I was fortunate enough to attend the BladeSports competition cut today in Lebanon, Missouri. It was a blast to meet and talk with many of the cutters.
Not least of which, Donavon Phillips who was representing Spyderco...who also managed to win the overall competition!
Congratulations Donavon, it was a pleasure to meet you and the other cutters!
Congratulations Donavon Phillips
Congratulations Donavon Phillips
Thanks,
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
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chuck_roxas45
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- Location: Small City, Philippines
Any vids Ken? Wow, I really envy you.
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I am loading a video now. Unfortunately no videos of the actual competition because I was invited to help out as a time keeper (several cutters finished the entire course in well under a minute!) It was a fantastic experience to participate.
I was able to get some videos of the festivities after the official competition. These guys are GOOD! I learned a LOT today, it really was a grand experience.
I was able to get some videos of the festivities after the official competition. These guys are GOOD! I learned a LOT today, it really was a grand experience.
Thanks,
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
Yes, sorry I should have linked in the OP.whkento wrote:I know nothing about these competitions. Any links?
btw, I've seen a lot of Iaido cutting demos.
http://www.bladesports.org/
The site has some videos of previous cuts...all are different in that the courses are always changing and incorporating new cuts that add difficulty....but all are similar in general terms.
Each event has a course, the course is a series of cuts (many cuts are chopping type cuts but several are push cuts and this time they had one station that required slow slicing cuts). The cutter is timed starting when the blade touches the first cut and ends when the last cut is completed. There are points assessed at each cut station based on accuracy. They take the time (in seconds) for the participant to complete the entire course (in seconds), add 100, then subtract all scored points, and add any penalty points. The lowest score wins.
There are a lot of rules and provisions for safety. I did not see any penalties assessed for safety violations, but there was at least one instance of a penalty assessed for skipping a cut station. Some of the cuts are very small (for example splitting a straw, or cutting very poorly supported business card) and in the heat of the competition, a cutter simply missed a station.
Thanks,
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
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chuck_roxas45
- Member
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- Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:43 pm
- Location: Small City, Philippines
Yes, they are. They make it look easy. Anytime something hard is made to look easy, I know that it is doubly hard. :Dunit wrote:
These guys are GOOD!
But those knives are sharp.
Congratulations on your well-deserved award, Donovan!
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Congrats to Donavon!
I too wish I was there. Just hanging out and competing with these guys is a blast. Donavon in particular.
If anyone wants more information on how to participate in cutting competitions, or is just curious about this growing international sport feel free to contact me or check out http://www.bladesports.org. We also have a pile of videos on youtube. Just do a search for BladeSports.
respectfully,
Jose Diaz
I too wish I was there. Just hanging out and competing with these guys is a blast. Donavon in particular.
If anyone wants more information on how to participate in cutting competitions, or is just curious about this growing international sport feel free to contact me or check out http://www.bladesports.org. We also have a pile of videos on youtube. Just do a search for BladeSports.
respectfully,
Jose Diaz
Jose, I was hoping to meet you. Perhaps we will cross paths at another time? Your name came up more than once. You are doing some great things!Jose Diaz wrote:Congrats to Donavon!
I too wish I was there. Just hanging out and competing with these guys is a blast. Donavon in particular.
If anyone wants more information on how to participate in cutting competitions, or is just curious about this growing international sport feel free to contact me or check out http://www.bladesports.org. We also have a pile of videos on youtube. Just do a search for BladeSports.
respectfully,
Jose Diaz
Thanks,
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
Check our website, we do have a California event coming up. But if you know of a place or venue that would be appropriate, please let us know about it. We are always looking for new places to hold competitions. This is a young sport, and we need as much support as possible, even if it is from a distance.AKWolf wrote:This seems like such a wonderful event, though I wish it was more wide spread. I'd really like to go and spectate sometimes..
Congrats on the win D.Phillips :spyder:
respectfully,
Jose Diaz
Hey, I appreciate the show! This stuff is so fun to watch I almost feel guilty. Anyone watching the videos with intrigue really needs to get to an event and see it live. The videos are great, but there is a much greater understanding gained by seeing the cuts, the timing, and the scoring of the cuts is explained better at the events. I did a course video walk through prior to the cut explaining how things are scored (in general terms) if anyone is interested I can post it. I have not posted it thus far because I failed to get any video of the competition on that course! and thought it would be a let down to show the course and no one having fun on the course LOL.dphillips wrote:I appreciate the support. And thanks to Spyderco for supporting this sport. Hope to see more of ya'll soon. The next cut I will be attending is at Smoky Mountain Knifeworks in Sevierville, TN. On Oct. 16, for those of you in that neck of the woods.
