The biggest noise after the touch?

I think it might have been a while since that SCAdian fenced, because I've always seen sport fencing use electronic scoring machines, unless this was at the beach or around the house or something. Goes a long way to eliminate "I scored/No you didn't" fights with the judge.

There might be some restriction of tactics and movement, but, well...for some lots of the basics I suspect Olympian fencing is very servicable. There's minute, if any, difference in footwork between Olympian and classical fencing if I'm getting all my designations right, and knowing how to parry and riposte is knowing how to parry and riposte.

I'm most familiar with epee, however, so I'm not quite as sure about how sport saber tactics have changed over time from their origin. But both saber and epee both have picked up some mutations of 'which technique is most effective for this situation' since it's been practiced with electronic scorers, as a sport, etc, etc.

I'll agree though--darn fun to watch my brother out there on the piste.