Post by schlager7 on Jun 30, 2009 23:02:25 GMT -6
Sugar Land Sun - Sports
Fencing instructor keeps sport relevant in Fort Bend County
By ADAM COLEMAN
Published: 06.18.09
Football in the fall, basketball in the spring, baseball in the summer - fencing has had no place in American sports historically.
In Missouri City, however, Manuel Rodriguez is exposing the sport to local teenagers and adults, ensuring that the sport stays relevant even though it may not be the most popular sport around.
Sometimes known as “physical chess”, fencing is one of the four sports that has been a part of every modern Olympic Games. In his class of 16, Rodriguez believes he is giving back to the sport that gave him so much by teaching something that is more about coordination than brute force.
On the other hand, the American perception of the sport always has been something difficult to deal with.
“People think in fencing, you get on a helmet, a mask and a sword and you just go crazy,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not. It’s discipline. You have to work at it.”
Rodriguez, 64, started the class two years ago to stay close to the sport after his competitive fencing days were over.
He said after he saw his cousin compete for the Cuban national team he decided to take up the sport. It seems the Alief resident made the right decision. Rodriguez went on to become a local champion in Boston. Working for Shell Oil landed Rodriguez in Texas.
Rodriguez is an expert in all three weapons used in fencing: the foil, saber and epée. His students are learning to use all three weapons which require three different rules of engagement.
Gaining points using the foil requires competitors to strike the lamé, a protective vest worn. Using the saber, competitors can hit any part of the body from the midsection up. The whole body is a target when using the epée. The foil is the most basic weapon. In Rodriguez’s class the first to five points wins.
Rodriguez has parents and another instructor who helps him out during class. Hai Le was a Vietnamese champion in 1960 and a silver medalist in the Australian Games in 1969.
Le ended up in the United States after the Vietnam War, where he was a fighter pilot for his country. After teaching school in Arizona, Le ended up in Texas with a job with Shell Oil as well.
Le, 68, found out about Rodriguez’s class during a visit to the doctor. Once his doctor found out he liked fencing he introduced Le to Rodriguez. Rodriguez has taught him ever since.
Being involved in this sport has not brought Rodriguez and Le the riches an American football player might see.
“In America, it’s not very popular because it doesn’t make money being a champion,” said Le, who lives in Richmond. “It is a hobby. It is picking up now in the states and they have a lot of schools all around the country. I think most of them are around the New York area. But here in Houston, there are a lot of them too.”
Rodriguez and Le are able to conduct these classes through the United States Fencing Academy, which provides guidelines, insurance and lets them know what tournaments are taking place.
Most of the students in the class are young, which is a good thing for the sport. Le said although older adults can participate in the sport, experience is important at that point. The younger a competitor is, the quicker he or she is and that can win a lot of points.
That doesn’t stop 71-year old Houston resident George Gomez. He has been training under Rodriguez for two years. Gomez said he started fencing when he took his grandson to classes. Rodriguez asked Gomez to join and no one has regretted the decision.
Gomez stayed involved in the sport and now attends class with his grandson. While his grandson’s training is a little more serious, Gomez said he has a chance to focus on learning and being active.
“I read a lot of books on it, I have all the movies that I can find about the Three Musketeers,” Gomez said. “It links me to history. It’s a new perspective on life and on history.”
Rodriguez said the reason why Gomez is able to participate in this sport at his age is because fencing is not demanding like baseball or football.
“Most people who are 71 are not taking up a new sport, but it’s a low impact sport so you can do it for a long time,” Rodriguez said. “It isn’t like tennis or racquetball, something like that.”
Classes at the Missouri City Community Center are on Mondays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the auditorium, Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 210.
Sessions are $60 a month and equipment is borrowed, but if students want to pursue the sport further, equipment then has to be purchased.
Copyright © 2009 - Houston Community Newspapers Online
Fencing instructor keeps sport relevant in Fort Bend County
By ADAM COLEMAN
Published: 06.18.09
Football in the fall, basketball in the spring, baseball in the summer - fencing has had no place in American sports historically.
In Missouri City, however, Manuel Rodriguez is exposing the sport to local teenagers and adults, ensuring that the sport stays relevant even though it may not be the most popular sport around.
Sometimes known as “physical chess”, fencing is one of the four sports that has been a part of every modern Olympic Games. In his class of 16, Rodriguez believes he is giving back to the sport that gave him so much by teaching something that is more about coordination than brute force.
On the other hand, the American perception of the sport always has been something difficult to deal with.
“People think in fencing, you get on a helmet, a mask and a sword and you just go crazy,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not. It’s discipline. You have to work at it.”
Rodriguez, 64, started the class two years ago to stay close to the sport after his competitive fencing days were over.
He said after he saw his cousin compete for the Cuban national team he decided to take up the sport. It seems the Alief resident made the right decision. Rodriguez went on to become a local champion in Boston. Working for Shell Oil landed Rodriguez in Texas.
Rodriguez is an expert in all three weapons used in fencing: the foil, saber and epée. His students are learning to use all three weapons which require three different rules of engagement.
Gaining points using the foil requires competitors to strike the lamé, a protective vest worn. Using the saber, competitors can hit any part of the body from the midsection up. The whole body is a target when using the epée. The foil is the most basic weapon. In Rodriguez’s class the first to five points wins.
Rodriguez has parents and another instructor who helps him out during class. Hai Le was a Vietnamese champion in 1960 and a silver medalist in the Australian Games in 1969.
Le ended up in the United States after the Vietnam War, where he was a fighter pilot for his country. After teaching school in Arizona, Le ended up in Texas with a job with Shell Oil as well.
Le, 68, found out about Rodriguez’s class during a visit to the doctor. Once his doctor found out he liked fencing he introduced Le to Rodriguez. Rodriguez has taught him ever since.
Being involved in this sport has not brought Rodriguez and Le the riches an American football player might see.
“In America, it’s not very popular because it doesn’t make money being a champion,” said Le, who lives in Richmond. “It is a hobby. It is picking up now in the states and they have a lot of schools all around the country. I think most of them are around the New York area. But here in Houston, there are a lot of them too.”
Rodriguez and Le are able to conduct these classes through the United States Fencing Academy, which provides guidelines, insurance and lets them know what tournaments are taking place.
Most of the students in the class are young, which is a good thing for the sport. Le said although older adults can participate in the sport, experience is important at that point. The younger a competitor is, the quicker he or she is and that can win a lot of points.
That doesn’t stop 71-year old Houston resident George Gomez. He has been training under Rodriguez for two years. Gomez said he started fencing when he took his grandson to classes. Rodriguez asked Gomez to join and no one has regretted the decision.
Gomez stayed involved in the sport and now attends class with his grandson. While his grandson’s training is a little more serious, Gomez said he has a chance to focus on learning and being active.
“I read a lot of books on it, I have all the movies that I can find about the Three Musketeers,” Gomez said. “It links me to history. It’s a new perspective on life and on history.”
Rodriguez said the reason why Gomez is able to participate in this sport at his age is because fencing is not demanding like baseball or football.
“Most people who are 71 are not taking up a new sport, but it’s a low impact sport so you can do it for a long time,” Rodriguez said. “It isn’t like tennis or racquetball, something like that.”
Classes at the Missouri City Community Center are on Mondays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the auditorium, Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 210.
Sessions are $60 a month and equipment is borrowed, but if students want to pursue the sport further, equipment then has to be purchased.
Copyright © 2009 - Houston Community Newspapers Online