Olympic fencing.....

[Brian37]

I just was channel flipping and ended up on female Olympic fencing. It was between Korea and America. The lady on the American team basically had an American Flag motif covering over her face. Of course the masks are see through, but I would think the coloring would potentially obscure her view. I get even in poker games, people will wear sun glasses to mask their faces. I just don't know how they figure out how these masks allow the user to see without obstruction.

[Silver]

I don't know how some people don't know how other people figure things out.

[arewethereyet]

I suppose you weren't aware that face masks are common for fencing? They aren't clear.

Google epee masks.

[Brian37]

I don't know how some people don't know how other people figure things out.

That is why I am asking. I certainly am not chalking it up to a magic sky hero.

I get that covering the face can mask your intent and even in other sports reading someone face can give you a clue as to which way they are going to go. NFL and NBA train players to read faces. So I get the covering of the faces in this sport, I just don't know how they do it. That is why I am asking.

[Silver]

I always figured the mask was to protect the face from the pointy end of the sword.

*shrugs*

[arewethereyet]

I don't know how some people don't know how other people figure things out.

That is why I am asking. I certainly am not chalking it up to a magic sky hero.

I get that covering the face can mask your intent and even in other sports reading someone face can give you a clue as to which way they are going to go. NFL and NBA train players to read faces. So I get the covering of the faces in this sport, I just don't know how they do it. That is why I am asking.

Google epee face masks.

[Brian37]

I suppose you weren't aware that face masks are common for fencing?  They aren't clear.

Google epee masks.

I've seen the old ones, but I have never seen one like I just saw just now. I am betting it is the same principle as stage illusionists/magicians who blindfold themselves but can still see what they want to. Point is, there was a lot of science going into creating the modern mask for that sport. 

I just found it neat and interesting that you could basically give the illusion you cant see anything, but in reality you can. I do understand the tactic of masking one's face though. I know from watching the NFL since childhood, the announcers would constantly point out that the defense would read the eyes/face of the offence and react to that.

[arewethereyet]

A football helmet isn't going to protect your face from a thin sword-like thing being poked at you. There has to be something else for that sport.

Those masks aren't new.

[Brian37]

I always figured the mask was to protect the face from the pointy end of the sword.

*shrugs*

Not the point. How did they figure out how to mask your face and make it like a "two way mirror"? In other words, how did they cover their face from the rival so they could not see their eyes, but also allow the user to see through the mask? Same principle as when police do a lineup and the suspect cant see the accuser. 

I just find it neat they way they do that.

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A football helmet isn't going to protect your face from a thin sword-like thing being poked at you.  There has to be something else for that sport.

Those masks are new.

NOT THE POINT! Damn it. I wasn't talking about preventing injury. The point of the coloring of the masks in this case is to prevent your rival from reading your eyes, it isn't just about protection. It is the same principle as to why poker players wear sun glasses. You don't want your rival to read your eyes to assess your next move.

[Angrboda]

And yet, here it is the 21st century and we still don't have internet face stabbing technology.