about 4 cuts Each person cut about 10 feet of rope, about 10 cuts. About 3 golf balls, 6 golf tees, 2 38mm mailing tubes, 12 bottles of water, 6 cans of seltzer water (Coke is real sticky), and flex joint straws. Training may vary but most include several power cuts to give good safety information. Anything the trainer come up with might be added. Rolling ping pong and tennis balls have been used in competition. Copy paper hung from one edge in a fixture. Dangling toilet paper has been cut. Cans and water bottles have been cut vertically. All that stuff cost money.
Jose and I provided 5 knives for the people to use, including the knives we currently use in competition. A few folks had there own knives and were able to cut with several different pieces on several tasks. We discussed design and edge geometry.
Three safety officials are at a Bladesports event. Two of the officials follow the cutter and watch for hazards on the course and help keep the cutter from making any rule violations with verbal warnings at no penalty to the cutter. A whistle is used for emergencies. We have had children bolt on to the course.
Sponsorship is hosting an event. A $20 entry fee can vary some. Sponsor provides the materials to be cut, a venue large enough to keep the public on a safe side and out of the action, benches for the different cuts. There can be 5-6 benches set for a course cut, they are 2 ft by 4 ft by 3 feet high. Sometimes a 3x4x3 bench is used for the heavy cuts where more ballast is needed like a 2x4 cut.
The goal is for a certified cutter to be able go to any Bladesports event and know the procedure and safety requirements.
Unless there is a sponsor for a Bladesports event in which to participate in the next two years; then there is no need to certify.
The rules and procedure are experienced based and are valid to incorporate into any contest. The most important thing is to cut safely and to have fun competing. I hope this clarifies some of the focus of Bladesports International...Take Care...Ed