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Post by schlager7 on Aug 16, 2003 13:40:59 GMT -6
A Houston area sport fencer named Rod Flemig recently wrote an article titled, "We're All in This Together" www.webspawner.com/users/unitedfencers/index.htmlI've already heard back from a couple of historical and SCA fencers. I was curious about any other response.
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Post by truvey on Aug 18, 2003 18:16:38 GMT -6
Mr. Fleming's article was music to my eyes. He is exactly right; there is no reason for different groups to run each other down. Styles will change according to the implements involved; a two-handed sword is handled differently than a longsword, a longsword differently than a shortsword, a shortsword differently than a rapier, a rapier differently than a smallsword, and a smallsword differently than a foil. To say that "Olympic fencers don't do real fencing" is akin to saying, "You didn't use real cherries in that apple pie".
Regardless of what style or variation of fencing one does, the main thing is that he has FUN doing it, whether it be ARMA historical fencing, SCA heavy weapons fighting, Olympic sport fencing, or any of the other myriad of variations out there.
From a personal standpoint, my only difficulty is with someone who is historically inaccurate, but claims historical accuracy, (i.e. "Yes, boys and girls, this is a genuine Glock, just like the cowboys used in the Old West").
Truvey Fielder ARMA Houston
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Post by August Skopik on Aug 19, 2003 15:40:55 GMT -6
;D Actually, I have not researched this but Al Peters told me that the original Olympics did not have fencing with blades in all events but had one where the participants had shovels. I have not confirmed that, but it would be interesting. Fencing was developed as an essential war practice, and the Modern Pentathlon was a sport that encompassed all of the needed skills of the old couriers; fencing, shooting, riding a horse, swimming and running. I think that too often each group gets a little pretentious. I have never not been happy that I won a bout but didn't run my opponent through, but there have been bouts where the directors certainly made more of an impact than my foil, epee or sabre. Olympic fencing and other bouting have many similarities. If you watch a good fencing movie like The Duelist, or if your worked with a stage movement person that choreographed fights, it is easy to see that there isn't a lot of differences. I personally like the lights, but it doesn't mean that the other person is wrong because they hit a different way. My thought is someone who is skilled in any of the disciplines could do well in the others, but there would be additional practice required. I think that if we all remember that "the pointy end goes in the other guy" it is a lot easier to stick that pointy end into someone who doesn't know how to hold a weapon than someone who does. Those people that don't have the good sense to pick up a blade occasionally should be those "other guys".
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Post by Kevin on Aug 20, 2003 12:43:11 GMT -6
Will any of the ARMA or Olympic fencing folks be dressing up and attending the SCA Academy of the Rapier near Houston next month? There will be enough instruction to merit the $13 fee and wearing funny clothes for a day I would think.
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