Foam? FOAM?

Hell's bells, when I was a kid and we played at swordfighting, our swords were made of fence pickets or tree stakes. When you got hit, it hurt. So you learned how to guard pretty quick or you came home bruised.

Our only real concession to safety was the occasional hockey helmet - and if you wore a helmet, that meant your melon was now open season.

Foam weapons! Bah! Kids today are weak!

DG