Even if you are not super intrigued by BladeSports, the free flow of knowledge at these events is incredible! I felt like I was drinking from a fire hose all day long. These guys may look imposing as they hack through everything know to man with their cutters, but I found all of them to be incredibly cordial and helpful.
Thanks,
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
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SaturnNyne
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- Location: Cambria, CA
Definitely interested! That seems like it might offer an interesting perspective on what they do, very different from the view we get while they're going at it.unit wrote:I did a course video walk through prior to the cut explaining how things are scored (in general terms) if anyone is interested I can post it.
"Nothing makes a knife maker-designer feel better than to see their efforts used." -Ed
~ My knives list ~
~ Knife photos ~
~ My knives list ~
~ Knife photos ~
Definitely post the video. It's another perspective, and a video of the cut still may surface.unit wrote:I did a course video walk through prior to the cut explaining how things are scored (in general terms) if anyone is interested I can post it. I have not posted it thus far because I failed to get any video of the competition on that course! and thought it would be a let down to show the course and no one having fun on the course LOL.
respectfully, Jose Diaz
No problem.Jose Diaz wrote:Definitely post the video. It's another perspective, and a video of the cut still may surface.
respectfully, Jose Diaz
The video is uploaded, and hopefully will be approved shortly. I will embed a copy here once compete. Hopefully, another video does surface...if nothing else, this should provide some insight regarding how this event (and others) are scored.
In the mean time, here is a video of the cutters having fun AFTER the cut:
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Well wadaya know, the Course description video is ready too!
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Thanks,
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
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chuck_roxas45
- Member
- Posts: 8797
- Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:43 pm
- Location: Small City, Philippines
Hhmm, that course you described sounds reaaally difficult.
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Yeah, like I said... these guys are GOOD!chuck_roxas45 wrote:Hhmm, that course you described sounds reaaally difficult.
I am pretty sure there is an error in the video too. I seem to recall Donavon's time was 42 seconds and change with no missed cuts. That guy is a machine! If you go back and watch the video again, it takes me about 3 times that amount of time to walk through the course and briefly explain the cuts!
I made mental note of a few of the vertical 2x4 cut times...I think the best was under 5 seconds! This cut was completed in 4 strokes.
FYI, I never mentioned any safety rules in the video. There are MANY! One of them is NO RUNNING. These guys all walked through the course and would have been assessed penalties for moving too fast (one foot on ground at ALL times). Penalty points get added to their times...I never heard of anyone having a safety related penalty point assessed the whole day.
It is interesting to listen to the safety meeting and learn more about it, then watch the comp. There are many subtle things going on during the comp (as if second nature) that I never even noticed watching the videos prior to seeing a live cut.
Thanks,
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
Good Job Donovan :D
The cutting competition is quite an event to be involved in or watch. We have a video in our store running all day and we have a number of competition knives on display.
It's interesting to note that most sports involving some type of "weapon" or "tool" have always had some type of formal competition. Everything from shoothing guns and bows to chainsaws compete................except knives.
Bruce Voyles came up with the idea a number of years ago and some very dedicated people have spent a great deal of time and effort creating and refining this competition. My hat is off to all of them. It has not been an easy task.
sal
The cutting competition is quite an event to be involved in or watch. We have a video in our store running all day and we have a number of competition knives on display.
It's interesting to note that most sports involving some type of "weapon" or "tool" have always had some type of formal competition. Everything from shoothing guns and bows to chainsaws compete................except knives.
Bruce Voyles came up with the idea a number of years ago and some very dedicated people have spent a great deal of time and effort creating and refining this competition. My hat is off to all of them. It has not been an easy task.
sal
Good insight Sal.sal wrote:Good Job Donovan :D
The cutting competition is quite an event to be involved in or watch. We have a video in our store running all day and we have a number of competition knives on display.
It's interesting to note that most sports involving some type of "weapon" or "tool" have always had some type of formal competition. Everything from shoothing guns and bows to chainsaws compete................except knives.
Bruce Voyles came up with the idea a number of years ago and some very dedicated people have spent a great deal of time and effort creating and refining this competition. My hat is off to all of them. It has not been an easy task.
sal
And congratulations on your upcoming 5000th post (what a testament to your involvement with this forum and your customers!)
It is interesting how knives are sort of left out of competition for the most part...unless you count fencing?
To your point, these guys have worked hard to make this sport what it is. It really is exciting to watch too. You might be pleased to learn how well represented Spyderco was at this event. Many of the cutters had Spyderco knives peaking out of their pockets...and often coming out to assist in course setup and maintenance.
Thanks,
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.
Ken (my real name)
...learning something new all the time.